Kiwifruit close up

Japanese kiwifruit consumption climbed to a September-high in 2017, with an average 187g consumed per household, according to figures from Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Kiwifruit expenditure (¥142 per household) was the second highest September rate in the past 13 years, while the average purchasing price (¥759 per kg) was the lowest in the last four years.

Conversely, grape consumers encountered their highest September purchasing prices (¥1,141 per kg) in over a decade, which saw average household expenditure climb to ¥842, up from ¥769 in September 2016. Consumption remained consistent with averages over the past four years at 0.74kg per household.

While the purchasing price for bananas (¥254) was the third highest September average in the past 13 years, it was lower than the previous two years (¥279 in 2015 and ¥278 in 2016).

Overall Japanese fruit consumption in September 2017 (6.12 kg per household) was the lowest for that month in the last 13 years, while the average purchasing price (¥542 per kg) was the highest for the corresponding time period.