A grant of $38,000 has been given to the University of New Hampshire in Durham, where it is conducting a market feasibility study to assess the viability of kiwi fruit as a high valued crop that could spur economic development in small farms in New Hampshire.
Iago Hale, a researcher with the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, established a kiwi fruit breeding program at the NH Agricultural Experiment Station in 2013, with initial work focusing on characterizing and evaluating for the first time the entire North American collection of cold-hardy kiwis, nearly 200 accessions, to identify promising varieties for the region and parent plants for new variety development.
Kiwi fruits are usually harvested in the early fall and have high levels of vitamin C, betacarotene, lutein and anthocyanins. Due to their appeal in taste and appearance, kiwi fruits have been recognized as economically promising in New England since the 1950's.
By surveying both consumers and producers, the project aims to develop a business plan to support the decision making of potential kiwi fruit producers in the region. Results of the study also will be used to set cultivar and production system performance goals for the breeding program so that it may better support those growers investing in this innovative crop.
