The right growing conditions for kiwifruit include a climate with plentiful sunshine, rain and just the right amount of chill in the winter. It also helps to have fertile soils that are free draining with pH levels between 5 and 6.8.
The growing season for kiwifruit is long –up to 240 days a year. The New Zealand season begins with pruning the vines in June, immediately following the previous year’s harvest.
Throughout the winter (June to August), kiwifruit starts to grow again. Buds tend to first appear in September, the beginning of spring in New Zealand. Flower buds are next, and with the help of honeybees, the kiwifruit are pollinated between mid-September to mid-November.
The vines then begin to fruit with the pollinated flowers transforming themselves into small berries.
In January (Summer), kiwifruit undergo tremendous growth and so numerous prunes may be required to contain the kiwifruit vines (which can sometimes reach up to 5 - 6 metres long during the growing process).
At harvest time (May to June) kiwifruit are first tested for ripeness and when they pass a certain criteria for quality and grade, kiwifruit is carefully picked by a huge team of workers (many who come from overseas to assist).
Once the kiwifruit has been picked, it is transported to the packhouse to be packed and stored ready for shipping and export.