With feijoas spilling from roadside stalls and being given away freely on Facebook, it's easy to wonder—who would pay $9.99 a kilo for this popular green fruit? Waimea Weekly went digging for the answer.
The price tag starts to make sense when you visit local growers like Wai-West Horticulture, who manage a four-hectare grove of around 5,000 trees near Brightwater. Each season, typically from March to May, they harvest about 65 tonnes of feijoas.
Of that, roughly 30 tonnes are shipped to supermarkets across the South Island, with a small portion reaching the North Island. The remaining 35 tonnes are snapped up by local businesses to produce juice and cider.
“Places like Invercargill and Dunedin just can’t grow feijoas—it’s too cold,” says Sophie Sullivan of Wai-West Horticulture. “And this year, the North Island didn’t get the growing season it needed, which has created a shortage. That’s why we’ve sent some up there this season.”
And it’s not just quantity—they’re also producing some hefty fruit. While the average backyard feijoa weighs between 20 and 100 grams, the largest one Sophie has found this season came in at a whopping 383 grams.
Another fascinating detail? Feijoas are bird-pollinated, unlike most fruits, which rely on bees.
“We put out bird feeders in November when the trees start to flower to encourage birds to come and pollinate,” Sophie explains.
With 11 different varieties planted across the grove, the farm can stagger its harvest. “Some varieties fruit early, others later,” she says, helping maintain a steady supply throughout the season.
So, while locals may enjoy backyard bounty, supermarket shoppers—especially those far from growing region—are more than happy to pay for the unique taste and quality of feijoas.
