For the past half month, officially imported red-fleshed kiwi from New Zealand has appeared on the market, quickly attracting consumers with its striking color and distinct flavor. Despite its high price point, this fruit is selling well as many are curious to try it.

Ms. Hoa from An Hoi Dong ward, Ho Chi Minh City, expressed surprise upon seeing kiwi with red flesh instead of the usual green or yellow. "I bought a 2 kg box for 700,000 dong to try. This variety is sweeter and richer than other types," Ms. Hoa stated.

Red-fleshed kiwi is sold at an imported fruit store in Ho Chi Minh City. *Thanh Loc*

Similarly, Ms. Lan Anh from Xuan Hoa ward, Ho Chi Minh City, mentioned that previously, red kiwi was only available through unofficial hand-carried imports from New Zealand, priced up to 500,000 dong per kilogram. Supply was limited then and required pre-orders. Currently, the product is widely imported officially, with prices reduced by about 30% compared to hand-carried goods, making it more accessible to consumers.

The red-fleshed kiwi, often called RubyRed, was developed by Zespri, the world's largest kiwi producer, through a natural breeding program in New Zealand. According to the company's report, this fruit has a rich sweetness and a natural red color due to anthocyanin, an antioxidant compound found in many berries. However, due to its short season, lasting only about 6-8 weeks, and lower yield compared to yellow or green varieties, the supply of red kiwi remains limited.

Vo Thanh Loc, co-founder of the Farmers’ Market system, stated that this is the first year Zespri's red-fleshed kiwi has been officially imported into Vietnam. The initial official shipment arrived in early 4/. According to Loc, despite its small size, the product's appealing appearance quickly captivated consumers. Currently, this is the best-selling kiwi variety within their company's system.

Each kilogram of red kiwi costs approximately 350,000 dong, while a box containing 4-6 fruits (0.5-0.6 kg) is about 189,000 dong. This price is significantly lower than the previous 500,000-600,000 dong per kilogram for hand-carried goods.

From the importer's perspective, Lu Minh Quang, Import Director of Biovegi Vietnam Joint Stock Company, stated that the company imported an initial batch of red kiwi totaling about 80 tons, equivalent to 4 containers, for distribution in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, half of the volume has arrived at port, with the remainder in transit.

According to Quang, this is their first season importing New Zealand red-fleshed kiwi, so the volume is limited, primarily for market testing. This kiwi variety is positioned in the premium segment, with its current price about 20-30% higher than the yellow-fleshed type. Shifting to official sea imports using cold containers helps the company reduce logistics costs, thereby making the selling price more accessible.

Thi Ha