·       THE KIWIFRUIT MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY DEVELOPED AND DISPLAY SATISFACTORY RIPENESS.

·       THE DEVELOPMENT OF KIWIFRUIT IS EXPRESSED IN SHAPE AND SIZE OF THE FRUIT. UNDERDEVELOPED FRUIT ARE POORLY POLLINATED AND SHOW FEW SEEDS.

·       IN ORDER TO SATISFY THIS REQUIREMENT, THE FRUIT AT PACKING MUST HAVE ATTAINED A DEGREE OF RIPENESS OF AT LEAST 6.2° BRIX OR AN AVERAGE DRY MATTER CONTENT OF 15 % WHICH SHOULD LEAD TO 9.5° BRIX WHEN ENTERING THE DISTRIBUTION CHAIN.

·       THE INTENT OF SETTING THESE LEVELS IS TO ASSURE THAT FRUITS ARE HARVESTED AT A MATURITY STAGE WHICH ENABLES THEM TO ENTER THE DISTRIBUTION CHAIN IN GOOD CONDITION AND TO CONTINUE THE RIPENING TO ACHIEVE GOOD EATING QUALITY.

·       METHODS TO DETERMINE THE REFRACTOMETRIC INDEX AND THE DRY MATTER CONTENT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE GUIDANCE ON OBJECTIVE TESTS TO DETERMINE THE QUALITY OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AND DRY AND DRIED PRODUCE.