The feijoa is originally from South America, found in the high altitude areas of western Paraguay, southern Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina.
It owes it name to Don Jose de Silva Feija, botanist and director of the Natural History Museum at San Sebastian, Spain, during the Colonial period.
Credit for the introduction of feijoa into Europe goes to Edouard Andre, a noted French botanist and horticulturist. Andre was responsible for distributing the feijoa to Europe and North America after first growing it in his garden at the Villa Columbia on the French Riviera.
Sellowiana honors Firedrich Sellow, a German botanist who explored Brazil during the 19th century.
The feijoa flourishes at altitudes from 5,500 to 7,400 ft, above sea level and once beyond the five year mark, the plant produces permanently.
Currently development of feijoas has been more advanced in New Zealand than elsewhere. Approximately 200 ha of commercial feijoa orchards in New Zealand producing 950 t for processing. Colombia have expanded their total area to 165 ha, producing 1,200 t of fruit (2008).
History of Feijoa Fruit
