The declining price for kiwifruit over the past few years has halted new planting and resulted in acreage being pulled out in some countries and in British Columbia.
New plantings are rare and higher value crops are beginning to replace existing plantations.
There are more than 50 species in the genus Actinidia and many have commercial potential. Most of the species grow wild in the temperate forests and mountains of south-western China, but some species occur over a wide geographic range from Siberia to Indonesia. One Actinidia species of interest is A. arguta found throughout Korea, northeastern China, eastern Siberia, and north of Japan. The introduction of A. arguta to Canada brings the excitement of domesticating a new and completely different sort of kiwifruit relative with considerable economic potential. A. arguta can be cultivated in cool temperate regions and compete on the market with other berry fruits.