Drying rates were calculated as quantity of moisture
removed per unit time per unit dry solids (kg water/kg
dry solids/min). The drying rates of kiwifruits were given
in Figs. 2 and 3. From an examination of these ®gures it
is obvious that the drying occurred mostly in the falling
rate period (with two periods), regardless of drying
conditions. Although the kiwifruits have high moisture
content, an expected constant rate period was not
observed in the present study. In Fig. 2, the slope of
the second falling rate line was steeper than that of ®rst
falling rate line (moisture content 1:3 kg water=kg
dry solids) and hence drying rate decreased rapidly during
last stages of drying. Two falling rate periods were