Number 49 December 2007
TROPICAL
FRUITS
NEWSLETTER
INTER-AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR COOPERATION ON AGRICULTURE
OFFICE IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGOISSN 1024 1957 CaRC/TT-03/07
#3 Herbert Street, Newtown, Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago / P.O. Box 1318
Tel: (868) 628-4403/4078/9; Fax: (868) 628-4562 Email: [email protected]
Tropical Fruits Newsletter, produced quarterly, is
a medium to disseminate technical and general
information on pre-production, production,
harvesting, post-harvest handling, and marketing
of tropical fruit crops among Caribbean
professionals, producers and processors working
in these areas. The editors welcome the
submission of articles and news covering these
subjects.
In This Issue
Editorial 2
News from around the region 3
Marketing opportunities for Jamaica's grapefruit
industry 5
Passion Fruit 10
Antigua Mango Festival 12
Postharvest handling of avocado 14
Postharvest handling of soursop 16
Nutritional highlights of selected fruits 18
Nutritional and health benefits of citrus fruits 18
Research Abstracts 19
Resources 20
Recipes 21
Upcoming events 22
Websites 22
EDITORIAL2
This year, marks the 15th anniversary of the
publication of the Tropical Fruits Newsletter.
During the past 15 years, we have been
pleased to provide stakeholders and partners
throughout the region and internationally,
with information pertaining to technical and
marketing developments in the tropical fruit
industry in the Caribbean. We trust that the
newsletter has contributed in some measure
to fostering an appreciation for the market in
the Caribbean.
This issue addresses marketing and markets
for tropical fruits and fruit products produced
in the Caribbean region. The marketing of
tropical fruits remains an important area of
focus for the industry, based on several
factors, including the potential for export of
tropical fruits from our region to larger
markets in Europe, the United Kingdom and
the United States.
Intra-regional trade of tropical fruits should
also be greatly encouraged. With the
opening up of the Caribbean Single Market
Economy (CSME), there exists an open
market for regional fruit producers and
entrepreneurs to supply to markets within the
region. Opportunities exist for intra-regional
supply of produce to hotels, restaurants and
supermarket chains as well as for producers
to participate in domestic markets in islands
other than their own.
Excerpts from an article on marketing
opportunities for the Jamaican grapefruit
presents an overview of international trends
in production and trade of grapefruits and
identifies potential opportunities for the
Jamaican citrus industry. This research is
important in light of opportunities presented
to the region to produce citrus, given the
deficit in the supply of orange juice to the
United States.
Notably, there has been an increase in fruit
festivals around the Caribbean region, which
are excellent marketing opportunities in
themselves and also stimulate production
within communities as well as creativity and
innovation in value-added fruit processing.
One such example is the Mango Festival in
Antigua, which is fast becoming a popular
annual event on the calendar.
Tropical Fruits Newsletter continues to
promote the health benefits of tropical fruits
in our Caribbean society. Excerpts from an
article by the Caribbean Food and Nutrition
Institute provide more insight into some of
the real benefits of the nutritional value of
fruits and vegetables and the important role
they play in maintaining health and
preventing disease.
As an institution, IICA remains committed
to the growth and development of the
tropical fruit industry in the region and
continues to source resources and
information that we trust will meet with the
satisfaction and needs of the stakeholders
and players within the industry.
We wish to thank the contributors to this
issue: Edward Evans, Janette Lawrence and
the IICA Office in Antigua & Barbuda and
convey special thanks to the Caribbean Food
and Nutrition Institute (CFNI) and the Rural
Agricultural Development Authority
(RADA) in Jamaica.
Special thanks to the French Embassy in
Trinidad and Tobago for their continued
contribution and support to the development
of the fruit industry - particularly in the
production of this newsletter.
As always, we take this opportunity to
solicit relevant contributions from our
readers, researchers and our many
stakeholders as we seek to stimulate and
encourage growth in this valuable aspect of
our region's agriculture.
Aaron H. Parke
IICA Representative in Trinidad & Tobago
TROPICAL FRUITS NEWSLETTER
Coordination
and layout: Kathryn Duncan
Editors: Aaron H. Parke
Edric Harry
ISSN#: 1024 1957
CaRC/TT-03/07
The publication of this newsletter has
been made possible by the kind
cooperation of the Government of
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and
the Inter-American Institute for the
Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
The responsibility for opinions
expressed in this publication rests
solely with the authors.
Production Guide for Sapodilla, Soursop
and Sugarapple
Increasingly, nutritionists and other health
care providers are advocating the virtues of
including more fresh fruits and vegetables in
the diet as a means of promoting healthy
living. Over the years however, some of our
fruits and vegetables are becoming less
available to consumers on the local market.
Those fruits and vegetables which seem to
be disappearing from the local market
include sapodilla (Manilkara zapota van
Royen), soursop (Annona muricata L.) and
sugarapple (Annona squamosa L.)
The Inter-American Institute for
Cooperation on Agriculture has prepared a
production guide for promoting the
development of those fruits so as to make
them more readily available and popular.
Policy recommendations are also made for
development of the identified fruits.
This comprehensive production guide is
well illustrated to allow for easy reading,
especially for persons who may not be
familiar with the production of the fruits. It
is therefore a good guide for the home
gardener as well as for those persons who
may wish to establish commercial orchards.
Included in the production guide are
descriptions of the botany of the trees;
descriptions of its fruits and flowers;
cultivars that are used; the nutritional value
of the fruits and their economic importance.
The guide covers cultivation; land
preparation techniques; plant management;
pest and disease management; harvesting
and post-harvest management and storage.
Production Guide for Sapodilla, Soursop
and Sugarapple will be available in 2008.
IICA
Supporting
Fruit Industry
Expansion
in the Caribbean
3 NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGION
GUYANA
West Dem farmer certified to export pine
to St Lucia
Officials from St Lucia's agriculture ministry recently
approved pineapples from a West Bank Demerara farm for
export to that island.
According to a press release, Tameshwar Hiralall, of Canal
Number One Polder, was identified as the sole exporter of the
fruit after the authorities certified that he had met the
stipulated husbandry requirements. St Lucia crop protection
officers Floyd Alexander and Burnet Sealy, accompanied by
local officials from the Plant Health Unit (PHU) at the
agriculture ministry and officers from the New Guyana
Marketing Corporation (GMC) conducted tests and Alexander
said from all indications, Hiralall's farm met the necessary
requirements. "There were no visible signs of pests or disease
affecting the crop and the condition of the farm has met our
requirements."
Alexander and Sealy will oversee the first processing and
packaging of the pineapples at the GMC's Central Packaging
Facility (CPF) located at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, where
they will be stamped and sealed. Afterwards PHU officers will
be tasked with approving future exports to the island.
Exporter Natasha Brady said the GMC played an integral role
in identifying the possible source for the initial shipment of
pineapples by providing market information, brokerage
services and technical advice. "I am excited because this is the
first time I will be exporting pineapples to St Lucia. In fact no
one else is doing so at the moment so it is very likely that I
will be setting the standard and parameters for future
exporters," Brady said.
The GMC said a Protocol of Trade exists between Guyana
and several Caricom countries which clearly stipulates the
requirements imposed by each country.
Exporters to these countries must buy produce from certified
farmers and all produce must be packaged at the CPF and it
should be inspected and certified by a local plant quarantine
officer.
Source: Stabroek News
www.stabroeknews.com
GUYANA
Guyana pushing sugar loaf pineapple
cultivation for export
The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Poor
Rural Communities Support Services Programme (PRCSSP),
yesterday distributed, to selected farmers, planting material
called ‘slips’ for the cultivation of sugar loaf pineapples.
The objective of the distribution is to encourage more
widespread production of the delicious variety that is very
much in demand on the external market, particularly as
chunks, PRCSSP official, Mr. Sasenarine Singh said.
Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud did the handing
out to four farmers, three from Essequibo and one from
Demerara, at a brief ceremony in his Ministry, Vlissengen
Road, Georgetown Boardroom. He said the disbursement was
in keeping with the Government policy that agricultural
production should be export driven.
Persaud said sugar loaf pineapple was already being
successfully cultivated at Mainstay/Whyaka in Region Two
(Pomeroon/Supenaam) and exported in chunks, by a canning
company named AMCAR, to places in Europe.
He noted that a packaging plant is now under construction in
Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) and the
success of the venture with the highly popular pineapple could
lead to it being shipped abroad directly from that Region.
Persaud explained that yesterday’s exercise was part of a pilot
scheme which, if it succeeds, would encourage more large
scale production for both the domestic and overseas markets.
The four recipients yesterday were George Smith and Wesley
Grimes, of Salem, East Bank Essequibo; Nazim Ali, of Hogg
Island and Laurel Smith, of Free and Easy, Wakenaam, both
along Essequibo River. They received a total of 2,000 sugar
loaf pine slips and Singh said the chosen quartet had been
successful in cultivating the Montserrat variety and were
involved in PRCSSP training programmes which helped to
improve their agronomic practices.
He said the PRCSSP has established demonstration plots for
the purpose at Salem, Free and Easy, Hogg Island, La
Harmonie, Bethany and Abrams Creek and funding for them
was acquired from the International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD).
Source: The Guyana Chronicle
www.guyanachronicle.com
A snapshot of tropical fruit news items from the Caribbean in 2007
4
JAMAICA
Citrus Farmers Could Benefit from
Deficit in Supply to US
Jamaica's citrus farmers are being encouraged to replant their
orchards, to benefit from a deficit in the supply of orange
juice to the United States.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Citrus Growers
Association (CGA), Paul Miller, told JIS News that because
of the withdrawal of several suppliers from Brazil and Florida,
due to disease or a shift in focus, the US market is facing a
supply deficit of 200 million boxes. According to Mr. Miller,
citrus production in Florida and Brazil is being threatened by
diseases such as tristeza, canker, the pink mealy bug and
citrus greening, which have significantly reduced production
levels, with the numbers "coming down from 270 to 130
million boxes (in Florida) and in Brazil, from 400 to 300
million boxes."
In Florida, he explained, the re-planting process is proving to
be costly, due to the pressure for land to meet residential and
resort demands, while in Brazil, the planting of sugarcane to
meet the demand for ethanol, has reduce the availability of
land for the replanting of citrus. "When a farmer finds his
citrus orchard affected by disease, rather than struggle with
replanting, he simply takes it out and replaces it with cane,"
Mr. Miller pointed out. Encouraging local farmers to increase
citrus production, he noted that the industry is capable of
producing some eight million boxes. Production now stands at
3.8 million boxes. "If we double our production or triple our
production, we have a market for that," he stated.
Mr. Miller pointed out that, "even if the market were to be
frozen, there is still a gap of 20 million boxes to be filled and
Eastern Europe and Central Europe are making demands for
citrus so there is an even bigger market, keeping the future
rosy."
Source: Jamaica Information Service
www.jis.gov.jm
SPECIAL NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGION
REGION
Caricom urged to grow more
Caricom nations are not producing and eating enough
vegetables and fruits, a regional conference on food security
in Guyana has heard.
The shortfall is taking a toll on their health-- driving up the
number of people falling ill with non-communicable diseases
like heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and obesity.
Agriculture contributes between 10-40% of the Gross
Domestic Product of several Caricom member-nations but the
region still has much to do, the conference was told.
Caricom's assistant secretary general for trade, Irwin La
Rocque, reported that there had been a slight improvement in
the prevalence of under-nourishment some Caricom nations.
He added however that that progress was slowed by the love
of fast-foods by Caribbean nationals.
Food Economist at the Jamaica-based Caribbean Food and
Nutrition Institute (CFNI), Dr Ballayram says at least 60% of
deaths across the region are due to lifestyle disease.
This he blamed on a laid-back lifestyle and a diet consisting
of excess fat, salt, and sugars.
Rancid
As a first step, the CFNI official wants Caricom governments
to create incentives to prohibit the use of certain ingredients,
including trans-fats that scientists say raise the risk of heart
disease.
Several major fast-food chains in the US are moving to phase
out the use of trans-fats which are vegetable oils that have
been combined with hydrogen to prevent them from
becoming rancid.
The Caribbean director for the UN's Food and Agriculture
Organisation, Dr Barbara Graham, says the region is still not
eating enough fruits and vegetables.
She says this dietary imbalance can be corrected only through
a public education campaign combined with farmers using
appropriate technology and processes.
This approach, she says, will increase the amount of produce
while lowering cost of production and slashing the price that
consumers pay for fresh fruits and vegetables.
Source: BBC Caribbean
www.bbc.co.uk
outlined. The penultimate section discusses the results of our
investigation, and the paper ends with a few concluding remarks.
Trends in International Production and Trade of Grapefruits
World grapefruit production peaked in 2000 at about 5.33 MMT
but since then has declined to 3.66 MMT in 2005 (Table 1). The
noticeable drop in world production is due mainly to a steady
decline in production in the US, the world's number one
grapefruit-producing country, which on average accounts for
40% of total world production. China, the second most important
grapefruit producing country, accounts for about 8% of total
production. Over the last few years, production in China has
been increasing spurred by increased domestic demand.
However, the increases were insufficient to offset the shortfalls
in the US. Other major producers include Mexico, Israel, and
Cuba, each with shares of approximately 6% (FAOSTAT). In
terms of utilization, it is estimated that on average 60% of the
crop is marketed as fresh and 40% is sold as frozen concentrated
grapefruit juice.
With respect to trade, global exports of fresh grapefruits have
remained relatively flat over the five-year period of 2000 to
2004, averaging about 1.1 MMT, or about 23% of global
production (Table 2). As in the case of production, the US
dominates the trade with an average share of 38%. The EU
accounts for about 18% of the trade, followed by South Africa
(15%), Turkey (9%) and Israel (7%) as major exporters
(FAOSTAT).
On the import side, both Japan and the EU dominate the trade in
fresh grapefruits, and together they account for about 85% of
total imports. Over the five-year period (2000 to 2004), Japan
absorbed on average 58% of world's fresh grapefruit exports and
the EU about 26% (Table 3). Other noticeable importers include
Canada (5%), China (2.9%) and the US (1.8%).
US/Florida Grapefruit Production and Trade
Production of grapefruits in the US occurs in four states: Florida,
California, Texas, and Arizona. Florida is by far the leading
grapefruit-producing state and accounts for about 82% of
domestic production. About 47% of total grapefruit production is
marketed fresh while the rest is processed into grapefruit juice.
As shown in Table 1, grapefruit production in the US declined
steadily from 2.51 MMT in 2000 to 1.96 MMT in 2004 and then
plummeted to 914,440 metric tons in 2005. Between 2000 and
2005, bearing acreage fell from 153,000 acres to current levels of
about 103,000 acres, or by 32.7%. The bulk of the reduction in
bearing acreage occurred in Florida, which saw a 37.7%
reduction in acreage, from 114,000 to 71,000 acres, over the
same time frame. The reduction in bearing acreage and crop
produced is due to a combination of factors (discussed below).
Introduction
Several Caribbean sugar-producing countries, including Jamaica,
are actively looking for viable alternatives to recover some of the
lost revenues due to the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling
that sugar subsidies in the European Union (EU) are illegal. One
alternative worth considering is converting some of the sugar
cane lands to citrus orchards and exporting fresh grapefruits to
the EU. This marketing opportunity comes about as Florida, the
largest citrus-producing state in the United States (US) and the
second largest citrus-producing region in the world following the
state of São Paulo, Brazil, has suffered a series of recent setbacks
(citrus canker, citrus greening diseases, escalating land values,
and devastating hurricanes) that threaten the future of that
industry.
Florida/United States has historically accounted for over 40% of
world grapefruit production and dominates the world market in
the trade of both fresh and processed grapefruit ["Citrus
Summary," Florida Agricultural Statistics Service (FASS), and
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United
Nations]. However, because of setbacks, grapefruit production in
the United States has been on the decline, from 2.51 million
metric tons (MMT) in 2000 to only 914,000 metric tons in 2005.
A recently released study conducted by the University of Florida
(UF) on the economic impact assessment of citrus canker and
citrus greening diseases on the future prospects for the Florida
citrus industry points to a bleak future for the industry.
Since the US accounts for approximately 40% of world
grapefruit exports, of which 25% goes to the EU, any
interruption in supplies in the US is bound to impact the market.
Given that Jamaica enjoys duty-free privileges for agricultural
commodities shipped to the EU, rising grapefruit prices in the
EU market due to reduction of supplies in the US and favorable
demand for the fruit due to health reasons could create marketing
opportunities for Jamaica's grapefruit industry.
The purpose of this paper therefore is to discuss the state of the
Florida citrus industry with particular reference to grapefruits and
to assess the long-term marketing prospects for Jamaican
grapefruit exports to the EU. Our decision to focus on the
grapefruit vis-a-vis other citrus products stems from a prior
assessment which indicates that of all the citrus products, fresh
grapefruit production in Florida is likely to be impacted the most
as a result of developments within the Florida Citrus Industry and
therefore offers the greatest marketing opportunity.
The paper commences by highlighting the major trends in the
international production and trade of grapefruits. The next two
sections discuss the situation in the US/Florida citrus industry
and the Jamaican citrus industry with reference to the grapefruit
industry. Following this, the methodology used to assess the
long-term prospects for fresh grapefruit marketed in the EU is
MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES FOR JAMAICA'S GRAPEFRUIT INDUSTRY
Edward A. Evans, Sikavas Nalampang, and Thomas H. Spreen
ARTICLES 5
ARTICLES6
With regards to the trade, the US historically has been the
number one exporter of fresh grapefruits. Exports of fresh
grapefruits increased from 391,166 metric tons in 2000 to peak at
406,994 metric tons in 2002 but since then have been on the
decline. In 2005, exports totaled only 214,231 tons worth $152.8
million; almost half the volume exported in 2002, of 406,994
metric tons valued at $207.5 million. Table 4 shows the main
export destinations for fresh grapefruit shipped from the US. The
data indicate that the bulk of US fresh grapefruit exports goes to
Japan. Between 2000 and 2005, Japan accounted for 51% of all
fresh grapefruits shipped from the US while the EU accounted
for another 28.1%. Other noticeable importers were Canada
(12.7%), Republic of Korea (1.8%) and Mexico (0.4%). The US
also imports a small amount of fresh grapefruits, mainly from
The Bahamas, Mexico, and Israel.
As mentioned earlier, the decline in US production and exports
of fresh grapefruits is due to a combination of factors impacting
the Florida citrus industry. Chief among such factors are two
worrisome, relatively new diseases (citrus canker and citrus
greening); frequent hurricanes; and sharp increases in land
values.
Citrus canker is a bacterial disease that is mainly spread by
human contact and wind-driven rain. The disease attacks citrus
trees of which grapefruit trees are extremely susceptible. The
disease causes distinctive necrotic raised lesions on leaves,
stems, and fruit. Severe infections cause defoliation, blemished
fruit, premature fruit drop, twig dieback, and general tree decline
(Schubert et al., 2001). Because there are no effective disease
suppression strategies against the disease and blemished fruits
are unsuitable for fresh consumption, there is widespread
regulatory prohibition against shipping fresh fruit from areas
where the disease has become endemic. Efforts to eradicate the
disease require destroying all citrus trees (commercial as well as
residential) within a 1,900-foot radius of an infected tree.
Although the disease had been a periodic problem in Florida
since the early twentieth century, it was successfully managed.
However, a new infestation in 1995 gained foothold and spread
into southwest and southeast Florida. Efforts to eradicate the
disease was inhibited first by homeowners who were opposed to
their trees being cut down and later by a series of hurricanes in
2004 and 2005 that helped to rapidly spread canker throughout
the citrus areas. In 2006, the decision was made to stop the
practice of destroying trees within the 1,900-foot radius and to
develop a new science-based Citrus Health Response Program.
To date, more than 12.7 million citrus trees have been cut down
at a cost of more than $600 million, including compensation
(Science, 2006).
Citrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing, is a bacterial
disease with far worse consequences than citrus canker. Whereas
canker makes the trees less productive and blemishes the fruit,
greening causes the fruit to be totally unusable and eventually
kills the trees. The dreaded disease was discovered in Florida in
August of 2005. Some researchers have expressed the view that
it is virtually impossible to prevent the spread of the disease
throughout the state because the bacterium is spread by another
introduced insect that is found throughout Florida. Management
of the disease is made even more difficult since infected and
contagious trees do not show symptoms for several years. It is
believed that the full impact of this disease on the Florida citrus
industry has not yet been realized and that the prospect of
maintaining an economically viable citrus industry in the
presence of this disease will be a challenge.
Added to the disease and hurricane problems, there has been a
rapid increase in the value of both undeveloped and agricultural
land in the state of Florida over the last five years. A rural land
value survey conducted by the University of Florida reported
that agricultural land in South and Central Florida increased in
value between $1,866 per acre and $4,633 per acre from May
2004 to May 2005 (Reynolds, 2006). This has affected the
willingness of investors to commit capital to citrus production in
Florida and, in some cases, has hastened the conversion of citrus
land to other land uses, notably real estate development (Spreen,
2006).
Trends in On-tree Grapefruit Prices in Florida and
Wholesale Market Prices in EU
Table 5 shows the average on-tree prices received by Florida
growers over the marketing seasons 2001/02 to 2005/06. This
price represents the returns to growers' net of marketing costs.
The data presented in Table 5 indicate that between crop seasons
2001/02 and 2004/05, prices increased from $3.53 per 85-pound
box (4 cents per pound) to $14.86 per box (17 cents per pound).
Although price fell slightly in the following year to $10.16 per
box (12 cents per pound), it was still three times the price
received in the 2001/02 crop season (USDA Fruit and Tree Nuts
Outlook). The high prices in the last two seasons reflected tight
supplies in the market.
As to be expected, given the dominance of Florida's grapefruit
industry in world production and trade, prices in the EU market
were similarly affected. Table 6 shows the wholesale equivalent
market prices in selected European Markets for Florida fresh
grapefruit for the corresponding period. As shown in Table 6,
prices for fresh grapefruits increased from $27.72 per 85-pound
box (32 cents per pound) in marketing year 2001/02 to $49.36
per 85-pound box (58 cents per pound) and $51.6 per box (61
cents per pound) 2004/05 and 2005/06, respectively.
7ARTICLES
Brief Overview of Jamaica's Citrus/Grapefruit Industry
The Jamaican citrus industry remains an economically important
agricultural industry for the country, behind sugar, bananas, and
coffee. In 2004, the industry's direct contribution to the economy
was estimated at US $20 million, with an economic output
impact of $60 million. It provides direct employment for about
5,400 persons and total direct and indirect employment of about
20,000.
In 2004, a total of 21,840 acres were allocated to the production
of citrus with bearing and non-bearing acreages of 20,152 and
1,688, respectively. Oranges account for approximately 88% of
the total acreage while grapefruit accounts for the majority of the
balance. Production is carried out by a large number of small-
scale growers cultivating between 2 and 10 acres, accounting for
about 95% of the growers and 30% of total acreage. The
remaining 5% of growers have farms ranging from 25 to 5 000
acres.
Production of citrus has been declining due to the presence of
Citrus tristeza virus (CTV). However, both the government and
the industry have taken steps to manage the disease by
encouraging growers to replant with certified virus-free
seedlings and new rootstocks that are tolerant to CTV
expectations to help reverse the downward trend.
In 2004, a total of 3.53 million boxes of citrus were produced, of
which 47,158 were grapefruit. As with the declining trend in
production, exports have also been declining. Fresh and
processed fruit for export accounted for about 19% of the total
citrus production. Between 1998 and 2004, exports of fresh
citrus declined from about 7,846 metric tons valued at US$ 3.70
million to 2,786 tons with a value of $1.77 million, respectively,
with oranges accounting for the bulk of the exports. Since 2001,
there have been no exports of grapefruit due to strong domestic
demand. The main destinations for citrus exports from Jamaica
are the EU, US, Canada, and Barbados.
Methodology
Given the importance of the citrus industry to the US economy
and the state of Florida in particular, researchers at the
University of Florida undertook a comprehensive study to assess
the future of the Florida citrus industry (Spreen et al., 2006).
Among the objectives of the study was an assessment of the
long-run production and price forecasts for Florida citrus under
varying assumptions that relate to supply issues, including the
impact of canker and greening and higher undeveloped land
prices. Of interest to the current study were the long-term
projections for the grapefruit industry. Building on these
projections and taking into consideration the relationship
between prices that the Florida growers received and those
obtained in the EU market, we provide forecasts for long-term
grapefruit prices in the EU market. Below is a brief discussion of
the grapefruit model used by Spreen et al. (2006) to determine
the long-run projections, followed by a discussion of the
scenarios chosen and the approach used to forecast wholesale
prices in the EU.
Spreen et al. (2006) apply a modification of Pana's spatial
equilibrium model (1988) to predict Florida grapefruit
production between the 2006/07 and the 2020/1 seasons.
Assuming red seedless and white seedless as the main varieties
of grapefruit as well as fresh grapefruit and processed grapefruit
as the two markets, the model uses average yields per acre, on-
tree prices, tree inventory, and tree mortality for Florida
grapefruit production estimates. Using Florida grapefruit tree
inventory as an input to the model, the simulation starts by
calculating total grapefruit production (both red seedless and
white seedless) from grapefruit average yields per acre across
age categories and the number of grapefruit acres across age
categories. The equilibrium FOB price of grapefruit in each
market is solved by equating demand and supply of the Florida
grapefruit. The obtained FOB price estimate for grapefruit is
then deducted by packing costs, processing costs, and picking
and hauling costs to get on-tree prices and to predict new Florida
grapefruit planting levels. Impacts on planting levels due to cost
changes, such as higher land cost, are imposed by adjusting the
expected on-tree price. Production yields per acre and tree death
loss are adjusted for potential impacts from citrus canker and
citrus greening, respectively. After the existing tree inventory is
aged and adjusted for tree mortality, the model is solved for the
next season and the process is repeated for the rest of the
projection periods.
In our analysis, four scenarios from Spreen et al. (2006) are
selected for discussion and provide the basis our analysis. The
first scenario (the base run of the model) assumes only the
presence of citrus canker, which will increase acre-loss rate and
decrease acre yields by 10% each. Growth in domestic and
export demands for fresh grapefruit and grapefruit juice is not
imposed. The second scenario incorporates the potential impact
of low citrus greening (i.e., tree mortality for non-bearing trees
increases by 150% compared to the base, 100% for trees ages
four through eleven, and 75% for all older trees) in addition to
the presence of citrus canker. The third and the fourth scenarios
are modifications of the second scenario. The third scenario
differs slightly from the second scenario in that the potential
impact from citrus greening has intensified in addition to the
presence of citrus canker. Tree mortality for non-bearing trees
increases from 150% in the second scenario to 300% in the third
scenario, compared to the base. For trees ages four through
eleven, tree mortality increases from 100% in the second
scenario to 200% in the third scenario. For all trees age 12 and
older, tree mortality increases from 75% in the second scenario
to 150% in the third scenario. In the fourth scenario, the presence
of citrus canker and low citrus greening are maintained while the
assumption of higher land costs in Florida by $3,500 per acre is
added to the second scenario.
Having obtained the projections for Florida grapefruit industry
for the above scenarios over the period 2005/06 to 2020/01, we
then determined the relationship between Florida grapefruit on-
tree prices and market prices in selected EU markets (Hamburg,
Germany; Paris, France; and Rotterdam, Netherlands) through a
8 ARTICLES
Table 8 compares the average costs and returns for grapefruit
produced in Jamaica with those that would likely prevail in
Florida under the various scenarios. Several interesting
observations can be made with respect to the data presented in
Table 8. First, under all scenarios considered, Florida yields
were greater than those in Jamaica. In the worst-case scenario
in Florida in which there is the presence of canker and high
greening (scenario 3), the expected yield is 261 boxes per acre
compare with 240 boxes per acre in Jamaica. Second, the
average cost of production on a per acre basis is considerably
less in Jamaica than in Florida. For example the lowest per
acre cost of production in Florida at $1,133 (in a situation in
which neither of the diseases is present) is still more than twice
that in Jamaica ($500 per acre). The low cost of production in
Jamaica is due mainly to the availability of cheap labor relative
the prices paid in the US. The hourly wage rate for an
agricultural worker in Jamaica is about US $1.10 per hour
compared with agricultural wages paid in the US of about $10
per hour. However, when costs are expressed on a per box
basis, most of the cost advantage enjoyed by Jamaica
disappears due to the relatively low yields in Jamaica. Hence,
the per box cost for Florida in a no disease situation and that
for Jamaica are $3.12 and $2.08, respectively. Third, there is a
noticeable disparity between the net returns to growers in
Jamaica and those in Florida. In the case of Florida, the
average net returns range from $2.69 per box where neither of
the diseases considered is present to a high of $5.87 per box
where both diseases are present. In comparison, the current
average net returns to the growers in Jamaica were estimated at
42 cents per box. By adding value through the sale of fresh
grapefruits in the EU, returns to Jamaican growers can be
increased substantially.
Concluding Remarks
The bleak prospect for the Florida citrus industry serves as a
reminder of the importance of preventing the introduction of
invasive species. The introduction and spread of such pests and
diseases, as is the case in point, has the potential to destroy the
whole industry or cause massive losses. While certainly an
unwelcome development for the Florida citrus industry, as was
the situation with the outbreak of BSE in UK and the
subsequent expansion of cattle industry in Australia, it does
present a potential marketing opportunity for countries such as
Jamaica which are in the citrus belt and where the diseases are
not present.
Our preliminary assessment of the market potential for
Jamaica's exports of grapefruit to the EU suggests that the
prospects are promising from several perspectives. First, all
situations examined with regards to the Florida grapefruit
industry points to a bleak future for that country's industry and
suggests that these developments are likely to cause grapefruit
prices to remain relatively high in the EU market over the long
term. Second, Jamaica enjoys a cost advantage over the US.
The country has certain comparative and other advantages that
make it ideally suited for large-scale citrus production. These
include the availability of low-cost labor, low incidence of
plant diseases, adequate hours of sunlight, a climate that
allowsmany horticultural crops to provide two harvests a year,
adequate rainfall in citrus areas, and access to ports and foreign
markets. In addition, the country currently benefits from
preferential treatment in the EU. While it is true that current
yields in Jamaica are relatively low, this should be seen as a
positive since it implies that there is considerable scope for
improving productivity. Third, suitable lands for large-scale
planting of grapefruit trees are likely to become available as
the country reduces its reliance on sugar and banana
production.
Notwithstanding the above, we are fully aware that the citrus
industry and markets are complex and that any sustained price
increases could encourage others to participate in the market.
Also, the intent of our analysis was not to predict the numbers
precisely but to show the general long-term direction of prices
in the EU market. It therefore goes without saying that any
serious investments contemplated by the government or the
industry should rest on a detailed investigation of the EU
markets.
References
FAOSTAT Online. http://faostat.fao.org
Pana-Cryan, Regina (1991). "A Model of the World Market for Fresh
and Processed Grapefruit." Unpublished M.S. Thesis, Food and
Resource Economics Department, University of Florida, Gainesville,
FL.
Reynolds, J.E. (2006). "Strong Nonagricultural Demand Keeps
Agricultural Land Values Increasing." Electronic Data Information
Source (EDIS) FE625. Food and Resource Economics Department,
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (January). Available online at
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FE625.
Schubert T.S., S.A. Rizvi, X. Sun, T.R. Gottwald, J.H. Graham, and
W. N. Dixon (2001). "Meeting the Challenge of Eradicating Citrus
Canker in Florida-Again" Plant Disease Vol. 85, No 4.
SCIENCE (2006). "New Disease Endangers Florida's Already-
Suffering Citrus Trees" Science Vol. 312, 28 April 2006. Available
online at http://www.sciencemag.org.
Spreen, T.H, R.E. Barber, M.G. Brown, A.W. Hodges, J.C. Malugen,
W.D. Mulkey, R.P. Muraro, R.P. Norberg, M. Rahmani, F.M. Roka,
and R.E. Rouse. 2006. An Economic Assessment of the Future
Prospects for the Florida Citrus Industry. Food and Resource
Economics Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
http://www.fred.ifas.ufl.edu/economic_assess_flciturus.indus.pdf
USDA (2006). USDA Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook 2006. FTS-320.
United States Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C. (January).
http://usda.mannlibcornell.edu/reports/erssor/specialty/fts-
bb/2006/fts325.pdf.Citrus greening has not been detected in Jamaica even though the psyllid vector that
transmits the causative organism is present in the country (personal communication
with Dr. Florence Young)
9 ARTICLES
Table 3. World grapefruit and pomelos top importers (metric tons), 2000-2004
Country/
Region 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Average
EU 640,670 578,728 620,560 589,388 601,123 606,094
Japan 272,278 268,650 284,687 274,328 288,510 277,691
Canada 55,194 53,036 57,476 50,696 50,788 53,438
US 10,040 25,221 23,248 20,710 13,737 18,591
Turkey 0 1,995 12,668 10,267 11,367 7,259
China 17,461 16,646 19,041 10,491 11,289 14,986
China, Hong
Kong 16,152 14,423 21,017 15,307 10,899 15,560
ROW 40,790 44,003 41,253 57,514 47,895 46,291
Total 1,052,585 1,002,702 1,079,950 1,028,701 1,035,608 1,039,909
Note: ROW represents the rest of the world
Source: FAOSTAT data, 2006
Table 4. US grapefruit exports by destination (metric tons), 2000-2005
Country/
Region 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Average
Japan 206,284 195,871 209,479 181,752 190,703 88,203 178,715
EU 115,437 116,867 114,920 102,104 85,762 56,070 98,527
Canada 49,230 48,057 50,607 44,264 41,256 34,612 44,671
Korea 2,930 1,870 7,905 6,917 7,684 10,404 6,285
Mexico 75 283 554 316 1,483 6,406 1,519
ROW 17,212 20,105 23,529 24,945 21,133 18,537 20,910
Total 391,167 383,052 406,995 360,298 348,021 214,231 350,627
Note: ROW represents the rest of the world
Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, BICO Report
Table 5. Average on-tree prices received by Florida growers ($ per 85-lb box), 2001-02 through
2005-06
Month 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06
October 6.46 5.37 6.98 15.00 --
November 3.64 3.61 4.49 15.95 9.20
December 2.69 2.67 3.90 14.58 9.37
January 2.76 2.42 3.32 15.30 10.99
February 2.10 2.18 3.10 13.48 11.07
March 1.85 1.80 2.74 11.54 --
April 1.61 1.37 2.12 10.46 --
May 1.37 1.24 2.38 10.48 --
Average
(October-February) 3.53 3.25 4.36 14.86 10.16
Note: -- Represents data not available
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
Table 6. Average wholesale prices for Florida grapefruit in selected EU markets ($ per 85-lb box),
2001-02 through 2005-06
Month 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06
October 31.75 35.13 43.86 -- --
November 26.45 32.17 36.68 48.55 54.30
December 27.00 30.01 35.36 50.72 53.09
January 25.30 30.45 34.14 48.53 51.29
February 28.11 32.35 33.13 49.63 47.70
March 27.19 33.02 33.98 50.80 46.78
April 26.91 33.52 34.54 49.40 49.11
May 29.00 36.88 34.42 50.86 49.91
Average
(October-February) 27.72 32.02 36.63 49.36 51.60
Note: Represents data not available. EU markets include Hamburg (Germany), Paris (France), and
Rotterdam (Netherlands).
Source: Compiled by authors, data were obtained from USDA Fruit and Vegetable Market News
Table 7. Grapefruit long-run projections on Florida fresh/processed on-tree price and average market
price for Florida grapefruit in selected EU markets by scenario ($ per box), 2006-07 season through
2020-21 season
Scenario 1 (Canker only)
Scenario 2 (Canker and low
greening)
Scenario 3 (Canker and high
greening)
Scenario 4 (Canker, low greening,
and higher land values) Season On-tree
price
EU market
price
On-tree
price
EU market
price
On-tree
price
EU market
price
On-tree
price
EU market
price
2006-07 7.09 40.10 7.09 40.10 7.10 40.12 7.09 40.10
2007-08 7.26 40.40 7.26 40.40 7.27 40.42 7.26 40.40
2008-09 7.74 41.25 7.74 41.25 7.75 41.27 7.74 41.25
2009-10 8.32 42.28 8.34 42.32 8.38 42.39 8.34 42.32
2010-11 8.90 43.31 8.98 43.45 9.13 43.72 8.98 43.45
2011-12 9.40 44.20 9.70 44.73 10.21 45.63 9.76 44.83
2012-13 9.62 44.59 10.33 45.85 11.47 47.87 10.52 46.18
2013-14 9.68 44.69 10.88 46.82 12.80 50.23 11.26 47.50
2014-15 9.56 44.48 11.29 47.55 13.98 52.32 11.90 48.63
2015-16 9.17 43.79 11.38 47.71 14.78 53.74 12.25 49.25
2016-17 8.62 42.81 11.24 47.46 15.17 54.43 12.36 49.45
2017-18 7.86 41.47 10.78 46.64 15.02 54.16 12.10 48.98
2018-19 7.00 39.94 10.08 45.40 14.40 53.06 11.54 47.99
2019-20 6.10 38.34 9.22 43.88 13.39 51.27 10.75 46.59
2020-21 5.20 36.75 8.25 42.16 12.08 48.95 9.76 44.83
Note: EU markets include Hamburg (Germany), Paris (France), and Rotterdam (Netherlands).
Source: Average market prices in selected EU markets are estimated by authors. Data were obtained
from USDA Fruit and Vegetable Market News. On-tree prices are from Spreen et al. (2006)
Table 2. World grapefruit and pomelos top exporters (metric tons), 2000-2004
Country/Region 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Average
US 398,762 397,572 427,097 387,302 370,823 396,311
South Africa 133,570 129,335 165,725 177,453 197,682 160,753
EU 199,447 176,669 188,209 191,040 189,500 188,973
Turkey 85,181 73,131 102,768 86,703 116,632 92,883
Israel 110,319 69,408 44,050 88,986 57,241 74,001
ROW 110,221 133,640 119,537 142,307 145,546 130,250
Total 1,037,500 979,755 1,047,386 1,073,791 1,077,424 1,043,171
Note: ROW represents the rest of the world
Source: FAOSTAT data, 2006
Table 1. World grapefruit and pomelos top producers (metric tons), 2000-2005
Country/
Region 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Average
US 2,505,640 2,233,490 2,199,020 1,871,520 1,964,050 914,440 1,948,027
China 268,128 323,296 356,786 400,840 433,000 443,000 370,842
Mexico 263,126 319,793 269,069 257,711 257,711 257,711 270,854
Israel 246,000 329,500 251,900 255,900 247,000 250,000 263,383
Cuba 443,705 302,487 137,312 227,800 225,000 226,000 260,384
ROW 1,600,958 1,553,788 1,604,238 1,576,544 1,579,272 1,570,161 1,580,827
Total 5,327,557 5,062,354 4,818,325 4,590,315 4,706,033 3,661,312 4,694,316
Note: ROW represents the rest of the world
Source: FAOSTAT data, 2006
10 FACT SHEETS
Site Selection
Passionfruit vines require full sunlight for proper growth. It is best
grown in areas with annual rainfall of at least 900 mm. Passionfruit
may be grown on a wide range of soil types, but the best suited
soils are light to heavy sandy loams of medium texture having a pH
range of 6.5 to 7.5. The plant needs good drainage. Vines will not
tolerate waterlogged conditions for long periods. The passionfruit
vine grows better in areas that are protected from the wind.
Land Preparation
Land preparation may be conducted one to two months before
planting the vines. The land must first be cleared. This produces
green mulch that can be incorporated back into the soil when
ploughing and rotovating. This ensures a quick and even
establishment of vines. Soil analysis should be conducted and all
necessary adjustments made before planting. Ploughing in organic
matter to soil is beneficial. Organic mulch can be added around
these vines because they are shallow rooted.
Plant Propagation
Seeds, cuttings, grafts or layering can be used to propagate
Passionfruit vines. The first three methods are most commonly
used.
Propagation by Seed
The seeds are planted 1.5 cms deep on a sterile seed bed and are
transplanted into individual bags containing potting mix and ½ a
teaspoon of slow release fertilizer at the three leaf stage. Plantlets
are grown under shaded conditions are hardened before being
transplanted into the field. It takes 6 to 8 weeks from the time of
sowing to transplanting in the field.
Propagation by Cuttings
Cuttings are taken from vigorous, actively growing vines. Roots
should develop in 4 weeks after preparation. Then it should be
treated similar to seedlings. Plants from rooted cuttings are less
vigorous than seedlings and could be planted at a closer spacing
than seedlings.
Trellis Construction
Trellises are required for the commercial production of passionfruit.
Trellises contribute most to the cost of production of the crop and
should be constructed properly. Trellises should be constructed in
the same direction with the wind wherever possible. On sloping
terrain, trellises should be constructed across the slope. Trellises are
required for the commercial production of passionfruit. Trellises
contribute most to the cost of production of the crop and should be
constructed properly.
Transplanting to the Field
Plants are transplanted during the cooler part of the day (early
morning or late evening).
Training of Vines
One or two vigorous leaders are selected and trained to the top
wire.
Water Management
Irrigation is needed in areas where the annual rainfall is below 1200
mm per year. Regular watering will keep vines flowering and
fruiting continuously.
Weed Control
Weeds in a passionfruit orchard could be controlled manually or by
chemical means. Although manual weed control is more costly, it is
preferred.
Nutrient Requirement
Before planting, soil analyses should be conducted to determine
whether the pH should be adjusted and the soil nutrient status.
Pruning
The pruning of passionfruit vines is conducted in order to reduce
the level of pests and diseases and to encourage new vine growth.
Heavy pruning should only be performed once per year, after the
July to September crop. Since pruning tools are means by which
diseases are spread they should therefore be kept clean.
purple passion fruit flower
The passionfruit is a vigorous,
shallow rooted, perennial vine
that climbs by means of tendrils.
There are two types of
passionfruit. They are the
yellow passionfruit (Passiflora
edulis forma flavicarpa) which
is suited to tropical conditions,
and the purple passionfruit
(Passiflora edulis forma edulis)
which grows best under sub-
tropical conditions. The yellow
passionfruit is tolerant to most
of the soil borne pests and
diseases that affect the purple
type, and is more prolific,
bearing larger, heavier fruit with
more juice, which has a higher
acid content than the purple
type. The flavour of the purple
type is preferred over that of the
yellow type. Passion fruit and flower on vine
PASSION FRUIT
Extracted from: Saint Lucia Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and
Fisheries, Crop Development Information Centrewww.slumaffe.org/Agriculture/Crop_Development/Passionfruit/passionfruit.html
11ARTICLES
Pollination
Most cultivars of yellow passionfruit are self-incompatible
therefore cross-pollination is necessary. Some natural pollinators of
passionfruit in St. Lucia are the Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa sonorina)
and the honeybee (Apis millifera). It has been proven that hand
pollination increases fruit yield in passionfruit.
Pest and Disease Control
Pests and diseases may attack plants as early as the nursery stage.
Caterpillars and slugs may attack the plants, while fungi may cause
damping-off and loss of plants. Slug bait should be spread around
seedling or a liquid slug control could be incorporated into the
fungicide drenches (benomyl) for the control of damping-off. An
insecticide is sprayed at the recommended rate every two to four
weeks for caterpillar control. Both insect and fungal problems in
passionfruit could be controlled through proper cultural practices
and chemical sprays.
Harvesting
A passionfruit orchard may have a life span of 3-5 years. There are
two major seasons of production, June to August and November to
January. Fruits are harvested when they have dropped to the
ground. Green or immature fruits should not be picked off the vine
as they will not ripen, they will also be off flavored and have a
higher concentration of cyanogenic glycosides (a toxin produced by
the vine). Fruits should be collected 2 to 3 times per week.
Processing
Passion fruits are processed into juices, which are sold either in
single strength or as frozen concentrates. The passion fruit juice is
also used in the production of cordials, alcoholic beverages, ice
creams, and confectionery and mixed fruit blends.
The passion fruit's rich and distinctive flavour can be found in
several products around the Caribbean. Passion fruit juice is
well-known in most Caribbean homes and some of the islands
produce a commercial brand of the juice. The fruit is also used
as a key ingredient in ice-creams, jams and jellies and even tea.
Though the fruit is more commonly used as an essential
ingredient in food and beverages, it is also now being used in
spa products that are produced in the region - such as the
Herbal Light Moisturizer - with cucumber, passion fruit and
SPF, produced by Cher-Mère in their anti-ageing skin care line
of products.
Samples of passion fruit products from the Caribbean: tea, juice
and facial moisturizer.
A PASSION FOR PASSION
Examples of various stages in the processing of passion fruit at a passion fruit farm in Panama.
The Annual Christian Valley Mango festival is fast-becoming a
popular fixture on Antigua and Barbuda's events calendar. The
event is held at the Christian Valley Government Station,
which holds the country’s premiere collection of mature fruit
tree varieties. Christian Valley boasts a 40 acre orchard of
mango, citrus fruits, avocado, guava, Malay apple, cashew,
breadfruit, soursop, and many curious tropical fruits.
The first ever Mango Festival in Antigua and Barbuda was
held in August 2006 under the theme Identifying new
possibilities: Agriculture and Agro-tourism Development in
Antigua and Barbuda. The main aim of the Mango Festival
was to promote the utilization of mangoes and other fruits as
well as to support the rejuvenation of the station.
The first main activity for the Festival took place at the
Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute in
Coolidge. This was the Magic Mango Menu Competition, for
chefs, sous chefs and bartenders from the members of the
Antigua Hotels and Tourist Association. The inaugural
competition was a testing event and the competition is now
open to all chefs and bartenders in Antigua and Barbuda in the
future. The aim of the competition is for bartenders and chefs
to prepare food and drink in creative ways using mangoes or
other local fruits. Four categories included: Appetizer, Main
dish, Dessert, and Drinks with an additional award for the most
innovative use of mangoes.
The Agro-processors Competition for the IICA Most
Outstanding Agro-Processor Award was held in collaboration
with IICA, the Food Sub-committee of the Mango Festival
Committee, and the Ministry of Agriculture. Seven processors
participated. The aim of the award: "to promote the
development of the agro-industry, through the greater
utilization of local commodities". The items included, but
were not limited to mango and included the following
categories: non-food and food, the latter was sub-divided into:
jam/marmalade, jelly, sauce, chutney, drink and other. Judging
criteria were: innovation of the product, use of local raw
materials, attractiveness of the product, appeal to the senses
and product display.
The Antigua Mango FestivalMarketing mangoes - Antiguan style
Denise Martin, 2nd place winner, displays
her products.
Gloria David, 3rd place winner, with her
creations.
Other activities of the festival included:
- Budding and Grafting Workshops
- Sales of agro-processed products
- Agro-processors competition
- The Sweetest Mango Film
- Sales of fruits and plants
- Live Entertainment
- Nature Trail Tours
- Local Storytelling
- Book Sale
- Food stalls benefiting:
Mama Lollies
Bolans Community Groups
Jennings Community Groups
Home Economics Teachers Assoc.
Other Private Individuals.
O'Della Spooner, 1st place winner, and
Mr. Charlesworth Samuel, Minister of
Agriculture.
12
WITH ONGOING SUPPORT FROM IICA, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
AGRO PROCESSORS SHINE AGAINJulie Ann Laudat, IICA Office in Antigua
The second Annual Mango Festival was held in July 2007 under
the theme : Mango: it's simply the best! There was a greater
selection of mangoes this year due to the change in dates.
Visitors to the festival left happier.
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
(IICA) sponsored the "Best Agro-processors Award
Competition" for the second time. There were nine competitors
this year, with two entries each.
The products were both creative and attractively displayed. All
participants were members of the Agro-processors Association
and the team of judges included: Grace Cephas Lewis of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Ms Jeannette Hunte of the Home
Economics Association and Mr. Julian Waterer of Chefs World.
The winners by category were:
For more information on Christman Valley Mango Festival check: http://www.antiguamangofest.com/
Overall winners of the Best Agro-processors Award were:
Some of the winning items on display
1st Place Rosemarie McMaster Susie's Hot Sauce
2nd Place Gloria David Sister Glo's
3rd Place Denise Martin Denise's Tropical Delights
Category Winner Business Name Product
Hot sauces Odella Spooner Picante Peppers Mango hot sauce
Preserves (jam/jellies/marmalade
chutney/butter) Gladys Bailey Mango butter
Drinks and drink concentrate Crystal Lynne Lynne's Tamarind concentrate
Dried fruits Novella Payne Grandma Aki Dried raspberry
Ice-cream (special entry) Crystal Lynne Lynne's Mango ice-cream
Cakes and pastries Gloria David Sister Glo's Mango cake
13
14 ARTICLES
The avocado pear, belonging to the plant group Persea americana,
is commonly known in Jamaica simply as "pears". It is a native of
the Tropical Americas, and flourishes in areas with over 15 cm (60
inches) of rain fall per annum, at between 55 and 550 metres
elevation.
Varieties:
Most common varieties grown are:
Simmonds (in-season variety, i.e. ripening in the summer months,
and Collinson, Lula (out-of season variety, i.e. ripening in
December-February).
Fruit Structure
The fruit is generally pear-shaped, and the edible part is a thick
layer of greenish-yellow pulp. It is contained between the skin and
the large seed.
Nutritional Composition (1 fruit, size 76.2 mm in diameter)
Water -284 grams (74%) Food Energy -370 Cal.
Protein -5 grams Fat -37* grams
Saturated fat - 7 grams Oleic acid -17 grams
Linoleic acid -5 grams Carbohydrate -13 grams
Calcium-22 mg Iron-1.3 mg
Vitamin-630 IU Riboflavin-0.43 mg
Niacin-3.5 mg Ascorbic acid-30 mg
The avocado fruit is therefore a fat storing structure.
QUALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPORT
Minimum requirements
The fruits must be clean, i.e. free from adhering soil and insects
Mature, i.e. not ripe or soft, but at the stage which will allow the
fruits to ripen normally and arrive at the market with the desired
degree of ripeness.
They must be of similar varietal characteristics, i.e. all fruits in any
one lot must be of the same variety, must be similar in shape,
texture, and skin colour.
Must be well trimmed, i.e. the stem ( pedicel) is cut off fairly
smooth with not more than 6.4 mm beyond the shoulder of the fruit.
Grade requirement
Grade 1
Fruits should be well coloured, i.e. the colour characteristic of the
variety.
Well formed, i.e. the fruit has the shape characteristic of the variety.
Free from damage, i.e. any defects that seriously affect the
appearance, edibility, or shipping quality of the fruits; or the
general appearance of
the avocadoes in the container, e.g. sunburn, scars, or bruises.
Size classification
Fruits should be classified by size according to the following
definitions:
Uniformed in appearance, I.e. not more than 10% of packages shall
contain fruits which show sufficient variation in size to detract from
the appearance of the individual packages. The variation from the
average length should not be greater than 3 mm.
Post Harvest Treatment
Graded fruits should be wiped with a cloth containing 1% bleach
solution, to remove debris and to disinfect the fruit. All insects such
as mealy bugs or other, should be removed by use of a soft brush.
A post harvest dip treatment in a solution of 0.1% Benlate (1 gm
per litre) may assist in reducing fungal decay.
Packaging
Fruits should be placed in single layers in strong cardboard boxes
with separators. Alternately, each fruit can be wrapped in tissue to
improve presentation on the market and to reduce fruit to fruit
rubbing.
Shredded paper placed in the base of the carton assists in reducing
the level of damage during handling.
Field containers should be of 22 kg capacity and market containers
no more than 12 kg capacity.
Do not use bags (fertilizer or crocus) to package these fruits, as this
will lead to squeezing and squashing damage. Also bags are easily
thrown and dropped, which will lead to damage of the fruits.
Field crates are preferable to bags for transport from the field to
pack-house, or shed.
Do not leave packages exposed to the sun and wind. This will lead
to the reduction of the storage/shelf life of the fruits.
Transportation
Packaged avocadoes should be placed separate from other types of
fruits as they are sensitive to the ripening chemical, ethylene.
Stacking height of the boxes should be kept to a minimum of 8-10
boxes high in order to prevent compression damage.
Rural Agricultural Development Authority, Jamaica
www.radajamaica.com.jm
POSTHARVEST HANDLING OF AVOCADO 1
15ARTICLES
Storage
All West Indian cultivars are susceptible to chilling injury at low
temperatures. Best storage temperature is 12-13ºC and 85- 95%
RH for green mature fruits resulting in a maximum storage
period of two (2) weeks. At ambient temperature, storage life is
reduced to 3-5 days.
POST HARVEST DISORDERS
1. Chilling Injury
Common symptoms are a dark-brown or grey discolouration of
the flesh, scalding and pitting of the skin. Fruit may not ripen
properly on removal from storage.
2. Anthracnone
This is a latent fungal infection caused by the organism
colletotrichum gloeosporioedes. This is commonly found on
maturing fruits. First sign of the disease is small light brown
circular discolourations on the skin of the fruit. As the fruit
matures, the spots enlarge changing colour to dark brown or
black with a sunken appearance. The fungus enters the flesh and
pink spore masses are seen.
3. Stem-end rot
This disease is caused by dothiorella spp-a dark-brown to black
rot develops at the stem end of the ripening fruit as a firm dark
brown ring and proceeds to the other end of the fruit.
Remember
To obtain maximum profits from your crop, you must therefore
ensure that:
Only sound, good quality fruits are placed on the market;
Ripened fruits are placed in a different box or basket from green
fruits.
Care must be taken in harvesting and; Fruits must be handled
with care from the farm to the market place.
Low temperature management is essential to maintain good
quality.
Remember that one of the important strategies of Fresh Produce
Marketing is good customer relationship.
A good quality product will result in repetitive purchasing of
goods from the dependable source.
HARVESTING
The fruit never ripens completely on the tree, but continues to
enlarge in size. A fruit will only ripen after it is detached
(harvested) from the tree.
MATURITY STAGE
Good quality fruit is obtained when harvesting is done at the
proper stage of maturity. Immature fruits will fail to ripen,
shrivel rapidly, and also decay rapidly.
Most mature fruits are fairly large in size, with the skin colour
becoming light green or yellowish green, and the surface sheen
becomes dull in appearance. This condition is easily recognized
by experienced farmers. On a large farm, the oil content of the
fruits is measured by chemical analysis to determine the
minimum standard acceptable for the market. This level varies in
different varies.
HARVESTING METHOD
Fruit should be harvested from the tree by a quick twist of the
pedicel which will detach the mature fruits. The pedicel should
then be clipped to prevent damage to other fruits.
Do not knock fruits off the tree. This will cause bruising and
bursting of the fruit. Therefore fruits should be picked by using a
pole or by hand. The picking pole can be made of bamboo or
some light wood provided with a cloth or crocus bag and a notch
with an inner sharpened edge at the end. The bag is used to hold
the fruit until the pick is brought to the ground and the fruit
removed. Depending on the size of the bag, a maximum of three
(3) limbs can be picked.
Hand-pickers standing on a ladder can also be used to harvest
tall trees. On a large farms, a platform mechanized system,
elevating hand-pickers into the trees provide an efficient mode
of harvesting.
POSTHARVEST ACTIVITIES
"Pears" are highly susceptible to the postharvest development of
latent fungal infections, therefore extreme care must be taken in
preventing damage to the fruits.
Do not throw or drop fruits in the field. Remember that damaged
fruits must be separated from sound fruits if not, rapid spoilage
will take place. Damaged fruits ripen much faster than sound
fruits.
That only good quality fruits will fetch a good price on the
market.
Consumers prefer to purchase green, mature avocadoes in
order to obtain the best eating quality and some degree of
storage/shelf life.
Ripe avocados deteriorate rapidly at high temperatures and
therefore exhibit a short shelf-life.
Also the level of mechanical injury for avocadoes is high.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
For more information contact:
Mrs. Janette Lawrence
Marketing Manager
Marketing Extension Unit
Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA)
Hope Gardens, Kingston 6, Jamaica, W.I.
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.radajamaica.com.jm
16 ARTICLES
It is used in making ice cream and sherbets, jelly, tarts, syrup and
nectar. Immature fruits are cooked as vegetables or used in soup in
Indonesia. Seeds are roasted or fried in Brazil. The leaves are used
as a tea to prevent high blood pressure, stomach disorders and for
treatment of fevers. The tea can also be used for cleaning floors
and destroying fleas. The seeds contain oil used for paint and as an
insecticide.
Two characteristics that cause the soursop fruit to be highly
perishable are:-
Its high rate of respiration, and
Its susceptibility to physical damage
HARVESTING
The fruit is picked when fully developed and still firm but lack-
lustre and may be slightly yellow-green in colour. In addition,
optimum maturity is determined by the spacing of the spines on the
surface of the fruit. These spines become further and further apart
as growth occurs. It has been found that when approximately 6-7
spines span 12 cm² , the fruit can be considered to be mature.
Fruits must be reaped early in the morning or late evening to
prevent the build-up of field heat. Fruits are harvested using knives
and then lowered to the ground. Soursor should never be knocked
from the tree.
Fruits should not be allowed to ripen or become soft on the trees as
they will fall and crush. The fruit must be handled with care to
avoid bruising.
SORTING AND GRADING
All damaged fruits must be removed as these might become sources
of ethylene gas which will increase the rate of ripening. All
immature fruits should also be removed as due to their high
respiration rate will affect the rate of ripening of the mature fruits.
Soursop can be graded based on shape and size to enhance
packaging and presentation.
PRE-COOLING
This is necessary due to the high respiration rate of the soursop
fruit. This process is necessary to:-
ORIGIN
The soursop is a native fruit of tropical North and South America. It
belongs to the family Annonaceae which includes about 100 species
of trees and shrubs. The soursop is among the four (4) best known
species that produce edible fruits. The other species are sweetsop,
custard apple and cherimoya. It is know by the name guanabana,
corrosol, suirsaak and other in different tropical parts of the world
CHARACTERISTICS
The soursop tree is a small evergreen usually growing from 5 to 9m
(15 - 30 ft) high. The simple oval leaves are leathery, glossy and
dark green in colour. They have a characteristic pungent odor when
crushed.
In the last five (5) years (1995-2000), approximately, 1700 kg kg of
soursop was exported from the island as fresh fruits to the United
States of America, Canada and other Caribbean islands. In addition,
small volumes are now being used in the fruit juice and puree
industry in the making of ice cream and other frozen delicacies,
also jams and jellies.
With the further growth of the Agro-industry and the new
awareness of the consumer to the use of natural juices and their
products, the demand for the soursop fruit has increased and
therefore the need for the small farmers to improve their existing
cultivation and increase the acreage under production.
Some segments contain oval, smooth, hard, black seeds which are
toxic.
The soursop tree bears fruit continuously after 3-4 years of age with
little care and produces several crops throughout the year.
USES
The pulp is eaten as well as can be cut into bits and added to fruit
cup or salads, or chilled and served as dessert with sugar and a little
milk or cream.
Soursop drinks are very popular to all West Indians and Latin
Americans.
In Dominican Republic, a soursop custard is made and a confection
is also made by cooking soursop pulp in sugar syrup with cinnamon
and lemon peel.
Rural Agricultural Development Authority, Jamaica
www.radajamaica.com.jm
POSTHARVEST HANDLING OF SOURSOP 1
Calories
Moisture
Protein
Fat
Carbohydrate
Ash
Tryptophan
Calcium
Phosphorous
Iron
61.3 - 53.1*
82.8g
1.00g
0.97g
14.63g
60g
11mg
10.3g
27.7g
0.64g
Vitamin A (B-carotene)
Thimaine
Riboflavin
Niacin
Ascorbic Acid
Amino Acid
Methionine
Lynsine
0
0.11mg
0.05mg
1.28mg
29.6mg
7mg
60mg
FOOD VALUES PER 100G OF EDIBLE PORTION
reduce rapidly the field heat, and
reduce the temperature of the fruit as quickly as possible to the
required storage temperature. Hence the fruits should be removed
immediately out of the field after being reaped.
1)
2)
17ARTICLE
FIELD PACKAGING
Soursop should be collected carefully into shallow carton boxes or
lined wooden boxes and baskets to prevent physical damage. Also
the fruits should be separated from each other by use of soft
material.
Be careful in the use of dried grass and banana leaves as these may
contain pieces of sticks or prickles and insects which can damage
the fruits. The use of bags and sacks is prohibited as it results in
bruising and mechanical damage to the fruits.
TEMPORARY STORAGE
A mature fruit will store for a few days (2-3) at room temperature.
This time is further enhanced if the fruits are stored on racks in a
cool shed as the reduced temperature of the environment will
reduce the rate of ripening.
PACKHOUSE HANDLING
Quality Standards
Minimum requirements
All fruits should be:-
Clean, i.e. free from adhering soil, foreign matter or chemical
residue;
Fresh, i.e. no signs of shriveling;
Firm and mature;
Sound and without physical damage;
Free fro m insect damage;
Free from presence of insects eg. Scale insects.
Grade requirements
To date none has been developed but all exporting fruits should
meet the minimum requirements as well as (1) of uniform shape
and size, (2) The stem should be attached and cut at the abscission
point, about 2.5 cm long.
HANDLING PRACTICE IN PACKHOUSE
Fruits must be further graded to remove any damaged fruits.
Fruits must be lightly brushed to remove any insects or other
extraneous matter.
PACKAGING
Fruits should be packed in single layers into one piece or half
telescopic fiber board cartons. Internal packaging is recommended
to prevent fruit to fruit rubbing or puncturing. Shredded paper or
vertical dividers are used. Where staples are used in construction of
the cartons, care should be taken to ensure complete staple closure.
COLD STORAGE
Fruits should not be stored below 12°C as they are susceptible to
chilling injury.
Signs of chilling injury are:-
Localised blackened, soft spots;
Dicolouration of the tissue (peel);
Failure to ripen normally when returned to ambient conditions;
This temperature provides a storage life of approximately 1-2
weeks.
Fruits should not be stored for over 24 hours either at ambient or
cold temperature, prior to export, as:
Proper preharvest and postharvest care of your produce will
guarantee good market prices as our product is unique and will be
able to compete on the overseas market.
GRADE RQUIREMENTS: for U.K., Holland, U.S.A. and Canada
Small : 0.7 - 1.2kg (1.5 - 2. 5lbs.)
Medium : 1.2 - 2.0kg (2.5 - 4. 4lbs)
Large : 2.0 - 3.0kg (4.4 - 6.6lbs)
For more information contact:
Mrs. Janette Lawrence
Marketing Manager
Marketing Extension Unit
Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA)
Hope Gardens, Kingston 6, Jamaica, W.I.
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.radajamaica.com.jm
At ambient, the fruits would have started to ripen and shrivel
therefore reducing their saleability.
At cold, as fruits are usually air freighted resulting in heavy
condensation due to the warming up of the fruits and therefore
creating the right environment for fungal development.
i
ii
a.k.a. Malacca apple, malay apple, mountain apple,
otaheite apple, plum rose, pomarosa, pomerac,
pomme malac.
A very beautiful fruit, usually deep red in color, pear
shaped, with a waxy skin, about the size of an apple.
Flesh is crunchy, often juicy, with a mild sweet flavor.
Some varieties have white or pink skin. The juicy, shiny
red fruit has one large seed. This fruit makes an
excellent jam when stewed with brown sugar and ginger
as well as a tasty chutney and is also used to make juice
and wine. Trees are medium to large sized, growing to
over 60 ft in some areas. They usually require little care
other than year-round water. Flowering usually occurs in
early summer followed by fruit ripening 3 months later.
Propagation: Often by seeds which loose viability
quickly. Superior varieties are propagated via budding,
air-layering, and cuttings.
TROPICAL FRUIT "PICK"
Pommerac (Syzygium malaccense)
Fruit Flower
ARTICLES18
Mango vs Cantaloupe
Except for potassium, an equivalent amount of mango provides
more of the selected nutrients compared with cantaloupe.
Nutritional Highlights of Selected Fruits
The Caribbean abounds with a variety of locally-produced and
imported fruits and vegetables. There is however, a tendency for
some persons to prefer the imported produce due to lack of
knowledge of the nutritional contribution. Locally produced
fruits and vegetables are a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals
compared with common imported selections. Some examples
are:
Apple vs Guava
Who has not heard the adage, 'an apple a day keeps the doctor
away?' This is probably because the apple has fibre to facilitate
gut health and rid the body of waste. But one guava has less
calories and carbohydrate but is richer in fibre, vitamin C and
potassium, compared with an apple.
Apple versus West Indian Cherry
It takes many apples to supply the vitamin C content of the same
amount of West Indian cherries.
Grapes vs Guava
In comparison to a bunch of grapes, one guava has much more
vitamin C, fibre and potassium than the grapes.
Food
Apple,
medium
(100g)
Guava,
medium
whole
(100g)
Kcal
59
51
Carbohydrate
(g)
15.3
11.9
Dietary Fibre
(g)
0.8 (crude)
5.6
Vit. C
(mg)
6
184
Potassium
(mg)
115
284
Food
Apple,
medium
(100g)
WI
Cherry
(100g)
Kcal
59
32
Carbohydrate
(g)
15.3
7.7
Dietary Fibre
(g)
0.8 (crude)
0.4 (crude)
Vit. C
(mg)
6
1677
Potassium
(mg)
115
146
Food
Grapes
(100g)
Guava
medium
whole
(100g)
Kcal
63
51
Carbohydrate
(g)
17.2
11.9
Dietary Fibre
(g)
0.8 (crude)
5.6
Vit. C
(mg)
4
184
Potassium
(mg)
191
284
Food
Mango,
ripe
(100g)
cantaloupe
(100g)
Kcal
65
35
Carbohydrate
(g)
17.0
14.5
Dietary Fibre
(g)
1.08
1.0 (crude)
Vit. C
(mg)
25
11
Potassium
(mg)
120
309
Vitamin
A
R.E.
389
322
Extracted from Cajanus (CFNI). Vol. 39 No. 1, 2006
Nutritional and health benefits of citrus fruits
Citrus fruits have long been valued as part of a nutritious and
tasty diet. The flavours provided by citrus are among the most
preferred in the world, and it is increasingly evident that citrus
not only tastes good, but is also good for people. It is well
established that citrus and citrus products are a rich source of
vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre (non-starch polysaccharides)
that are essential for normal growth and development and overall
nutritional well-being. However, it is now beginning to be
appreciated that these and other biologically active, non-nutrient
compounds found in citrus and other plants (phytochemicals)
can also help to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases. Where
appropriate, dietary guidelines and recommendations that
encourage the consumption of citrus fruit and their products can
lead to widespread nutritional benefits across the population.
Citrus is most commonly thought of as a good source of vitamin
C. However, like most other whole foods, citrus fruits also
contain an impressive list of other essential nutrients, including
both glycaemic and non-glycaemic carbohydrate (sugars and
fibre), potassium, folate, calcium, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6,
phosphorus, magnesium, copper, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and
a variety of phytochemicals. In addition, citrus contains no fat or
sodium and, being a plant food, no cholesterol. The average
energy value of fresh citrus is also low, which can be very
important for consumers concerned about putting on excess body
weight. For example a medium orange contains 60 to 80 kcal, a
grapefruit 90 kcal and a tablespoon (15 ml) of lemon juice only 4
kcal (Whitney and Rolfes, 1999). Citrus fruits are equally
valuable among populations who need to overcome and prevent
micronutrient deficiencies as well as those concerned with
problems of overnutrition, obesity and diet-related chronic
diseases. For example, citrus is an ideal component of low-fat,
sodium-restricted diets.
Extracted from C. Economos and W.D. Clay. Nutritional and health benefits of citrus fruits.
www.fao.org
19RESEARCH ABSTRACTS
The mango in French-speaking West Africa:
cropping systems and agronomical practices
Cropping systems of the mango trees in West Africa are very
varied. Each one of them developed in a specific context where
the agronomical practices and the varietal composition of the
orchards contribute to the diversity observed. The study
undertaken should make it possible to better understand the
influence of the potential outlets on the evolution of the regional
mango production. Principal cropping systems. In the studied
area, the main part of the mango orchards has less than 10 ha;
their production is extensive and uses few inputs. They belong
in majority to growers whose principal activity is centred on
agriculture. Certain plantations close to 100 ha, found in
Senegal or in Côte d'Ivoire, belong to exporters and profit from a
technical assistance. Agronomical practices. The study of the
agronomical practices used in many mango orchards of West
Africa made it possible to analyze the aspects of seedling
production, choice of the site, installation of the orchard before
plantation, plantation and maintenance of the trees, fire
protection, water management, as well as the effect of the export
market on the varietal choice and the varietal offer during a
harvest campaign. Diseases and enemies. An inventory of the
pathological problems and physiological diseases likely to
devalue the production were carried out. Marketing. This part
made it possible to distinguish intercontinental exports,
requiring a specific harvest and conditioning organization, and
the local, national and regional markets. Processing. Today, the
share of transformed mangos into West Africa uses only one
negligible proportion of the total production. Conslusion and
prospects. Beside a traditional production which presents signs
of brittleness appear modern orchards. More than a necessary
intensification of the orchards, a rationalization of the
agronomical practices, plant health protection, fruit harvest or
handling are impossible to circumvent. Downstream, the export
path is confronted with a fast evolution of the exogenous
regulations, based on qualitative and sanitary standards
increasingly strict.
Vannière, H., Didier, C., Rey, J-Y, Diallo, T.M., Kéita, S. and
Sangaré, M. 2007. Fruits: 62(3), 187-201.
Organization of morphological and genetic
diversity of Caribbean and Venezuelan papaya
germplasm
The severe impact of papaya bacterial canker in the West Indies
jsutified launching a program to transfer the genetic
resistance/tolerance identified in local germplasm to good-
quality cultivars. As a first step, a germplasm collection from
the Caribbean was gathered and its morphological and genetic
diversity assessed. Materials and methods. The total sample
included 50 accessions from the Lesser Antilles, Cuba,
Venezuela, Costa Rica and Hawaii. Morphological data from a
subsample of 29 accessions were submitted to analysis of
variance, principal component analysis and Neighbour-Joining
cluster analysis. Nine isozyme systems were tested, and the
corresponding data were processed for cluster analysis and
genetic parameters, including the fixation index, diversity
indices and heterozygosity. Results. Eighteen of the 47
Caribbean and Venezuelan accessions exhibited
hermaphroditism. Venezuelan accessions displayed the widest
morphological diversity, while those from Barbados were
distinguished by fruit quality. Sexual type affected leaf and
flower traits. Cluster analysis shows little morphological
differentiation between origins, with the relative grouping of the
accessions from Guadeloupe or Barbados. Only four isozyme
systems were polymorphic, producing 34 distinct zymotypes,
with a relatively high heterozygosity and aparticular diversity in
Venezuela, Guadeloupe and Barbados. Geographic
structuration appears limited in the cluster analysis among
individuals; however, it is clearer when considering the six
bext-represented populations, with one cluster representing
Venezuela, Trinidad and Barbados, and one for Guadeloupe,
Martinique and Grenada. Discussion. The low level of fixation
is attributed to dioecy and to the low level of selection. The
relative isolation of island populations has favoured geographic
differentiation, albeit limited. The differentiation between the
good-quality germplasm from Barbados and the tolerant
populations from Martinique and Guadeloupe encourages the
development of a marker-assisted introgression scheme.
Ocampo, J., d'Eeckenbrugge, G., Bruyère, S., de Bellaire, L.,
Ollitrault, P. 2006. Fruits: 61(1), 25-37.
Processing and food uses of bananas and
plantains in Cameroon
In Southern Cameroon, bananas and plantains (Musa) play an
important role in the population's diet. There are many food
uses of these crops relative to the eating habits of consumers.
Our study was carried out in order to list the varieties of
bananas and plantains mostly used by housewives and
restaurant dealers and to describe the various culinary
preparations used for their transformation. Methods. The
processing and culinary methods of bananas and plantains,
including the estimation as well as the measurement of the
quantities of ingredients used, and the traditional utilisations of
these foodstuffs, were investigated in two Cameroonian towns
(Bafoussam and Yaoundé). Results. Some culinary preparations
using different varieties are common in Southern Cameroon
such as roasted or fried plantain, plantain chips, boiled plantain
or banana and pounded plantain. They are eaten with various
sauces, vegetables and other food complements. Other
preparations found in these regions include stuffed plantain or
banana, plantain or banana porridges and traditional recipes
called kondre and malaxé. Preparation of chips, fried and
roasted plantain are mainly carried out by women and young
boys on the streets in an effort to diversify sources of income.
These various transformation and uses of bananas and plantains
contribute to the reduction of post-harvest losses as well as the
valorisation of these perishable food stuffs.
Newilaha, G.N., Tchangoa, J.T., Fokoub, E., Etoa, F. 2005.
Fruits: 60(4), 227 - 236.
WHAT'S IN YOUR TROPICAL FRUIT?
Sunas S. Percival and Broole Findley
Introduction
Fruits are abundant in nutrients, such as fiber, potassium,
folate, and Vitamin C. Moreover, they also contain carotenoids
and polyphenols, which act as antioxidants within the body.
Eating large amounts of plant-based foods has been associated
with lowered rates of cardiovascular disease (1, 2) and with
decreased risk of cancer and stroke (2). Consuming adequate
fruits and vegetables provides both essential nutrients and
compounds that provide other beneficial physiological effects,
not all of which are known.
The nutrient composition of tropical fruits is of particular
interest not only because of the health benefits of fruit
consumption, but also because of the importance of tropical
fruits to the agricultural industry in Florida. In 2003, Florida
ranked ninth in the nation for total cash receipts from fruit,
with nearly 28% of this from field crops and other crops not
including vegetables. Additionally, Florida's top export is fruit;
in 2003, Florida ranked second in the nation in fruit exports
(3). Since the production of tropical fruits is an important part
of the economy of the state, highlighting the nutritional
benefits of these fruits enhances their marketability and
appeal.
However, the lack of comprehensive information about the
nutritional properties of these foods presents a challenge. The
purpose of this publication is to evaluate the current
information available on the nutrient composition of tropical
fruits. The nutrient information (amounts of fiber, Vitamin A,
Vitamin C, folate, potassium, calcium and iron) for the tropical
fruits examined was compiled from the USDA National
Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (4, 5) (see Table 1 ).
These values were then compared to the daily reference values
for food labeling (6) and evaluated in relation to the percent
provided per serving. According to the FDA, a "good" source
of a nutrient provides 10-19% of the daily reference value,
while an "excellent" source provides 20% of the daily
reference value (6, 7). Scientific names for fruits not found in
the USDA Nutrient Database were found in Morton's Fruits of
Warm Climates (8). The tropical fruits chosen for this analysis
were selected because they are currently of interest to local
growers and to food and dietary supplement manufacturers in
and around the state of Florida.
1. This document is FSHN 07-08, one of a series of the Department
of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Florida Cooperative Extension
Service, IFAS, University of Florida. First published September 2007.
Please visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2. Susan S. Percival, professor, Food Science and Human Nutrition
Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and
Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611,
and Brooke Findley, M.S., Nutritionist, Wake County Human
Services, Raleigh, NC.
Nutrients
Fiber helps maintain intestinal function, reduces the risk of
heart disease, and can help keep blood glucose levels normal.
Sapodilla, kumquat, durian and avocado were found to have
the highest amounts of fiber of the fruits evaluated. Kumquat
and sapodilla, at 6.4 g and 5.4 g of fiber per serving,
respectively, both provide more than 20% of the daily
reference value for fiber, and therefore are excellent sources of
fiber.
Vitamin A is important for vision, expression of genes, growth,
and development, as well as proper immune function (9).
Passion fruit juice (89 μg/serving), pitanga (65 μg/serving),
acerola (60 μg/serving), and plantain (41 μg/serving) contain
the highest amounts of Vitamin A of the tropical fruits
evaluated. Despite these fruits' high levels of Vitamin A when
compared to the other fruits evaluated, these three fruits are
not considered "good" or "excellent" sources of the vitamin.
More research into beta-carotene and its contribution to
vitamin A value is needed.
In the body, Vitamin C is used as a cofactor for many
metabolic reactions; it also serves as an antioxidant (9). Many
of the fruits evaluated are high in Vitamin C. Acerola juice,
which contains 3872 mg per serving, and raw acerola cherries,
which contain 822 mg per serving, are extraordinarily high in
Vitamin C. Guava, which contains 188 mg per serving, is also
an excellent source, followed by passion fruit juice (74
mg/serving), longan (70 mg/serving), and lychee (70
mg/serving).
Calcium is necessary for blood clotting, muscle movement,
and transmission of nerve signals, and is important for
formation of bones and teeth (9). Of the tropical fruits
evaluated, kumquat (62 mg/serving), mamey sapote (39
mg/serving), and sapodilla (25 mg/serving) contain the most
calcium; however, none of these fruits are considered "good"
or "excellent" sources of calcium. (Fruits are not typically
good sources of calcium.)
Iron is a component of enzymes and hemoglobin in the body
and prevents anemia (9). Of the tropical fruits evaluated,
acerola, coconut, and sapodilla contained the most iron. All
three of these fruits are good sources of iron for males, with a
serving of acerola providing 15% of the RDA for males, and
servings of coconut and sapodilla providing 12% of the RDA
for males; however, these fruits are not considered "good" or
"excellent sources" of iron for women, whose RDA for iron is
higher. (Fruits are not, in general, good sources of iron.)
Folate is important in metabolic reactions in the body and also
prevents certain types of anemia (9). An adequate folate intake
prevents birth defects and heart disease. Avocado, durian, and
guava are the tropical fruits with the most folate.
Continued on page 24
20 NUTRITION
21RECIPES
Serves 6 to 8
Shrimp Salad with Pawpaw and Avocado
Pawpaw's mellow flesh and peppery seeds are good foils for
shrimp in a piquant dressing.
INGREDIENTS
1 ripe pawpaw
1/4 cup mild-flavoured olive oil
1 tbsp. tarragon wine vinegar
1 tbsp. lime or lemon juice
1/4 tsp. each salt and dry mustard
1 escallion, thinly sliced
1/4 lb. small, peeled, cooked shrimp
1 medium ripe avocado (pear), halved and seeded
Leaves of Boston or butter lettuce
METHOD
Serves 4
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20030619/cook/cook2.html
Caribbean Fruit Salads
Caribbean Pawpaw SaladFresh pawpaw complements avocado (pear), tomato and
cilantro in this elegant salad.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup watercress or baby lettuce leaves
2 cups peeled, seeded and thinly sliced pawpaw
1/4 cup to 1 cup thinly sliced avocado
1 cup thinly sliced tomato
2 tbsps. lime juice
2 tbsps. chopped cilantro
1/4 tsp. salt (optional)
1/8 tsp. ground coriander
1/8 tsp. allspice
METHOD
Serves 4.
Tropical Fruit Salad with Coconut-Lime Dressing
The fruits for this dish achieve a fine balance of flavour and
texture, but, if you wish, add or substitute melon, kiwifruit,
strawberries or other fruits that complement the salad.
INGREDIENTS
1 large pineapple
1 large mango
1 large pawpaw
1 firm but ripe banana
2 or 3 fresh tangerines, peeled, separated into sections, and
seeded
1/2 cup canned coconut milk
Fresh lime juice, to taste
METHOD
Arrange watercress on 4 small salad plates. Layer slices of
pawpaw, avocado, hearts of palm and tomato atop
watercress.
Stir together lime juice, cilantro, salt (if used), coriander
and allspice. Drizzle over papaya salads. Cover with plastic
wrap and chill 30 minutes before serving.
1.
2.
Pare pineapple, halve, and remove tough core from both
halves. Cutting lengthwise, slice fruit into long wedges,
then cut slices crosswise into bite-sized chunks. Place in a
large glass or ceramic bowl.
Wash mango well. Holding the mango upright on a cutting
board, use a paring knife to cut off large wedges of flesh,
avoiding the stringy fibres around the large central pit. Peel
the skin away from each wedge; cut fruit into bite-sized
chunks. Add to pineapple in bowl.
1.
2.
Wash pawpaw well. Split pawpaw lengthwise; scoop out
the small black seeds; discard. Slice flesh into wedges, peel,
and cut into bite-sized chunks. Add to pineapple and mango
in bowl.
Peel and slice banana. Add, along with tangerines, to bowl;
add coconut milk. Toss gently to combine, taste, and add
lime juice, as needed, to adjust the balance of sweet and tart
flavours. Serve in a decorative bowl.
chunks. Add to pineapple in bowl.
3.
4.
Peel, halve and scoop out seeds from pawpaw, reserving 2
teaspoons of the seeds. Slice papaya thinly and set aside.
In blender or food processor, combine oil, vinegar, lime
juice, salt and mustard; process until well-combined. Add
reserved papaya seeds; process again until seeds are the
consistency of coarsely ground pepper.
Pour dressing into a medium bowl; mix lightly with onion
and shrimp.
Cut avocado, using a melon ball cutter, into small balls;
mix lightly with shrimp mixture.
Arrange lettuce on each of 4 salad plates. Place a fourth of
the papaya slices on each plate. Spoon shrimp-avocado
mixture over papaya; drizzle any residual dressing over the
salads.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
BANANA AND PLANTAIN CONFERENCE 2008
Organization: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
Date: April 7-10, 2008
Venue: Mombassa, Kenya
Information: Thomas Dubois; Bio-control Specialist
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture; IITA c/o
Lambourn Ltd, Carolyn House; 26 Dingwall Road; Croydon
CR9 3EE, UK
Email: [email protected]
Fax: +256 (0)41 285079
Phone: +256 (0)75 2787808
Organization web: www.iita.org
Conference web: www.banana2008.com
ORGANIC FRUIT CONFERENCE
Organization: International Federation of Organic Agriculture
Movements (IFOAM) ; International Spciety for Horticultural
Science (ISHS)
Date: June 15-17, 2008
Venue: Vignola, Italy
Information: Franco P. Weibel; Research Institute of Organic
Farming (FiBL); CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland
E-Mail: [email protected]
Tel.: +41 62 865 72 42;
Fax: +41 62 865 72 73
Mob.: +41 79 606 3 808
Web:http://www.ifoam.org/events/ifoam_conferences/owc/prog
ram_organic_fruit.html
Main themes:
- Advances in organic fruit production methods
- The effects of existing or novel organic methods and systems
on sustainability
- Fruit quality, economic, public relations and marketing,
ecological and human-health issues
4th INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON TROPICAL
AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS
Date: November 2-7, 2008
Venue: Bogor Agricultural Unversity, Bogor, Indonesia
Info: Prof. Dr. Roedhy Poerwanto
Tel: *62-251 326881 / 382201
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ifs2008.info/
Symposium Themes:
-
-
-
-
-
-
UPCOMING EVENTS22
WEBSITES
CARIB Fruits
An introduction to the fruits of the West Indies. More than 125
species described in 80 richly illustrated sheets. (In French).
http://caribfruits.cirad.fr
Fintrac Information Service
Provides numerous links to crop and market guides, industry
events and other research for fresh fruits and vegetables
www.agribusinessonline.com
International Tropical Fruits Network
www.itfnet.org
Breeding and Biotechnology
Pest and Disease Management
Production Technology and Physiology
Post Harvest, Processing Technology and Food Safety
Economics and Marketing
Education, Extension and Technology Transfer
a.k.a. Starfruit (Jamaica); Chinese Jimbelin, Chinese
Tamarind; Five fingers (Guyana); Vinagrillo (Dominican
Republic); Zibline (Haiti); Cornichon (French Antilles);
Blimbing legi or Fransman-birambi (Suriname);
Coolie Tamarind (Trinidad); Tamarindo chino or
tamarindo dulce (Venezuela).
The carambola is a pleasure both to the taste, and to the
eye. Its mild, sweet, sub-acid flavor complements many
commercial juice drinks, and the fruit is also often eaten
fresh. When cut, slices of the fruit have a star shape, and
are used in salads and other dishes.
A small and slow-growing tree to 20-30ft, the star fruit is
best adapted in the warm tropics from sea level to
2000ft, but can be grown in unusual conditions in the
subtropics, provided the plant is protected from extreme
cold. Older trees are more tolerant of frost. Growth stops
below 55-60F, and adult trees can be killed at prolonged
temperatures below 28F. Both hot, dry and cold winds
can severely damage trees and fruit, so adequate
windbreaks are suggested for ideal culture. Give the
plant full sun, fertilize 4-5 times a year, and provide
moderate water throughout the year. Heavy water during
flowering may inhibit pollination and fruit production.
Star fruit's are susceptible to root rot under wet
conditions, but they generally do well with moderate,
year-round rainfall. Propagation: Seedling trees usually
fruit within 4-6 years, while grafted trees can fruit in
under a year.
Source: www.tradewindsfruit.com
TROPICAL FRUIT "PICK"Carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.)
23
IICA
Supporting Fruit Industry Expansion
in the Caribbean
RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTION NOTICE - 2007
TROPICAL FRUITS NEWSLETTER
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) will publish two issues of the Tropical Fruits Newsletter
in 2008. We remind our readers to fill out this form and return via fax, e-mail or regular mail to the address indicated below
so that we may update our mailing list for the coming year. Thank you.
Yes, I would like to receive future editions of
TROPICAL
FRUITS
NEWSLETTER
Contact:
The Editor, Tropical Fruits Newsletter, IICA
P.O. Box 1318, Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Fax: (868) 628-4562
Email: [email protected]
BIODATA
Name Farmer Processor Technician Academician Researcher
Position Academic Title (BSc., MSc., PhD.)
Name of Institution/Farm/Processing Plant
Address
City Country
Phone (including country & city codes) Fax (including country & city codes)
Email Web site (of institution): http://
BACKGROUND
Please indicate your area of specialization/interest
CURRENT ACTIVITY
Briefly describe your current activity (research, conservation, teaching, processing, production/farming, lobbyist, breeding, genetics,
etc.)
If you work with specific fruits, indicate which
For persons outside of the Caribbean:
Subscription Fee Enclosed (US$10.00/year) Yes No
(Please make cheque payable to IICA)
About IICA
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is the specialized agency for agriculture of
the inter-American System. Its mission is to support the 34 Member States in their pursuit of progress and
prosperity in the Hemisphere through the modernization of the rural sector, promotion of food security and
development of an agricultural sector that is competitive, technologically prepared, environmentally managed and
socially equitable for the people of the Americas.
The Member States are: Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines,
Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, the United Sates of America, Uruguay and Venezuela.
WHAT'S IN YOUR TROPICAL FRUIT?
Continued from page 20
With 61 μgg/serving, 44 μgg/serving and 40 μgg/serving,
respectively, they are considered "good" sources of folate.
Data on the folate content of some fruits are nonexistent.
Potassium is important in maintaining the fluid balance of
cells. It contributes to normal cell function, helps to
counterbalance fluctuations in blood pressure when excess
sodium is taken into the body, and decreases markers of bone
turnover (9). Of the tropical fruits evaluated, passion fruit
juice, durian, plantain, guava, and avocado contained the most
potassium. Passion fruit juice, in particular, is an excellent
source of potassium, containing almost 700 mg of potassium
(20% of the daily reference value) per serving.
Fruits
In addition to vitamins and minerals, a number of the fruits
characterized in the USDA database contained other dietary
bioactive components, such as carotenoids and polyphenols
(Table 2 ). After noting which fruits had significant quantities
of at least three of the nutrients listed in Table 1, we searched
the scientific literature for research on the composition of
other dietary bioactive components in these fruits. This meant
we searched for articles on acerola, avocado, durian, guava,
kumquat, passion fruit juice, and sapodilla.
Acerola (Malpighia glabra, Malpighia emarginata) is
extraordinarily high in vitamin C and is also a rich source of
vitamin A, iron, and folate. The fruit juice has also been found
to contain carotenoids, such as beta-carotene (10).
Avocado (Persea americana) contains alpha and beta carotene
and lutein/zeathanthin, but not lycopene (4). Other bioactive
food components have not been characterized. The oil of the
avocado has received more attention than the edible pulp.
Durian (Durio zibethinus) is high in fiber, folate, and
potassium; however, no carotenoid or phenolic information is
currently available.
Guava (Psidium guajava), a source of fiber, vitamin C, folate,
and potassium, is also very high in lycopene and beta-carotene
(4, 11). Guava also contains ellagic acid, gallic acid
conjugates, and quercetin glycosides, but not
hydroxycinnamics (12) or cryptoxanthin (4, 11). No
derivatives of chlorogenic acids were detected in guava (13).
Passion fruit juice (Passiflora edulis) is rich in vitamins A and
C, as well as potassium. The predominant carotene is zeta-
carotene (14).
Sapodilla (Manikara zapota) and kumquat (Fortunella spp.)
are high in fiber, iron, and calcium, as far as fruits go. Two
unusual polyphenolic compounds with high antioxidant
activity, methyl 4-O-galloylchlorogenate and 4-O-
galloylchlorogenic acid (15), have been identified in sapodilla.
5-caffeoylquinte (CQA) (but not 4-CQA) was also found in
small quantities in the sapodilla (13). In addition, sapodilla
contains catechin conjugates and polyphenols (12). The
predominant flavanone in kumquat is narirutin, while the f is
practically devoid of flavones (16).
NUTRITION
Acerola Avocado Durian Guava Sapodilla
(Barbados Cherry)
24