Hardy kiwi (actinidia arguta), a native to China, Russia, Korea, is being cultivated in the Northwest with great success. A relative of the kiwi, this vine produces fuzz-free berries, it is about the size of a large grape and you can eat them out of hand, skin and all.
These babies have a deliciously sweet kiwi flavor with a hint of tartness on the skin. They are extremely tasty and quite tempting to sneak a pint and eat it all by your lonesome. I've been sharing mine with friends at home and parties and they have already fallen in love with them.
Purchased from the hardy kiwi man ($3.50) at Columbia City Farmers Market last Wednesday. He told me it was his first day of the season at the market.
I'm definitely getting some more today, perhaps even enough for a small batch of jam.
