When most people think of kiwi, they think of the classic, juicy green kiwi that has a tangy-sweet, refreshing taste. Most, however, don't know about the hidden gem: gold kiwi, which has a mellow, tropical, sweet taste and a silky texture.The product of two crossed exotic fruit, the golden kiwifruit is a relatively new scientific "invention" that was created in New Zealand in the 1970's. The cross-pollination gave the fruit a tropically sweet and calming flavor similar to a melon! Zespri Kiwifruit, a grower, producer and seller of kiwi, carries
both green and gold kiwifruit, two nutritious kiwi types grown in New
Zealand.
Kiwifruit ( gold and green alike) have incredible nutritious value that supports and boosts health; the New York Times announced kiwifruit's #1 fruit ranking based
on the "Overall Nutrition Quality Index" (ONQI). Kiwifruit are in fact
more nutritious than almost any other fruit! One serving of kiwifruit (2 kiwis, gold or green) contains a whopping 240% of recommended daily intake of vitamin C (more vitamin C than in an orange), making kiwifruit a great flu-fighter that also reduces the long-term effects of stress and aging.
One serving also packs in more fiber than a bowl of bran cereal. Fiber promotes a healthy heart, regulates digestion patterns, and helps lower cholesterol levels. A serving of kiwifruit also has more potassium than a banana. Potassium maintains normal fluid and electrolyte balances and releases energy during exercise, making kiwifruit a potent aspect of an active lifestyle diet. Kiwifruit are also recommended for those watching their weight, because of their low glycemic index of 52 (makes them low in carbs and sugars). Kiwis have antioxidants, such as vitamin E, that fight free radicals and harmful by-products in the body. Vitamin E specifically lowers cholesterol and strengthens the immune system, as well. Among two kiwis, there is 30 mg of magnesium, which increases energy levels and improves muscle and nerve function. Kiwifruit also contain 10% of the recommended daily value of folate, lutein, a phytochemical that protects eyesight against overexposure to light, and zinc, which keeps hair, skin, teeth, and nails healthy.
It's hard to believe that all these health benefits are packed into one low-carb, low-fat, succulent little fruit!
So why Zespri? Zespri is all about environmental sustainability and using the planet's resources wisely. The ZESPRI System is a unique growing and distributing process for kiwi. The system ensures that the kiwifruit Zespri grows and sells have a consistent size, shape, appearance, and taste. Zespri uses completely natural methods to grow their kiwifruit and is helping to keep the earth green.
www.zesprikiwi.com has more of the scoop on their kiwifruit and creative summer kiwi recipes (including kids' recipes), like carnival kiwi parfait, sliders with kiwi salsa, and gold kiwipops (also recipes for smoothies, salads, desserts, and more). Zespri kiwifruit can be found at local retailers and grocers. They may be sold with a free plastic spife utensil (a spoon and knife combo) that makes the cut-and-scoop way to eat kiwi easy and fun (also great to pack a kiwi and a spife for kids' school lunch or snack!). Kids and teens love the sweet, refreshing taste of kiwi, and it packs even more nutritional punch than a lot of other healthy fruits. Kiwifruit's small size also makes it a great little snack that even the pickiest of eaters and smallest bite takers enjoy down to the last scoop!
Mom Central received Zespri gold and green kiwis and spifes in order to review these products and produce.
