Luna Rossa Kiwi Will Debut at Fruit Attraction 2026
The new diploid seedling variety is a finalist for the Fresh Produce category at the upcoming innovation awards.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Healthy Food
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Vivai Magalotti Quarto will showcase the Luna Rossa kiwi at the Fruit Attraction 2026 exhibition in Madrid from October 6 to October 8, 2026. The new variety is among the finalists for the Innovation Hub Awards in the Fresh Produce category.
Why it matters
Breeders are currently evaluating the Luna Rossa for the home garden market to understand its performance before considering a transition to commercial orchards. This focus aims to determine if the specific traits of the seedling suit hobbyists and garden growers.
The Luna Rossa fruit averages 80 grams with a sugar content of 20 Brix at eating maturity. It features a storage life of 2 to 3 months when kept at 0.5 degrees Celsius.
The players
Vivai Magalotti Quarto
This agricultural organization is the entity presenting the new kiwi variety at the international exhibition.
Ferdinando Cossio
He is the professional breeder responsible for selecting the Luna Rossa seedling in the Veneto region.
The details
The Luna Rossa is a diploid seedling of Actinidia chinensis variety chinensis characterized by golden-yellow flesh and distinctive red pigmentation around its seeds. Developed by breeder Ferdinando Cossio, the plant is cultivated on its own roots without plastic protection using the Sole Mio male genotype for pollination.
Timeline
June 2026: Application for Community Plant Variety Rights filed.
Late September to early October: Standard harvesting period for the variety.
October 6 to 8 2026: Fruit Attraction 2026 exhibition held in Madrid.
October 8 2026: Finalists present their entries to the innovation jury.
Culture Shift
The entry of the Luna Rossa into the Fruit Attraction Innovation Hub Awards highlights how modern horticultural breeding is increasingly pivoting to serve the specific aesthetic and functional desires of home gardeners. This shift mirrors a broader trend toward personalized gardening where hobbyists seek professional-grade fruit varieties for private cultivation.
Home gardeners can anticipate future availability of this variety if its productive performance meets breeder expectations during the initial rollout. Hobbyists interested in new fruit varieties will gain an option that thrives on its own roots without the need for complex plastic coverage.
The takeaway
The development of the Luna Rossa highlights a growing intersection between professional fruit breeding and the home gardening sector. Growers looking for distinct produce options may find this variety a viable choice for personal cultivation in the coming seasons.
What happens next
The jury will evaluate the finalists and select the winner at the Fruit Forum on October 8, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Healthy Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Freshplaza.
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