Bord Bia’s latest PERIscope study findings has shown that children in Ireland are bringing healthier lunch boxes to school. With almost three-quarters of all children’s lunch boxes containing fruit, it’s not surprising that the banana, apple and indeed the peel-easy oranges are the preferred choice given their convenience. The inclusion of an exotic alternative such as the kiwi fruit requires some additional accessories for the lunch box kit and, more often than not, it’s a gamble whether that knife and spoon will make it back home in the lunch box!
Wouldn’t it be great if we could buy a hairless kiwi fruit with an edible skin?
Zespri Group Ltd., the world’s biggest exporter of kiwi fruits, reports that they are ploughing millions of New Zealand dollars into a breeding programme that will hopefully yield a hairless fruit with an edible skin. With an ambition to broaden the appeal of this iconic brand that is worth over NZ$1billion to the New Zealand economy, the government is backing the project with the hope that the break-through will add a new spark to an industry that is reliant on agrifood exports.
According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, scientists are working hard on a crop breeding programme which will hopefully yield a new cultivar that has an edible skin, eats and tastes well whilst lending itself to travelling long distances within being damaged or bruised.
It is a pioneering project with huge ambition, and it will take time and significant investment before a hairless kiwi fruit is developed and commercialised. Make no mistake, however, the opportunities are endless. Perhaps someday soon, the kiwi fruit will be a staple in our children’s lunchbox.
