Red is the new green: Zespri unveils a new type of kiwi

After green and yellow, there is now also a red kiwi. Zespri has chosen Belgium as the first European market for its new variety. However, this debut will be short-lived: due to the limited harvest, the fruit will only be available for a few weeks.

European production still in its infancy

The Zespri Red has a striking red core and a sweet, berry-like flavor. The new variety has been on the shelves since mid-October. Belgium is the first European country to launch a product that Zespri has been developing for more than fifteen years. “Belgium is a true kiwi market, and that’s exactly why we’re looking forward to introducing Zespri Red to consumers here first,” says Nele Moorthamers, Head of Marketing EU at Zespri.

The new kiwi is the result of traditional crossbreeding and selection, without genetic modification. Zespri developed the variety in New Zealand and then tested it for years under European growing conditions. For the time being, European production is taking place exclusively in Lazio, Italy. There, Zespri plans to plant a total of 170 hectares with the new variety between 2026 and 2028. The first Italian harvest began in mid-September, even before that of the yellow SunGold.

For now, however, the supply of red kiwis remains limited. Due to the small initial European harvest, Zespri expects the new variety to be available in Belgian supermarkets for only a few weeks. The commercial rollout is expected to result in larger volumes in the coming years.