Enzed Exotics has started shipping New Zealand grown kiwano to the US East Coast for the first time.
Relationships formed at a trade show in New York last year have enabled the Bay of Plenty grower to establish a shipping base in Philadelphia, complementing its existing programme to the US West Coast.
“This is a very exciting development for us. Previously we shipped solely into Los Angeles,” explained Enzed Exotics owner Alan Hutchings.
“Now East Coast retailers and wholesalers can have the same direct access to our fresh Kiwano as our West Coast clients. This new base opens up opportunities for us to reach out to a thriving East Coast food scene.”
Hutchings said there had been high demand for Enzed Exotics kiwano this season, though wet and humid late summer conditions meant hopes for a record yield may not be achieved. Regardless, the company will continue to work on building a reputation for supplying premium quality fruit.
'Growing kiwano is a bit of a calling for me,” he said. “There’s a lot of pride in what we do, and I think that care shows in the end product. We have extremely thorough quality control and careful handling to make sure our customers only receive high quality fruit.”
Hutchings said demand for high-quality produce that could demonstrate its sustainable and ethical credentials was growing rapidly.
“People are starting to quite critically look at where the food on their plate comes from. We’ve been committed to natural growing for decades, and that long-term commitment is resonating with our customers and clients more than ever.”
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