Author:  Babasola Ayodele Adelaja, Director (Fruits and Spices), National Horticultural Research Institute, Idi-Ishin, Ibadan, Nigeria   It has been difficult to find an appropriate classification for the Baobab (Adansonia digitata – Bombacaceae) tree, considering its usefulness to man, livestock and the environment.  Call it a multipurpose tree and that will not carry the weight of [...]

Pomelo (Citrus grandis), the biggest citrus in the world, has a seductingly sweet and deliciously tart taste. Originating in  Southest Asia, legend has it that British seafarer Captain Shaddock brought pomelo to the Caribbean that led to its english name “shaddock.” It was then crossbred with sweet orange that gave rise to the modern grapefruit.  [...]

China’s import of durian increased by 20.41% from 2009 to 2010, with a value of US$149.55 million. Malaysia succeeded in exporting approximately 200 metric tons of frozen durian to China, valued about 5 million USD. More details can be read here.   Here is Malaysia’s step-by-step process in preparing frozen durian pulp for export: (Photos courtesy of [...]

Sapodilla or Manilkara zapota is a tropical fruit that can be found grown in South East Asia, South Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. It is believed to have been originated from the Yucatan and Southern parts of Mexico, and later spread to other countries around the Equatorial belt. There are numerous cultivars of [...]

With a planted oil palm area of 4.9 million hectares, Malaysia is second to Indonesia as the world’s biggest palm oil producers. About 420 oil palm mills in Malaysia grapple with the amount of waste generated in the palm oil extraction process.   On the average, a palm oil mill requires approximately 5.5 tons of [...]

Though it lies in the Tropics, Sudan’s climate ranges from arid in the North to tropical in the South West.   Arid and semi- arid areas are characterised by erratic and low precipitation of 700 mm per annum, experience periodic drought, poor vegetation and poor soils. The area north of the Khartoum, Sudan receives an [...]

Hailed as Davao’s pomelo king, Carmelito Mercado is arguably the top pomelo producer and distributor in the Philippines. From his humble beginnings as a trader, Mercado’s determination and thirst for knowledge to improve his business has bore fruit. In 1982, Mercado inherited his family trading business. As surplus of langsat and rambutan easily spoil, he [...]

TFNet successfully held two major events for this year – the  5th International Symposium of Tropical and Subtropical Fruits on 18-20 June and the TFNet 5th General Assembly on 21 June at Guangzhou, China. During the General Assembly, Malaysia retained the Chairperson post in the Board of Trustees.   This issue also reports on the [...]

Dr. Edna Anit of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) provided an overview of the minor tropical fruit industry in the Philippines. Dr. Anit is currently the head of the minor tropical fruits research in PCAARRD. The area of minor tropical fruit production is miniscule compared to major [...]

Commonly mistaken as a relative of the durian, the delicious jackfruit actually belongs to the mulberry family. It is widely grown in the tropical lowlands for food consumption but can also be used for timber, fuel and fodder, medicine, and industrial products. It is known to be the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, typically [...]

The urban consumer preference for convenience and prepared food has prompted interest in the promotion and production of minimally processed items for fruits, roots and vegetables.   Minimal processed fruits involve separation of the edible portion of the fruits and packing them in ‘ready to eat’ packages under hygienic and refrigerated conditions.   Due to [...]

Known internationally as “snake fruit”, the exotic salak derives its name from its reddish-brown scaly skin. While the fruit looks intimidating to eat, peeling the skin reveals a white clove-like flesh. Gourmands describe the fruit as crunchy like an apple but tastes like a mix of pear, pineapple, and banana with hints of jasmine and [...]