As global leaders in all things fruit ingredients, our vast network of partners and suppliers allows us to source a huge selection of fruits in nearly every format. Looking for something specific? We can help.

Kiwi

Our customers use kiwi because of its bright flavor, vibrant appearance, and strong nutritional benefits. Kiwi has a naturally sweet-tart taste that enhances a variety of products, including beverages, desserts, yogurts, and fruit blends. Its bright green color, often dotted with small black seeds, adds visual appeal and can help create fresh, premium-looking products. Kiwi is also rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, supporting immune health and wellness-related marketing claims. It is commonly processed into purees, concentrates, and dried forms, which extend shelf life and make it convenient for large-scale manufacturing and consistent product formulation.

Brothers International is proud to offer various fruit juices and concentrates as USDA Organic certified.

Kiwi can be supplied as organic upon request

Available From

Our Kiwi is sourced from the earth's prime growing regions. Contact us to learn more.

Available As

• Kiwi Juice Concentrate
• Kiwi Puree
• Kiwi IQF

Harvest Seasons

Kiwis grow in the Southern hemisphere from May to August, and in the Northern hemisphere from January to April.

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Botanical: Actinidia Deliciosa

From Gooseberry to Kiwi

Kiwifruit, commonly called kiwi, is a small fruit that grows on a woody vine and is native to China, where it was originally known as the Chinese gooseberry. Today, it is commonly processed into kiwi juice concentrate and kiwi puree. It has a brown, fuzzy outer skin and bright green or golden flesh with a ring of tiny black seeds inside. The fruit has a soft, juicy texture and a distinctive appearance when sliced. Kiwi plants grow best in temperate climates and require support structures, like trellises, to accommodate their climbing vines. The fruit is typically harvested when mature but still firm, and it continues to ripen after picking.
The kiwifruit (Actinidia), originally known as the Chinese gooseberry, is a vigorous woody fruiting vine native to the Yangtze River valley of China and commercially perfected in New Zealand, Europe, and South America. Highly prized across the global food, beverage, dairy, and bakery sectors, kiwifruit delivers an invigorating sweet-tart flavor profile, brilliant emerald-green or radiant golden-yellow flesh, high dietary fiber, and extraordinary nutrient density—providing more Vitamin C per gram than oranges, alongside Vitamin E, potassium, and actinidin (a natural proteolytic cysteine protease enzyme).
In commercial fruit ingredient processing, species and cultivar selection dictate pigmentation, acidity, sugar density, and seed aesthetics:

  • Green Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa – Hayward Cultivar): The undisputed global commercial processing benchmark. Hayward kiwifruit features fuzzy brown skin enclosing vibrant emerald-green flesh ringed with tiny, edible black seeds and a light cream-colored core. Hayward offers a sharp, refreshing sweet-tart balance, high titratable acidity (predominantly citric and quinic acids), and robust chlorophyll pigmentation. It is the primary variety utilized for clarified juice concentrates, seeded and seedless purees, and IQF slices.

  • Gold Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis – SunGold / Hort16A): Features smooth, hairless bronze skin and radiant golden-yellow flesh. Gold kiwi offers a significantly sweeter, tropical flavor profile with lower titratable acidity, subtle notes of mango and melon, and elevated natural Brix. Gold kiwi purees and IQF cuts are highly sought after for specialty tropical blends, premium desserts, and formulations requiring vibrant yellow color without green chlorophyll tones.

  • Seeded vs. Seedless Formats: Seed-in kiwi puree retains the fruit’s tiny, intact black seeds suspended in the green pulp, providing immediate visual particulate identification. Seedless kiwi puree is passed through precision finisher screens to eliminate all seeds, yielding a silky, smooth paste designed for automated dosing and dairy applications.

Brothers International partners with origin processors equipped with custom low-shear pulping and de-seeding systems to isolate the succulent flesh without crushing internal seeds, eliminating the risk of bitter polyphenolic tannins or seed oil off-flavors entering the juice or puree stream.

Global Sourcing Through the Brothers International Network:
Kiwifruit vines require temperate microclimates with distinct winter chilling hours (600 to 850 hours below 7°C) to induce dormancy and bud break, followed by long, warm, frost-free growing seasons with consistent irrigation and wind protection. Because kiwi crops are sensitive to spring frosts, hail, and devastating vine diseases (such as Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae / PSA bacterial canker), securing year-round industrial supply requires a diversified multi-hemisphere footprint. Brothers International connects North American procurement managers to premier growing regions through our established network of audited suppliers.

We source high-grade kiwifruit ingredients from leading agricultural hubs:

  • Oceania (New Zealand): The world’s technological and quality benchmark for kiwifruit production (centered in the Bay of Plenty). New Zealand processors lead the global market in cutting-edge kiwi IQF technology, high-clarity concentrates, and SunGold cultivars.

  • Europe (Italy & Greece): Italy (Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Veneto) and Greece are the dominant European processing giants, supplying massive volumes of Hayward green kiwi puree, 65° Brix clarified kiwi juice concentrate, and IQF cuts with strict EU and USDA regulatory compliance.

  • South America (Chile): The Central Valley of Chile serves as a critical Southern Hemisphere powerhouse, supplying counter-seasonal green kiwi puree, kiwi IQF dices, and kiwi juice concentrate during the North American spring and summer.

  • North America (United States): California’s Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys supply high-quality domestic processing kiwi for short-lead NFC purees and IQF formats.

By coordinating supply across New Zealand, Italy, Greece, Chile, and California, Brothers International insulates your manufacturing facility against localized weather anomalies, regional crop shortages, and ocean shipping bottlenecks.

Harvest Cycles & Continuous Supply Management:
In the Northern Hemisphere (Italy, Greece, California), kiwifruit is harvested at physiological maturity from October through December. In the Southern Hemisphere (New Zealand and Chile), harvesting occurs counter-seasonally from March through June. Because whole kiwifruit can be held in state-of-the-art controlled atmosphere (CA) cold storage facilities for up to 6 months post-harvest, origin processors can stagger extraction, pulping, and blast-freezing operations continuously throughout all four quarters.

Managing these counter-seasonal production schedules and international cold-chain shipping routes is a core competency of Brothers International. Our operations and logistics teams oversee multi-quarter inventory allocations, deep-frozen ocean transport (-18°C), USDA/FDA import clearances, C-TPAT supply chain security, and strategic warehousing across North America. Whether your facility requires frozen 5-gallon pails of seedless green kiwi puree, drums of 65° Brix clarified concentrate, or bulk master cartons of 3/8″ IQF diced kiwi, our network guarantees ready inventory year-round.

Rigorous Quality Control, Traceability & Compliance:
Processing kiwifruit ingredients demands strict technical controls—specifically regarding mechanical seed separation, enzymatic browning and chlorophyll degradation prevention, actinidin enzyme management, and microbiological safety. Every supplier within the Brothers International network undergoes a comprehensive auditing process to guarantee complete supply chain traceability, sustainable water management, fair labor standards, and strict compliance with USDA, FDA, and international food safety standards.

Through our network, we deliver kiwifruit ingredients backed by complete technical documentation and top-tier industry certifications, including GFSI benchmarks (BRC, SQF, FSSC 22000), USDA Organic (NOP), Kosher, Non-GMO, and Halal standards. Our quality assurance protocols include testing for pesticide residues, heavy metals, microbial validation, titratable acidity, actinidin enzyme deactivation, chlorophyll/color stability, and Brix adherence under FDA 21 CFR § 101.30.

The Brothers International

Quality Promise

Brothers International and its 4 divisions, Brothers Ingredients, Dennick Fruit Source, Hosh International and Food Partners, are trusted global importers of premium ingredients to major food and beverage manufacturers in North America. We deliver consistent quality and supply across every format the industry demands. Our Kiwi is sourced from the earth’s prime growing regions where farming expertise, climate and soil composition come together to produce Kiwi of exceptional caliber. All of our suppliers undergo a rigorous vetting process to ensure we work with only the highest-quality processors and can fully guarantee traceability, sustainability, and compliance with all international regulations.

Each of our divisions has a specialized operations team to manage shipments and coordinate with customers and suppliers. They work closely with our in-house customs team to ensure efficient clearance, and collaborate with the USDA and FDA to maintain full regulatory compliance. This ensures your ingredients move seamlessly through every stage of import, arriving on time and ready for production with complete confidence. With decades of sourcing expertise and a strong commitment to customer success, you can count on Brothers International to deliver the premium ingredients your products require.

Brothers International is a global supplier of kiwi juice concentrate, kiwi puree and kiwi IQF.
All the information you need to navigate the fruit ingredient buying process.

Industry Glossary

A Reference Guide for Fruit Ingredient Terminology

Check out our glossary for a consolidated reference of commonly used terminology across the global fruit ingredient industry. It provides straightforward definitions and context for the language and concepts referenced throughout the industry.

Kiwi Juice Concentrate

Facts and Questions About Kiwi Juice Ingredients

As fruit ingredient experts, we can work with manufacturers to provide nearly any specification of kiwi juice concentrate and kiwi puree – contact our team to get started. The table below represents a handful of the most common brix levels and concentration.

Target Brix / Spec Approx. Concentration Product Format Why Manufacturers Choose It & Applications
65° Brix ~4.22-Fold (4.22:1) Clarified Kiwi Juice Concentrate Maximum Efficiency & High Clarity. De-pectinized and ultra-filtered to remove all pulp, cloud, and seeds while concentrating natural sugars and crisp malic/citric acidity. Drastically lowers shipping and storage costs. Used in hard seltzers, 100% juice blends, gummy candies, RTD teas, and energy drinks.
14.0° – 16.0° Brix
(Single-Strength)		 1-Fold (1:1) Kiwi Puree (Seed-In or Seedless) Baseline standard (FDA 100% single-strength at 15.4° Brix). Milled pulp available with intact black seeds (for signature visual appeal) or seedless (for smooth dosing). Flash-pasteurized to stabilize color and deactivate actinidin. Preferred for smoothies, craft beer, yogurts, and fruit preps.
14.0° – 16.0° Brix
(Firm Cellular Cut)		 1-Fold (Whole Flesh) IQF Kiwi Diced / Cubes
(1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″ Cuts)		 Precision Cryogenic Freezing. Peeled and diced fresh kiwifruit flash-frozen to lock in cellular body, emerald color, and sweet-tart bite. Provides instant portion control, visual particulate suspension, and structural integrity for frozen smoothie packs, fruit salads, and baked goods.
14.0° – 16.0° Brix
(Transverse Cut)		 1-Fold (Whole Slices) IQF Kiwi Slices / Wheels
(Cross-Cut Rounds)		 Iconic Visual Presentation. Cross-cut circular wheels showcasing the natural radiating pattern of black seeds and bright green or gold flesh. Individually Quick Frozen to prevent clumping. Ideal for food service, tart toppings, cocktail garnishes, and retail frozen fruit blends.

  • Kiwi Puree (Seed-In or Seedless, 14°–16° Brix): Produced by peeling and milling whole ripe kiwifruit. Seed-in puree retains the tiny, suspended black seeds to deliver an authentic visual signature and natural fiber. Seedless kiwi puree is passed through fine finisher screens (0.020″ to 0.033″ mesh) to remove all seeds, providing a silky, velvety texture for automated lines and dairy formulations.

  • Clarified Kiwi Juice Concentrate (65° Brix): De-pectinized and ultra-filtered to remove all insoluble pulp, fibers, cloud, and seeds. It yields a clear, light-amber to golden liquid with high solubility, cutting freight costs and integrating smoothly into clear beverages, hard seltzers, and gummy candies.

  • IQF Kiwi (Dices, Slices, or Wheels): Peeled fresh kiwifruit cut to uniform specifications and passed through a cryogenic blast-freezing tunnel. IQF freezing locks in cellular structure, preventing mushiness and maintaining firm bite, vivid color, and fresh-cut visual appeal upon thawing.

According to FDA regulations under 21 CFR § 101.30, the single-strength standard for 100% kiwifruit juice is 15.4° Brix.

  • To reconstitute 65° Brix Kiwi Juice Concentrate: Mix 1 part concentrate with 3.22 parts water by weight (dilution ratio ~3.22:1).

Kiwi fruit naturally contains actinidin, a potent cysteine protease (protein-digesting enzyme) similar to papain in papaya and bromelain in pineapple. If active actinidin is introduced into protein-containing or gelatin-based matrixes:

  • Dairy & Plant Proteins: Actinidin digests casein and whey proteins, causing milk or yogurt to curdle, separate, and develop bitter hydrophobic peptides.

  • Gelatin Systems: Actinidin breaks down the collagen peptide bonds in animal gelatin, preventing gummy candies, gelatin desserts, or aspics from gelling. To prevent these formulation failures, Brothers International supplies thermally flash-pasteurized kiwi purees and concentrates where actinidin is permanently denatured. Conversely, low-heat or un-pasteurized kiwi ingredients can be specified by industrial meat processors seeking clean-label meat tenderization.

  • Green Kiwi (A. deliciosa – Hayward): Features vivid emerald-green flesh, higher titratable acidity, and a crisp, tangy sweet-tart profile. Green kiwi is the commercial standard for beverage blends, sour craft beers, and products where bold visual contrast or sharp refreshing notes are desired.

  • Gold Kiwi (A. chinensis – SunGold): Features hairless skin, radiant golden-yellow flesh, higher natural Brix, and a sweeter, tropical profile with notes of melon and mango. Gold kiwi is preferred for sweet smoothie blends, baby food, and formulations where green chlorophyll tones would clash with the desired final product color.

Green kiwi color is driven by natural chlorophyll, which is heat- and acid-sensitive. Exposure to prolonged thermal processing or low pH causes chlorophyll to lose its magnesium ion, converting it into pheophytin—an undesirable dull olive-brown pigment. Processors prevent pheophytin degradation by:

  1. Vacuum Deaeration: Stripping dissolved oxygen prior to heating to prevent oxidative degradation.

  2. High-Temperature Short-Time (HTST) Pasteurization: Applying brief flash-heat (just enough to deactivate polyphenol oxidase and actinidin) followed by rapid chilling.

  3. Deep-Freezing (-18°C / 0°F): Holding purees and IQF cuts strictly frozen to lock in emerald-green hues across shelf life.

  • Beverages & Craft Brewing: kiwi juice concentrate is a foundational base for green smoothie preps, tropical RTD juice blends, flavored hard seltzers, kombucha, and craft beers (especially fruited sours, Berliner Weisses, and IPAs).

  • Dairy & Frozen Desserts: Used in fruit-on-the-bottom yogurts, drinkable yogurts, ice creams, gelatos, sorbets, paletas, and smoothie bowls.

  • Bakery & Confectionery:  Kiwi IQF wheels and dices serve as bakery toppings and fruit tarts; purees and concentrates are used in pastry fillings, glazes, fruit gummies, and pectin chews.

  • Prepared Foods & Food Service: Kiwi IQF dices and slices are used in frozen meal kits, retail frozen fruit blends, and fruit salads.

Brothers International supplies commercial kiwi juice concentrate, kiwi puree and other kiwi ingredients in standard B2B industrial packaging formats – you can contact us directly here on our website to get additional specific details:

  • IQF Kiwi (Dices, Slices, Wheels): Packaged in 10 kg (~22 lbs), 20 lb, or 30 lb corrugated master cartons lined with heavy polyethylene liners, shipped strictly frozen (-18°C).

  • Kiwi Puree (Seed-In or Seedless): Packaged in 5-gallon pails (~45 lbs), 55-gallon steel/poly drums (~500–550 lbs), or 2,200 lb bulk totes fitted with barrier liners, shipped frozen or aseptic.

  • Clarified Kiwi Juice Concentrate: Packaged in 5-gallon pails, 55-gallon drums, or 275-gallon totes.

  • Frozen Storage (-18°C / 0°F or lower): Recommended for all IQF cuts, non-aseptic purees, and concentrates to preserve natural chlorophyll/carotenoid pigmentation, volatile esters, and Vitamin C for 18 to 24 months.

  • Chilled Storage (0°C–4°C / 32°F–40°F): Recommended for 65° Brix Clarified Kiwi Juice Concentrate to prevent thermal Maillard browning over 12 to 18 months. Once unsealed, product must remain strictly refrigerated and be used within 48 to 72 hours.

Because kiwifruit crops can be impacted by late spring frosts in Europe or weather anomalies in the Southern Hemisphere, relying on a single origin introduces operational vulnerability. Brothers International mitigates supply risk through strategic multi-hemisphere sourcing. By contracting directly with audited, GFSI-certified processing facilities across New Zealand, Italy, Greece, Chile, and California, we guarantee continuous volume allocations, multi-quarter contract security, and predictable pricing year-round.

Every beverage and food formulation requires precise technical parameters to perform consistently on automated production lines. Beyond standard ingredient delivery, Brothers International supports your R&D and QA teams with comprehensive technical documentation and specification matching. We provide batch-specific Certificates of Analysis (COA), detailed product specification sheets, allergen statements, Non-GMO declarations, and heavy metal/pesticide testing.

Whether your product requires a specific pH range, custom titratable acidity, precise color intensity, or tailored seed filtration (down to specific mesh screen sizes), our technical specialists collaborate directly with your formulators to match your operational requirements. To accelerate your product development cycle, we maintain a rapid-ship sample program for bench testing and pilot-scale trials.

Navigating global fruit commodity markets requires proactive supply chain management and real-time market intelligence. Seasonal weather anomalies, shifting freight rates, and harvest yield fluctuations can impact kiwi ingredient pricing and availability. Brothers International acts as a strategic procurement partner, offering market forecasts, crop reports, and flexible contracting structures—including multi-quarter forward contracts to lock in budget stability, as well as spot-market sourcing to fill unexpected inventory gaps.

As direct importers, we handle the complexities of international trade so you don’t have to. Our logistics team manages C-TPAT supply chain security, USDA/FDA import clearances, and customs brokerage to eliminate port delays. Backed by strict temperature-monitored cold-chain logistics, we ensure your frozen strawberry concentrates, purees, and essences maintain complete color, flavor, and microbial integrity from origin to your facility floor.

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Certifications

As a leader in sourcing organic ingredients, we work closely with our suppliers to ensure full traceability, sustainability and to ensure they comply with all international regulations for chemical residues and pesticides. We are organic certified and all our organic products are NOP certified and Kosher certified.

Brothers International Food Holdings is a proud member of the CUSTOMS – TRADE PARTNERSHIP AGAINST TERRORISM (C-TPAT) program. C-TPAT is a voluntary U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that partners with businesses to strengthen supply chain security and reduce risks, including terrorism. For more information, visit www.cbp.gov

All our products are Kosher and GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) Certified. We can supply all of our products with organic certification and, if required, unpasteurized purées and juices.

We have joined the global movement to protect the environment and improve lives for farmers and workers around the world. We help farmers in developing countries builds sustainable businesses that positively influence their communities. Brothers International can assist you in sourcing Fair Trade Certified™ and Demeter (Bio-dynamic)™ ingredients.

Brothers International is a part of CTPAT.
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