Japanese consumers have begun consuming RubyRed, a new kiwifruit variant developed by Zespri, aimed at enhancing mood and wellbeing. According to Zespri, the red coloration of the fruit is due to naturally occurring pigments, with research indicating the presence of anthocyanins that may bolster mood and wellbeing. Alongside RubyRed, the SunGold variant is also prepared for harvest, marking a potentially improved season for the kiwifruit industry after several challenging years. Zespri's initial charter shipment of the season, carrying 700,000 trays of gold kiwifruit and 15 containers of ruby red, departed from the Port of Tauranga in March for Shanghai. Mathieson emphasized the importance of delivering high-quality fruit consistently throughout the season to ensure early sales opportunities and minimize late-season quality issues.

Source: Stuff May 22, 2024 12:13 UTC