February 22, 2026

We are in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Since literally nobody has asked me, I thought I should offer some thoughts on the national fruit of New Zealand: The Kiwi.

Before I share with you the health benefits of eating kiwis (and there are many) let’s as the famous line from the movie Jerry Maguire says: “show me the money.”

Tauranga sits in the Bay of Plenty, which is basically the heart of New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry. Huge orchards surround the city, some as large as 1,000 hectares, about 2,471 acres. The fruit is exported worldwide through the Port of Tauranga, with the largest export market being Asia, especially China. The reason being is that Asian countries typically buy individual kiwis not in a bunch. This is important to know, and I will tell you why in a bit. The kiwifruit brand Zespri (a major global exporter) operates heavily in this region, and I’ll tell you why that is important in a while as well. What you do need to know is if you’re eating a New Zealand kiwi overseas, there’s a 100% chance it passed through Tauranga. It’s a serious agricultural export machine!

The reason Tauranga produces the majority of New Zealand’s kiwifruit crop is because it has the ideal climate (mild winters, warm humid summers), well-drained volcanic soil and that strong horticultural infrastructure. During harvest season (March–July), refrigerated containers move constantly through the port to Asia, Europe, and North America. Timing is critical-freshness equals profit. And kiwis is a very profitable business!

Zespri is essentially the global marketing arm for New Zealand kiwifruit. It operates a single-desk export model. It manages branding, pricing, and global supply coordination. This model gives New Zealand growers stronger global pricing power compared to fragmented export systems. Zespri is involved in all areas from inception to market penetration including orchard ownership, post-harvest facilities, cool-chain logistics and port operations. Seasonal labor demand is high and managed by Zespri including workers from the Pacific nation we just visited Vanuatu.

Why does this matter? Instead of hundreds of growers competing against each other overseas (which would push prices down), Zespri pools supply from licensed growers, controls export volumes to different markets and manages brand positioning and pricing. This prevents the “race to the bottom” you see in many commodity markets. It shifts kiwifruit from a commodity model to a branded premium product model. That turns kiwifruit into something closer to Apple or Nike-style brand positioning than bulk produce. It’s considered one of the most successful marketing models globally.

And the cool-chain logistics are so sophisticated that fruit can be picked at their premier size catering to that Asian market that like big size individual kiwis and immediately frozen to be shipped at later dates versus other markets like Italy that must pick and send before the fruit perishes. Remember, timing is critical-freshness equals profit.

Most importantly, this model is endorsed by kiwi growers because it provides stable grower incomes, relative to most open commodity markets, strong export margins, coordinated quality control and national-level brand protection. How do I know? Because this afternoon I visited a kiwi farm and spoke with growers who are thrilled with their model. They kidded me that I’m probably not paying enough for the pleasure of eating a New Zealand kiwi.

And you know, they may be right. Here’s why.

Let’s talk about those health benefits.

Kiwi is loaded with vitamin C-often three times more than an orange per serving. That concentration of vitamin C supports your immune system, helps your body absorb iron, speeds up wound healing and boosts collagen production. Great for glowy skin!

Kiwi contains a natural enzyme called actinidin that helps break down protein. This provides easier digestion, less bloating and smoother gut function.

Kiwi contains potassium which helps regulate blood pressure; antioxidants that reduce inflammation and lots of fiber that helps lower cholesterol. Research suggests eating kiwi regularly helps reduce triglycerides and improve overall cardiovascular health.

Studies have also found that eating kiwi before bed may help you fall asleep faster, improve your sleep quality and increase your total sleep time. The reason being is that kiwi contains serotonin and antioxidants that seem to help regulate sleep cycles. Two kiwis before bed is a surprisingly popular sleep hack!

And finally, one kiwi equals around 40–50 calories but you get fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and more in this little fruit. That’s an insane value per bite!

So, the next time you want an intense immune boost think of the mighty Kiwi. Just make sure it has the green certified label on it. It is the only way to guarantee that it came from New Zealand.

Those growers may be right, it probably is worth the little extra cost. I assure you it is cheaper than a hospital bill!

Thanks for traveling with us.