Belgian fruit auction Profuco hopes to have grape-sized hardy kiwifruit grown in Belgium on offer for its customers by autumn next year.

The fruit, variously known as Siberian gooseberry, cocktail kiwifruit, baby kiwifruit and dessert kiwifruit, is grown outdoors and is eaten as a snack fruit that does not require any peeling or preparation.

Profuco managing director Koen Torfs said: “We now have the largest kiwifruit plantations in Belgium and our aim is to bring this kiwifruit onto the market by autumn 2009. Children will love it as a tasty snack.

“We’re also planning to talk to Lava about selling this new product under its Flandria label,” he added.