Greek minds are behind the creation of the new yellow kiwi crops. This results from a long-term study by the Phytotechniki company from Arta, which specialises in the tissue culture propagation of rootstock fruit trees, and the Zeus Radiant Producers Organisation from Karitsa, Pieria.
The two companies collaborated at a research level with the Italian University of Udine to create a sustainable crop resistant to climate change, with the highest nutritional value that fruit could provide to the human body. They aim to meet the needs of Generation Z, who loves contrasts and seeks innovations that respect the environment and people, hence the playful mood with bright colours in the branding.
KIKOKA means kiwi, different and sweet
The two new varieties of yellow kiwi, created and licensed by the University of Udine in Italy in collaboration with the joint venture NKP-New Kiwi Plant, will henceforth be marketed under the trade name KIKOKA and will be developed exclusively by the Italian group Rivoira.
The two varieties of yellow kiwis, also grown in Greece, are 100% exported to Britain, Italy, New Zealand, Indonesia and elsewhere.
The two varieties of yellow kiwi
These are the AC501 022® variety harvested in October and the early harvest AC497 076®. After seven years of testing, both varieties have been shown to have a high shelf life. They are resistant to PSA and Moria bacteria, two major problems affecting growers not only in Europe but all over the world.
Visually, they stand out for the intensity of the yellow colour; they have no fluff at all, and in taste, they are sweet with lower to zero acidity compared to the green ones. It is worth noting that they have a higher nutritional value than greens, and the percentages in vitamin C cover the daily recommended amount.
"Consumer demand for yellow kiwifruit is increasing worldwide, while production has not been able to keep up due to agronomic difficulties, but with the selected and readily available new varieties, we believe we have a real solution for growers," said Pierfranco Quaranta, president of NKP – New Kiwi Plant.
Participation of Greece in the KIKOKA Yellow Ray Program
To date, 1,500 hectares have been licensed in Europe to 12 companies, and the first commercial crop of 450 tonnes was recently harvested and sold under the KiKoKa brand. The next step is the creation of a European Consortium, a single marketing office that will oversee the sales of kiwifruit under the KiKoKa brand, in which the participation of each producer partner will be proportional to the number of licensed hectares it has for the 2024 season.
Rivoira seeks to create a global network of growers in the main producing countries. The 12 companies participating in the Yellow Shrimp Program are Apo Scaligera of Italy, Clementi, Kiwi Uno, Peviani Armonia Producers Organization and Zeoli Fruit. On the Greek side, they are Zeus Kiwi, Arta Gold—Innatis, and Savajols from France and Spain's Surexport and Agrihold.
Who are the five partners of NKP – New Kiwi Plant
NKP, founded in 2008, is the association of five partners and consists of two specialised nurseries with a micropropagation laboratory: the Greek "PHYTOTECHNIKI - Brothers Xylogianni" and the Italian VITROPLANT, as well as three commercial enterprises with vast experience in the field of production and marketing of kiwi fruit: the two Italian Tuttofrutta Quaranta and Zeoli Fruit and the Greek ZEUS KIWI SA from Karitsa Pieria where it also produces the Pieria Seaweed with a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).
Zeus Kiwi Producers' Organization
Zeus Kiwi is a Producers' Organization that pioneers the production, preservation and distribution of kiwifruit, grapes and apricots. Growers number 250, and their goal is to expand their cultivation with new kiwi varieties and further cultivation of the most sought-after vine varieties.
The visit to the Zeus Kiwi facilities by Olive Magazine took place in the context of getting to know the Products of the Macedonian land./Agrifood Products RCM, implemented by the Region of Central Greece.
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