Fruit Facts

Archive for the ‘Special Fruits’ Category

Durian fruit –king of fruits. An expert says, Durian peel is efficient oil absorbent that can aid in the recovery of spilled oil at coastal areas. The durian peel is considered as an agricultural waste but it helps to remove oil from water. This was found by Dr S. Kathiresan of AIMST University.

The lecturer in the university’s Biotechnology Department said laboratory results indicated that chemically-modified durian peel powder was also an efficient absorbent for recovery of spilled oil in water.

He also stated that, the bio-absorbent can be used for cleaning oil spills along coastal areas that cause adverse effects not only to all living sea organisms, but also human economic activities. Agro-waste has a huge commercial potential due to its efficiency in oil absorption, cost effectiveness and biodegradability.

A simple experiment was made with durian peel. Dr Kathiresan said, the durian peel is collected and washed several times with tap water to remove dirt and ground into powder and modified with a variety of chemicals. The modified durian powder was also able to retain its original efficiency to absorb spilled oil.

Popularity: 1% [?]

miracle-fruit

Miracle fruit, miraculous fruit or sweet berry – a small bright red, ellipsoid berry approximately 2 to 3 cm long with single seed. The miracle occurs after eating the fleshy part of the berry. It causes sour and bitter foods to taste sweet. The miracle fruit itself has very low sugar content.

Miracle fruit does not taste sweet by itself but when combined with bitter and sour foods it transforms their flavor to taste sweet. It has a short shelf life only lasting for 3-4 days. You can find the miracle berry in dried form or encapsulated into pills.

The miracle fruit plant can be grown indoors with a T5 fluorescent growing light. It mimics the indirect sunlight that it would receive in nature. The plant can self pollinate itself and bears many fruits. It contains a protein molecule called miraculin which binds to the taste buds. It distorts the sweet sensory input to respond to acids and replicates the effect of sugar.

The fruit had low calorie sweetening abilities, hence it’s best suited for diabetic patients.

Recently the miracle berry has become popular with food tasting events called “Taste tripping”.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Popularity: 31% [?]

According to information given by the specialists of “Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits” journal, from the beginning of this week banana price have started to grow rapidly. On Monday the wholesale companies had mentioned the sales prices up to $14-14.7/box. This price is actually significantly higher than the price level recorded in the end of past week when the variety was within $11.9-13.1/kg depending from excellence and volume of the commodity.

The market players predicted that the price for bananas would continue increasing.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Apart from delays in travel time and difficulties in getting payment from Chinese businessmen, Taiwan exporters also face import duties as high as 30 percent on shipments of bananas to China, a fruit distributor said yesterday.

Peng Sheng-fu, deputy manager of the Taiwan Provincial Fruit Distribution and Co-op Association, said Taiwanese banana exports to China are levied with a 30 percent duty — 13 percent in customs duty and 17 percent value-added tax.

Popularity: 3% [?]

The wholesale dry fruit market on Saturday closed on a higher note as most of the supplies prices shot up on coming out demand coupled with tiny arrival from producing centers and then closed with fresh grains.

Market men said higher up-country advices too influenced market sentiments.

‘Almond California’ quoted higher by Rs 400 to settle at Rs 12,500 per 40 kg.

Its kerel also followed suit and dear at Rs 435-436 per kilo.

Copra enhanced at Rs 6,500-6,600 against earlier level of Rs 5,800-5,900 due to negligible arrival from southern region.

Fig also quoted higher at Rs 7,000-12,000 instead of Rs 6,500-11,500 per 40 kilo.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Srinagar: With non-Kashmiri fruit glutting markets in huge quantities outside Kashmiri, people connected with fruit industry in the valley have become extremely concerned. Witnessing foreign fruit occupying the stalls before adorned by Kashmiri apple, apricot and cherry, valley-based fruit growers accuse government of neglecting the grave horticulture industry.

“Given its huge contribution to the state domestic product government need to frame a comprehensive policy for horticulture development in the state,” says Muhammad Mudassir a young fruit grower.

In apple farming that occupies a predominant position Mudassir argues government requires encouraging high-density plantations, reducing gestation period and making huge investments to lift cold storage facility.

According to agriculture minister the proposed board will assist in forming policies for the horticulture industry in the state.

The board will also discover possibilities of financing intensive projects from external sources and financial institutions besides exploring opportunities in post-harvest sector and market device for horticulture produce.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Ask any nutrition expert and they’ll tell you that there are lots of causes to treat in fruits during the summer. “I frequently tell people that if you eat more fruit, you might feel a tendency for your sweet tooth to decline and your tendency for chocolate to decline,” said registered dietician Chrisy O’Conor. As the chocolate desires decline, you waistline might, too. Plus, a new government report found that picking up fruits with the most antioxidants or disease-fighting nutrients could also help keep your heart healthy and fight off certain types of cancer. While there really are no bad fruits, scientists working with the USDA rated what they believe to be the ten best based it on antioxidant score, per serving:

1) Blueberries (nearly 13,000 antioxidant score per serving)
2) Cranberries (9,000)
3) Blackberries (7,700)
4) Raspberries (6,100)
5) Strawberries (~6,000)
6) Apples (5,900)
7) Cherries (4,900)
Black Plums (4,800)
9) Avocados (3,400)
10) Pears (3,200)

A serving of most fruits is about 1/2 cup or one medium apple, avocado, or pear.

Popularity: 4% [?]

THE strawberry season is over for another year but ‘Pick Your Own’ and supermarkets are still present some tasty fare to brighten up and color our diet: raspberries, loganberries, teaberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, grapes, cherries and, very soon, blackberries.

Not only are they full of water (nice in hot weather) but they also hold a wonderful range of vitamins, minerals, some fiber and some wonderful antioxidants.

Antioxidants are one of the defense mechanisms that our body uses to neutralize free radicals (which create chemical reactions in our cells, sometimes with unwanted side reactions). A balanced and varied diet is a significant source of these and this is particularly significant since our body’s’ free radical load is increased by air pollution, radiation and, of course, smoking.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Cooking vegetables right on the grill adds flavor to every meal. Baste firm vegetables like peppers, corn, eggplant or onions. Season them with herbs and place on a hot grill until they are kind and brown — typically about 10 to 15 minutes.

Place sliced zucchini, tomatoes and carrots on heavy-duty foil and dust with a little water and seasoning. Wrap the halt and grill six to eight minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Make kabobs out of pineapples, peaches and bananas and grill on small heat until the fruit is hot and slightly golden.

Another great reason to add fruits and vegetables to your outside cooking repertoire: With the abundance of produce obtainable this time of year, it’s simple to consume your suggested five 1.5- to 2-cup servings of fruits and vegetables a day for optimal health.

Popularity: 2% [?]