Growers, Packers, and Shippers

The story of California kiwifruit is a testament to the dedication of the people involved in the industry. In the beginning, the industry was faced with the challenge of how to successfully grow, pack, store, and market this unfamiliar crop – so different from more traditional crops like grapes and peaches.

The Grower’s Impact:
Since the 1970s, California’s kiwifruit growers have mastered their craft, pioneering in plant care and optimal growth conditions. They’ve spearheaded industry organizations for groundbreaking research, crop promotion, and setting high-quality standards. Growers are responsible to adhere to good farming practices that do not adversely affect the crop, land, or environment.

The Packer’s significance:
Packing sheds across growing regions handle freshly harvested kiwifruit for packing or cold storage. During packing, the fruit is graded, sorted by size, and prepared for shipment. USDA inspectors are present to monitor maturity, quality, size, and grade, and each container receives a USDA PLI stamp upon meeting Federal Marketing Order standards. Food safety is stringently maintained, with third-party inspectors ensuring adherence to protocols during packing and shipping.

The Shipper’s role:
All California kiwifruit shippers, licensed under USDA’s PACA, adhere to fair trading practices. With decades of experience, many have been in business for over 40 years, fostering strong grower partnerships. Their collective goal is to deliver consistently high-quality kiwifruit. Employing produce traceability, they can trace each fruit from retail to its origin. For exceptional quality, choose “Produce of USA” California Kiwifruit.

The story of California kiwifruit is a testament to the precision and dedication involved in producing this unique fruit. The journey from vine to consumer is a complex process, intricately handled by growers, packers, and shippers, each playing a crucial role in ensuring the kiwifruit’s quality.

The Grower’s Impact:
California’s kiwifruit growers are one of a kind having crafted the art of growing kiwifruit in the Golden State for the last fifty years. Since the 70s growers have been producing kiwifruit to the highest quality and have done so by ensuring minimum sugar levels before hanging off the fruit to packers. They continue to keep their commitment to providing you with premium fruit for many years to come by using sustainable practices.

The Packer’s significance:
When it comes to California kiwifruit the packer’s role is like no other. They’re responsible for cleaning, inspecting, and ensuring the quality of the fruit. They even use optical sizers to make sure each kiwifruit is its expected size. Packers work closely with USDA inspectors to check for maturity, quality, size, and grade. After a passing inspection, containers are stamped with an official USDA Positive Lot Identification stamp. Each master container of kiwifruit also includes produce traceability making it possible to trace the product back to its point of origin.

The Shipper’s role:
After Kiwifruit gets its stamp of approval shippers are there to deliver the fruit to you in the highest quality possible. This means taking extra precautions such as using electric folklife to reduce exhaust from prematurely ripening the fruit. Make sure to look for “Produce of USA” to experience the quality of Califonia Kiwifruit.