Kathy's Kiwi Berries

I would like to introduce you to an exciting product, one you may or may not have come across in your farm market travels: the Kiwi Berry. Not quite a kiwi and certainly not your traditional berry, the Kiwi Berry is a unique, smooth-skinned fruit (a cousin of the well-known kiwi) that originated in the temperate, coastal regions of Russia and China. Though they make look different on the outside, the inside of the berry bares a striking resemblance to their New Zealand-native cousin. Some even say they taste similar, too.I drove out to Kathy Glahn’s Kiwi Berry Farm in Gettysburg, PA earlier this week to learn more about this not-so-common, but certainly delicious fruit. Driving up the driveway, I found myself surrounded by rows of beautiful green vines to my right and left, encompassing an adorable little home in which Kathy and her husband, Jeff, reside. I knocked on the door and was greeted by a beautiful dog, an inquisitive cat, and Jeff. I was soon taken to the back where Kathy stood among the vines, clearly in her place of happiness and peace.Kathy certainly knows a lot about agriculture and farming. She grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin where she later met Jeff. After several moves, they ended up in their current residence in Pennsylvania. Kathy began growing micro greens and other produce for local gourmet restaurants. As soon as she discovered kiwi berries, Kathy decided to devote all of her time to raising these hardy little fruits. She first found them in a nursery in New York where she met a grower and soon began the long process of growing and cultivating them.Kiwi berry vines take a long time and a lot of effort to bear fruit. There is no fruit on a male vine, only flowers. Pollination, which takes place near the end of May, happens by strategically intermingling male and female vines and a female vine must be 4-5 years old before it can produce fruit. A study done by Penn State and Cornell University determined that more pollination occurs from wind than from traditional methods (such as bees), and therefore male vines are placed on prevailing wind sides.Around the beginning of September, Kathy will start checking the sugar levels of the berries to determine when the proper harvest time will occur. Much like avocados, kiwi berries are better picked when they're almost ripe. They are picked, placed in cold storage, and taken out the Tuesday before a market. This way, they are at optimum ripeness for the weekend markets. This is something that Kathy stresses to her customers - kiwi berries hold very well in cold storage up to 4 weeks!Little did I know, there are many different varieties of kiwi berries, and they all have their own distinct attributes and flavors. The most popular is the Passion Popper, which will be the first crop of kiwi berries at the markets. According to Kathy, they have a kiwi-strawberry flavor that customers go crazy for. Then there is the Anna variety, which is a little more susceptible to bugs, so the harvest is usually smaller than other kinds. The Anna has a kiwi-pear flavor. Other varieties include the Red Princess (strong kiwi taste and a red interior), the Dumbarton Oak (strong lime flavor), and the Michigan, which has a slightly less acidic, mild kiwi flavor. Kathy is very passionate about educating her customers and is determined to help customers distinguish between the varieties of kiwi berries.Kathy’s Kiwi Berries will be coming to Bethesda Central Farm Market on the weekend of September 13. I strongly encourage you to put that date on your calendar, plan to be there and taste these amazing fruits. Come talk to Kathy and let her tell you all about kiwi berries - her passion for this product is palpable. I guarantee you’ll learn so much about these hardy treats, just like I did.