Can kiwifruit help better manage blood glucose levels?

Zespri marketing and innovation general manager Carol Ward.

A science company has been awarded $1 million to work with Zespri on research into whether kiwifruit can help better manage blood glucose levels.

Plant and Food Research has been awarded $1 million from the Ministry of Business & Innovation's High Value Nutrition fund to work with Zespri.

Plant and Food Research is a New Zealand-based science company providing research and development that adds value to fruit, vegetable, crop and food products.

Zespri general manager marketing and innovation Carol Ward said the funding would help further develop Zespri's health strategy.

"This funding is great news - the results of this work could well give our consumers another reason to buy Zespri Kiwifruit, as kiwifruit volumes increase strongly. This will help grow our industry's export revenue and returns to New Zealand growers."

Dr Juliet Ansell, Zespri innovation leader for health and nutrition said Zespri kiwifruit had powerful health benefits.

"Our research shows that the more consumers know about the health benefits of kiwifruit, the more likely they are to see kiwifruit as an important nutritious addition to the daily diet.

"We want to build on our base of loyal, regular consumers who value the health benefits they get from eating kiwifruit."

This funding will be made available over three years.