The British kiwiberry season is under way, with BerryWorld grower Withers Farm set for a record crop this season.
Farm owner George Leeds has increased production of the fuzz-free, miniature kiwis every year since it began growing them in 2008, and this season it is expecting to sell around 50 tonnes.
The fruit, whose season runs from the end of August into October, will be available in selected M&S, Morrisons, Tesco and Waitrose stores across the UK, as well as online, via Ocado.com.
Unlike their larger kiwifruit siblings, kiwiberries have smooth skin and don't need to be peeled. Inside they resemble a regular kiwi and are deep green in colour, with a central ray of small black seeds.
Established in 1958, Withers Farm is a family-run business that has evolved from small local wholesale supplier to a major supermarket supplier.
When George's father, Allen Leeds, set up the farm it was focused on strawberry and apple production, but after taking over the business, George Allen added blueberries and then, in 2008, he began planting kiwiberries.
The Ledbury-based producer was one of the first UK farms to start growing the niche crop, which is native to Northen China. Now it produces three different varieties of the fruit: Weiki, Ananasnaya and Geneva.
