Every autumn in New Zealand, a green, oval-shaped fruit becomes very popular. This fruit is called the feijoa (pronounced FAY-juh), also known as pineapple guava. It originally came from the highlands of Brazil, Uruguay, and northern Argentina. It likely arrived in New Zealand more than 100 years ago through California and Australia. Although New Zealand exports many types of fruit, feijoas are usually eaten within the country because they do not stay fresh for long. The fruit can also be found in places like Australia and the United States, but no country loves it as much as New Zealand does. People often gather feijoas from backyard trees and give them away to friends, neighbors, and even strangers. Experts say that New Zealand’s climate and soil are perfect for growing this fruit.

About 100 commercial growers supply feijoas mainly to local stores. The usual price is NZ$9–10 per kilogram. Not everyone likes the taste—some people say it smells nice and tastes sweet, while others think it tastes strange. Still, feijoas are strongly linked to the New Zealand autumn season. Scientists are trying to make the fruit last longer so it can be shipped overseas, but this is still difficult. Even so, the feijoa continues to be a special and meaningful fruit for New Zealanders, especially those living abroad.