NZ Company Upcycles Rejected Kiwi Fruit Into Premium Snacks

June 13, 2021: 12:00 AM EST

Nelson, NZ-based Little Beauties says it is investing millions of dollars “to make classy snacks” from rejected gold kiwifruit that otherwise would be fed to cows or dumped. The company has raised NZ$4 million ($2.9 million) from local investors over the past two years to expand and automate the drying of kiwifruit, feijoas, and berries. The new machines do the work of five people who used to peel, slice, and place fruit on drying trays. Export volumes are small at present, and getting shipping space is an issue as COVID-19 continues to disrupt supply lines. About 40 percent of sales come from Australia, “much of it from homesick Kiwis pining for feijoas and happy to buy the freeze-dried version.” A recent partnership with Trade Aid has resulted in that organization taking over the job of dipping organic gold kiwifruit slices in organic dark chocolate, a premium product aimed at the U.S. market.

Amanda Cropp, "Rescued kiwifruit turned into premium snack treats", The Sunday Star-Times (Auckland, New Zealand), June 13, 2021, via Press Reader, © The Sunday Star-Times (Auckland, New Zealand)

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