Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinesis and A-deliciosa) plantings and production in China, 2002

The Chinese kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis and A. deliciosa) industry continues to expand. Plantings in September 2002 occupied 57 400 ha with total production estimated to be 340 000 t per year. China now has more kiwifruit planted than any other country and annual production is probably second only to that of Italy. About one-quarter of total plantings are of A chinensis cultivars, the remainder in cultivars of A deliciosa. Eleven cultivars of A. chinensis and 11 cultivars of A. deliciosa together account for 91.5% of total kiwifruit plantings. One-third of all Chinese kiwifruit orchards are in Shaanxi, planted almost entirely in A. deliciosa 'Qinmei', by far the most common kiwifruit cultivar in China. 'Bruno' and 'Hayward', cultivars selected in New Zealand, now account for approximately one-sixth of the total area in kiwifruit in China.