Ten fun facts about Kiwi fruits

Fact 1
The kiwi is native to China, once referred to as the 'yang tao' but changed to the 'Chinese gooseberry', finally ending with 'kiwifruit' because of it's similarity to the kiwi bird.

Fact 2
Its appearance can vary considerably, with differences in hairiness, color, shape and size, as well as juiciness, texture and taste.

Fact 3
The first golden kiwis were harvested in 1991. This gave them a golden colored flesh rather than the usual green.

Fact 4
Kiwis have a high level of potassium, which can help manage blood pressure.

Fact 5
The fruit can ripen faster if placed in a paper bag with an apple, pear or banana, but can over-ripen if placed in the refrigerator.

Fact 6
Even though some of the plants can self pollinate, many of the plants require a male plant to pollinate a female plant. This method produces a greater yield.

Fact 7
Eating a kiwi is a natural alternative to taking aspirin. It has been proven to give the same results: reducing blood clots and heart attack risks.

Fact 8
While actinidain, a compound in kiwifruit, can be an allergen for some, it is mostly for people who are allergic to latex, bananas, papayas or pineapples.

Fact 9
The kiwifruit contains more Vitamin C than an orange, making it 1.5 times the daily amount of recommended Vitamin C.

Fact 10
Similar to grapes, kiwis grow on a vine, but can take relatively longer to grow, since they need more than 200 days of no frost hazard.