Potential of hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) for fruit spread production: a first insight

Abstract

Hardy kiwifruits represent an unexplored agricultural resource for South Tyrol which could be of particular interest to the region by contributing to agricultural biodiversity and the valorisation of minor crops in the area. The main limitation of this crop is its short shelf-life as a fresh raw material, which is related to its intrinsic perishability. Processing hardy kiwis into canned products could be a valid strategy for encouraging the production and spread of this crop throughout the territory, enabling food products derived from it to be available all year round. This study evaluated the suitability of hardy kiwifruits for processing into spreads. Results indicate that no pectin needs to be added to ensure that the fruit spread has a pleasant texture, and browning over time occurred slowly, despite the preserve not being stabilised with antioxidant agents, suggesting that the shelf-life of such a preserve might be quite long. Finally, from a preliminary sensory evaluation, consumers rated the preserve positively with regard to its texture, sweetness and flavour, and it obtained a positive overall evaluation from an organoleptic point of view, indicating that this crop has potential for use in the production of fruit spreads.