Crop could impact area’s economic future
One of the world’s most profitable commodities is grown on 418 acres of rolling land just a little more than 30 miles outside of Alexander City. Southeast Kiwi Farm Cooperative is the only orchard in the U.S. growing golden kiwifruit, and the opportunities this crop could create for agricultural growth and economics are tremendous.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 8@=56? <:H: 92D D>@@E96C D<:?[ 8@=56? 7=6D9 2?5 9:896C DF82C 4@?E6?E E92? E96 8C66? G2C:6EJ] r6?EC2= p=232>2 :D DF:E23=6 7@C 4F=E:G2E:?8 8@=56? <:H: 5F6 E@ C6=:23=6 H2E6C D@FC46Dj D2?5J D@:=Dj 72:C=J 6=6G2E65 =2?5 2?5 C@==:?8 E@A@8C2A9Jj 2?5 C6=2E:G6=J 7C@DE\7C66 H:?E6CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmr=:?E (2==[ 2? pF3FC? &?:G6CD:EJ 9@CE:4F=EFC6 8C25F2E6 H:E9 2 >2DE6C’D 568C66 DA64:2=:K:?8 :? <:H:7CF:E[ @A6?65 E96 72C>:?8 @A6C2E:@? :? a_`c 27E6C DA6?5:?8 ?:?6 J62CD >2?28:?8 <:H: 72C>D E9C@F89@FE }6H +62=2?5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x 92G6 366? G6CJ 7@CEF?2E6 :? >J 42C66C @AA@CEF?:E:6D] x 3642>6 >2?286C @7 2? @C492C5 @FE E96C6 :? 23@FE ?:?6 >@?E9D[ 2?5 x 92G6 ?6G6C =@@<65 324<] x H2D 2AAC@24965 23@FE E96 AC@;64E 96C6 :? p=232>2 E92E x 925 366? H@C<:?8 @? 369:?5 E96 D46?6D H96? E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ 2C@D6 E@ >@G6 324<[” D2:5 (2==]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(:E9 E96 96=A @7 9:D H:76[ y6??J[ 2?5 p& 2=F>?: tC:4 w@FD6C 2?5 y@? |2=@?6[ (2==’D 4@C6 >2?286>6?E E62> :D 6IA6C:6?4:?8 E96 7:CDE J62C @7 A@E6?E:2= AC@5F4E 7@C 6IA6C:>6?E2E:@?] y6??J[ w@FD6C 2?5 |2=@?6 2== 92G6 9@CE:4F=EFC6 568C66D 2D H6==[ 2?5 |2=@?6 DA64:2=:K65 :? <:H:7CF:E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 2C6 ;FDE 4@>:?8 @FE @7 5@C>2?4J 2E E9:D E:>6 @7 E96 J62C[ D@ 7=@H6C 3F5D 2C6 368:??:?8 E@ @A6?[ 2?5 H6 H:== FD6 366D E@ A@==:?2E6[ 2=@?8 H:E9 92?5 =23@C E@ D6E E96 7CF:E[” D2:5 (2==[ H9@ 92D 366? H@C<:?8 H:E9 <:H:7CF:E D:?46 a__a]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmsC] q:==J s@K:6C[ 2 C6E:C65 p& 9@CE:4F=EFC6 AC@76DD@C[ 92D DEF5:65 <:H:7CF:E AC@5F4E:@? D:?46 E96 `hg_D] (2== H@C<65 F?56C s@K:6C H9:=6 2E p&[ 2?5 s@K:6C 2?5 9:D E62> 56G6=@A65 E96 p& v@=56? $F?D9:?6 2?5 E96 p& vF=7 r@2DE DA64:6D[ 3@E9 @7 H9:49 (2== :D ?@H 8C@H:?8 @? E96 72C> ?62C #66=E@H?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“|J 72G@C:E6 :D E96 vF=7 r@2DE G2C:6EJ 3642FD6 :E’D 62D:6C E@ 8C@H[ 4C62E6D >@C6 G@=F>6[ :D >@C6 7=@C2= 2?5 :D 62D:6C E@ 4C@A=@25] %96 $F?D9:?6 7=@H6CD 2C6 >@C6 DA@C25:4 3FE DE:== 4C62E6 2 8C62E 7CF:E[” D2:5 (2==]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp3@FE `g_ 24C6D @7 E96 AC@A6CEJ[ @H?65 3J $F? !24:7:4[ H6C6 2EEC:3FE65 E@ E96 <:H: @C492C5D] %96 8C@H:?8 AC@46DD DA2?D 7@FC J62CD[ @C:8:?2E:?8 H:E9 A=2?E:?8 2?5 4F=>:?2E:?8 :? E96 7:CDE 4C@A] rFCC6?E=J[ (2== 92D A=2?E65 2 8C@FA @7 G:?6D 6249 J62C[ H9:49 2==@HD 7@C 2 4@?E:?F@FD 4J4=6 @7 2??F2= 92CG6DE:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“$@>6 92G6 ;FDE 8@?6 :?E@ E96 8C@F?5[ 2?5 D@>6 H:== 4C@A E9:D J62C] |@DE @7 >J =23@C :D ?6H E@ <:H: 72C>:?8[ D@ E9:D @AA@CEF?:EJ J62C @7 23@FE a_ 24C6D @7 7CF:E H:== >2<6 7@C 8C62E EC2:?:?8 2?5 D9@H E96> 28C:4F=EFC2= 6G6?ED E96J 92G6 ?@E D66? 367@C6[” 6IA=2:?65 (2==]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 ?62C=J c_ 9:C65 DE277 >6>36CD 2C6 C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2 ?F>36C @7 E2D<D @? E96 @C492C5 32D65 @? E96 AC:@C:EJ @7 E96 <:H:7CF:ED’ DE286D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“tG6CJE9:?8 H6 5@ :D 5@?6 3J 92?5[ D@ :E E2<6D 2 =@E @7 =23@C 2?5 >2? 9@FCD] %96 @?=J >249:?6D FD65 2C6 7@C >@H:?8 2?5 DAC2J:?8] u@C 6G6CJE9:?8 6=D6[ x H2?E 92?5D @? E96 A=2?ED[” D2:5 (2==]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 7:CDE J62C 27E6C A=2?E:?8[ E96 <:H:7CF:ED 56G6=@A C@@E DJDE6>D 2?5 DAC625] x? E96 D64@?5 J62C[ E96J 2C6 8C27E65 E@86E96C H:E9 2 DA64:2= 4FE :? E96 C@@EDE@4< 2?5 E96 4@CC64E >2=6 @C 76>2=6 D4:@? :D A=2465 @? 6249 A=2?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x? 2? 28C@?@>:4 D6?D6[ H6 2C6 4=@?:?8 E96 A=2?ED E@ AC@5F46 E96 D2>6 AC@5F4E] %96D6 8C27ED 6G6?EF2==J 7FD6 E@86E96C :? F?:D@?[” D2:5 (2==]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm~?6 4C6H @7 H@C<6CD :D DA64:7:42==J 2DD:8?65 E@ E96 8C27E EC2:? 2?5 6?DFC6D E96 :?:E:2= DE2=< :D 56E2:?65[ 2D :E 8C@HD 23@FE ` 7@@E 2 H66<] %9@D6 DE2=<D 2C6 E96? EC2:?65 E@ 8C@H :?E@ EH@ =6256CD[ H9:49 >2<6 E96 A6C>2?6?E 2C>D @7 E96 G:?6 7@C >2EFC2E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 E9:C5 J62C[ 2 E6?E65 DEC:?8 DJDE6> :D :?DE2==65 E@ 4@?EC@= E96 G:?6D’ 8C@HE9[ 2?5 E96 4=:>36CD 92G6 E@ 36 >@?:E@C65 E@ 7@==@H E96 2DD:8?65 C@FE6] %96 DEC:?8D 2C6 E96? C6=62D65 9@C:K@?E2==J 2?5 4=:AA65 E@ 2 D6E @7 H:C6D E@ 4C62E6 `e\7@@E 42?6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“qJ E96 6?5 @7 E96 E9:C5 J62C[ E96 @C492C5 6?5D FA H:E9 E96D6 G686E2E:G6 E66A66D[” (2== D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(9:=6 :? E96 7:?2= J62C[ A=2?ED 2C6 E9:??65 E@ C65F46 E96 7=@H6C ?F>36C 2?5 AC6G6?E F?56CD:K65 AC@5F46] %96J 2C6 2=D@ A@==:?2E65 3J 92?5 2?5 3J 366D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“q66D 2C6 2? :>A@CE2?E A2CE @7 E9:D @A6C2E:@?] (6 ?665 23@FE 7:G6 9:G6D A6C 24C6 7@C A@==:?2E:@?[ C6BF:C:?8 23@FE `[___ E@E2=] (6 2=D@ FD6 A@==6? 5FDE6CD[ 7C@> A@==6? 4@==64E65 E96 AC6G:@FD J62C E92E 92D 366? >:==65 2?5 DE@C65[ E@ 92?5 DAC2J E96 @C492C5[” D2:5 (2==]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 7:CDE A=2?E:?8 :D :? :ED 6?5 DE286 ?@H 2?5 :D 368:??:?8 E@ 3=@DD@> 2?5 >2EFC6 :?E@ 7CF:E E@ 36 92CG6DE65] {2DE J62C[ >:?:>2= A=2?ED >2?2865 E@ 4C@A[ 3FE 3J a_`h[ (2== D2:5 ?62C=J `_g 24C6D D9@F=5 36 AC@5F4:?8 7CF:E] x? a_aa[ E96 H9@=6 AC@A6CEJ H:== 36 @? 2 4C@A 4J4=6 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 G2CJ:?8 DA64:6D @7 <:H:7CF:ED 2C6 92CG6DE65 2E 2=E6C?2E:?8 :?E6CG2=D[ 6IE6?5:?8 E96 E@E2= 92CG6DE H:?5@H 2?5 86?6C2E:?8 6IEC2 DE@C286 =:76]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmw@FD6C[ H9@ (2== >6E :? 4@==686[ 56D:8?65 2?5 3F:=E E96 4@>A=6I :CC:82E:@? DJDE6> 7@C E96 @C492C5] (:E9 2 D>2== C6D6CG@:C 2?5 =2C86C =2<6 2G2:=23=6 @? D:E6[ 23@FE g[___ 82==@?D @7 7:=E6C65 H2E6C A6C >:?FE6 2C6 AF>A65 @G6C `_d 24C6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%96 =2C86C @7 E96 EH@ =2<6D :D AC24E:42==J =:>:E=6DD] x7 H6 86E 2 4@FA=6 :?496D @7 C2:?[ E96 H2E6C 4@>6D FA 23@FE 2 7@@E[” D2:5 (2==]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 F=E:>2E6 8@2= :D E@ 6IA@CE E96 4@>>@5:EJ @G6CD62D E@ 9:89\56>2?5 >2C<6ED[ DF49 2D y2A2?[ E92E 4@?DF>6 2 =2C86 2>@F?E @7 E9:D 7CF:E] %96 &]$] 2=D@ 4F=E:G2E6D :? E96 @77\D62D@? @7 E96 $@FE96C? w6>:DA96C6[ H9:49 255D 2?@E96C D:I >@?E9D E@ E96 :?E6C?2E:@?2= >2C<6E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm~E96C 4@F?EC:6D 2C6 724:?8 2 324E6C:2= :?764E:@? <?@H? 2D AD6F5@>@?2D DJC:?826 AG 24E:?:526[ H9:49 92C>D E96 <:H:7CF:E] %96 &]$] 92D ?@E 366? 6IA@D65[ >2<:?8 :E 2 AC:>6 2C62 7@C >2C<6E 6IA2?D:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 9@A6 E@ >2:?E2:? 23@FE f__ 7CF:ED A6C G:?6[ H9:49 :D DFDE2:?23=6 2?5 H@F=5 62C? Sa]d_ A6C A@F?5[ H9:49 :D 9:896C E92? 2G6C286 AC@5F46[” D2:5 (2==]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmuFEFC6 8@2=D :?4=F56 3F:=5:?8 2 A24< 9@FD6 7@C DE@C286 2?5 D9:A>6?E[ 3FE E9:D J62C’D AC@5F4E H:== 36 A24<65[ DE@C65 2?5 AC6A2C65 7@C D9:AA:?8 @77 D:E6] |@DE @7 E96 AC6=:>:?2CJ AC@5F4E:@? H:== 36 E6DE65 :? r2=:7@C?:2 7@C D96=7 =:76[ DE@C286[ D9:A>6?E 2?5 4@?DF>6C 7665324<]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“xE’D 2 H@C< :? AC@8C6DD[ 3FE E96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 6I4:E:?8 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ ECJ ?6H E9:?8D 2?5 6IA2?5 E96 @C492C5’D A@E6?E:2=] z:H:7CF:E :D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE AC@7:E23=6 4@>>@5:E:6D 3642FD6 :E’D 2 9:89 AC@5F46C 2?5 4C62E6D 2 =@E @7 E@??286 A6C 24C6] %9:D H2D 2 8@@5 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 92G6 D92C65 A2CE?6CD9:A @7 E96 @A6C2E:@? 2?5 D66 H96C6 :E =625D[” D2:5 (2==]k^DA2?mk^Am
