News (Page 259)

High blood pressure affects many Americans every day. Arturo Figueroa, an associate professor at Florida State University, learned that hypertension can be lowered by consuming juicy watermelon in people who are overweight when they are at rest and stressed. The study did not begin with watermelon but with a concept.Continue Reading

The European Union’s recent ban on imports of Indian mangoes and a few vegetables due to concerns over the presence of fruit flies has given leading fruit and vegetable exporters in Pakistan a chance to collaborate and expedite enforcing higher standards of agriculture practices.   “We have taken the recentContinue Reading

Although poor rainfall has come as a setback for certain crops such as paddy rice, sugarcane, and maize, it has come as a boon for jackfruit. Jackfruit growers anticipate a higher yield this season as compared with last year’s harvest.   According to jackfruit growers, the poor realisation of rainfallContinue Reading

Did you know that bananas are happy fruits? Eating just one can help relieve irritable emotions, anger and or depression.   Here are a few reasons why you should eat a banana:   1. Banana is one of the favourite fruits for many people because it can lift depression andContinue Reading

Since 2011, Costa Rica has been promoting its products in Chile, managing to steadily increase its export volumes to this South American market.   “We are quite satisfied with the results obtained since we started the process in 2011. We have kept growing, not as quickly as we would like,Continue Reading

Prices of red-fleshed dragon fruit has drastically risen, said Nguyen Van Than, chair of Dub My Cooperative in Cang Long District, in the Mekong delta province of Tra Vinh on March 24.   Traders have agreed to buy the fruit at VND 47,000 per kilogram at the farms but theContinue Reading

Implementing measures supported by the government, the sector wants to revive the production of bananas in light of the loss of 40% of crop areas and reduced exports.   Hector Castro, President of the National Association of Banana Producers (Aprobana) “said they are seeking government support so that they canContinue Reading

With an international focus and government support, Mexican mangoes are reaching new markets, including Russia. Ecofruits director Salvador Simental discussed outlook for the 2014 season and the importance of mango export growth.   “This year, the product is delayed by about 15 days. We believe there will be slightly lowerContinue Reading

The Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) aims to export RM100 million (USD 30.5 million) of the fruit this year compared with RM86.3 million (USD 26.3 million) in 2013.   Director General Sahdan Salim said the target is based on the MD2 pineapple variant that will enter the Japanese market nextContinue Reading

In a move that could benefit thousands of pineapple growers in the hilly regions of the North-East, the Imphal-headquartered Central Agricultural University has developed a technology to convert and process the fruit into value-added powder.   Pineapple is a major horticultural crop in the north-eastern region, but growers have beenContinue Reading

The spiky hard exterior enclosing a sweet core is not only a summer hot favourite, but its many parts that are thrown away without a second glance can make for delicious dishes. Rural women from villages around Auroville are all set to cash in on the jackfruit for small businessContinue Reading