Menu Moment — Kiwi in Foodservice

The kiwifruit may be brown and pedestrian-looking on the outside, but inside – whether green or yellow – it is bright and sweet. According to a Fresh Insights on Foodservice report from the United Fresh Produce Association, kiwi has enjoyed rising popularity in restaurant dishes around the U.S., with 34% growth on fast-casual menus in the last four years.

While it’s often used in sweet dishes and beverages – smoothies, breakfast bowls, ice cream, tarts, cocktails – some chefs are branching out.

“Some operators recently have been getting creative with kiwi applications and have featured it sliced atop dessert pizzas and even savory pizzas,” United Fresh wrote. “Kiwi could also lend depth of flavor to concepts like salsa. According to Datassential’s SNAP! platform, kiwi is often paired with strawberry, pineapple and mango, so dishes where those fruits are featured could point to applications for kiwi as well.”