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“Practically, it means we can progress selected genetics into commercial testing and look closely at things like taste, sweetness, shelf appearance and overall commercial potential,” Bell said.<\/p>\n
“Right now kiwi berries are only available for a really short window, so a big focus is extending that season.<\/p>\n
“My goal is to get to a six-month supply within the next 10 years, and we’ll do that through extended growing regions and variety commercialisation.”<\/p>\n
Bell has worked across the berry supply chain for around 20 years, with experience spanning farming, marketing, farm development, infrastructure and new product development.<\/p>\n
“When I first came into blueberries, only about one in three people had ever tried one, and now they’re on supermarket shelves almost year-round,” she said. “I see exactly that same opportunity with kiwiberries. Awareness is still really low, but once people try them, especially families, I think they’ll completely understand why we’re so excited.<\/p>\n
“My dream is for everyone to have tried a kiwi berry and to be popping them into their weekly shop right alongside the other berries, and ultimately for us to become a globally recognised leader in kiwi berries.”<\/p>\n
The Coles Nurture Fund has awarded more than $43m to more than 100 Australian businesses since 2015.<\/p>\n
Small and medium-sized Australian businesses are encouraged to apply for the next round of funding when applications open in January 2027.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AFTER taking time out to have children, Natalie Bell returned to the family berry business eager to take on a new challenge. Looking for a project she could build from the ground up, Bell began researching emerging fruit products from around the world and soon discovered kiwi berries \u2013 a bite-sized variety of kiwifruit with […]<\/p>\n