Kiwis, also known as kiwifruit, are a type of fruit native to the mountains and hillsides of Southwest China. They’re now grown in many other areas of the world, including New Zealand, which is a top producer of this popular fruit. Kiwis are also grown in many other areas of the world, including the United States. Kiwis were first brought to New Zealand in 1904 by a schoolteacher named Isabel Fraser, who brought kiwi seeds back home with her after traveling through China.

Once known as Chinese gooseberry, kiwis were given the name “kiwi” by New Zealand fruit exporters after the flightless kiwi birds, which are endemic to New Zealand. Hayward kiwis are oval in shape and about the size of a large hen’s egg. They have fuzzy brown skin, green flesh, and tiny black seeds. The skin of most varieties of kiwi should be peeled off before you eat them. However, some people like to eat the skin of golden or yellow kiwi varieties because the skin is softer than the skin of green kiwis.