- By Ridam Sharma
- Tue, 27 May 2025 03:31 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Top 10 Kiwi-Producing Countries: Kiwi fruit is also popularly known as Chinese gooseberry. It has green flesh, minuscule black seeds, and a unique sweet-tart taste. It is one of the favourites among fruit lovers across the globe. The fruit not only tastes good, but it is also very nourishing for your overall health. Additionally, with its high water content, which gives this fruit its cooling, refreshing, and hydrating properties for making it a summer favourite fruit. To know more about kiwi fruit, here’s a list of the top 10 largest kiwi-producing countries, along with an explanation of why kiwis are mostly expensive in India.
List Of The Top 10 Largest Kiwi-Producing Countries:
Country | Kiwi Production |
---|---|
China | 2.4M |
New Zealand | 603.5K |
Italy | 523.1K |
Greece | 320.3K |
Iran | 294.6K |
Chile | 114.5K |
Turkey | 100.8K |
Portugal | 52.9K |
France | 47.1K |
United States | 33.1K |
Total production amounts have been rounded to the nearest whole ton.
Source: World Population Review
China
China produces the most kiwis in the world, and the Kiwi is the native fruit of China. China's climate is varied across the country, particularly in places like Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Henan where the climate is suitable for kiwi growth. China export multiple varieties of Kiwis around the world like Hayward kiwis. With the cultivations spanning hundreds of years, China's kiwi production caters both domestically and abroad in large scale, a major supplier in the international market.
New Zealand
New Zealand is known globally for growing high-quality kiwis, especially its brand, Zespri, which is the largest marketer of kiwifruit in the world. New Zealand's climate, fertile soil, and modern horticultural techniques are some of the reasons for the country being a significant producer of fruit.
Italy
Italy is the biggest kiwi producer in Europe and one of the leading exporters. It grows like Lazio, Piedmont, and Emilia-Romagna due to their favorable climate and soil. The kiwis produced in Italy are widely famous for their strong flavour and nutritional value.
Greece
Greece has become a major producer of kiwis and major reason of this is its orchards that are found in the northern areas. Investment in advanced farming methods and a favourable climate has increased yields of kiwi here. Greek kiwis are exported throughout Europe.
Iran
Iran's kiwi production base is located in the north around the Caspian Sea, where the high humidity helps the crop to grow well. Iranian kiwis are famous for their large size and sweet taste.
Chile
Chile's spacious and pleasent valleys are best suited for kiwi production. The best part about Chilean kiwis are that their harvest time is opposite of the Northern Hemisphere, which makes them significant in suppling market shortage. Chile exportst kiwis to North America, Europe, and Asia.
Turkey
Turkey's kiwifruit production is regionalised along the Black Sea coast, where the mild and humid climate is best-suited for this beautiful green fruit. However, the Turkish kiwi is still new in the world market landscape.
Portugal
Portugal's kiwi crop is less in comparison than other large global producers, but is increasing, primarily in northwestern areas. Portuguese kiwis are loved for their flavour and freshness in local markets.
France
France grows kiwis in the southwest area, especially within the Adour region. French kiwi has a reputation for quality and is routinely marketed under protected geographical indications.
United States
Kiwi cultivation in the United States mainly happens in California, where the weather conditions are favourable for the fruit. American kiwis are locally consumed, but some are also exported to Canada and Mexico.
Why Is Kiwi Expensive In India?
Kiwi in India is costly mainly because of the various factors, like most kiwis eaten in India are imported from countries like New Zealand, Italy, and Iran. Importing is expensive in terms of transportation, storage, and customs charges, all of which are transferred to the end consumer. However, the nation of billions has started growing kiwi in its states like Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Still, domestic production remains limited against the high demand, which is also one of the reasons for prices remaining high.
Additionally, Kiwi is a delicate fruit that has to be handled carefully and stored in a cold environment throughout the entire supply chain. This contributes to the cost of logistics, particularly in India's warm climate. Kiwi is also not grown domestically year-round, which makes off-season imports prevalent and more expensive.