Fruit Facts

Posts Tagged ‘fleshy fruits’

NEW DELHI: Mango lovers in the national capital, assists by cool winds and rains to add to their joy, were in for a unique treat on Sunday as they got an chance to savor more than 550 varieties of the “king of fruits” put on show during a two-day festival here.

“The two-day 18th Annual Mango Festival that concluded Sunday at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium drew over 30,000 visitors and provided a package of interaction, education and entertainment to celebrate the mango,” said Suman Sharma, chief manager (events) of Delhi Tourism.

“More than 50 mango growers from across the country, mainly from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Delhi, were given an interactive platform to present the “king of fruits,” Sharma said.

“The visitors, who normally think mango has just five or six varieties, were educated through quizzes and competitions about the huge variety of the fruit grown and innumerable possibilities of using mango in cuisine. They also enjoyed colorful entertainment programmers’ of music and dance.”

Sharma said the festival was intended at providing experience to the domestic mango industry and exporters.

“It is an informal and international platform with a two-fold approach, to promote tourism as well as mango export.”

The varieties of mango on exhibit included Alphonso, Totapari, Mallika, Rataul, Himsagar, Amrapali, Mumbai Green, Kesar, Fazli and Banganpalli. There were also mangoes with camouflaging looks of other fruits like banana, guava and watermelon, but having the inherent taste of a mango.

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Washington, D.C. – American Institute for Cancer Research – Research does confirm that berries are among the fruits highest in antioxidant contented and that they are outstanding sources of several physiochemical that look to help block cancer development. However, other fruits and vegetables give different nutrients and physiochemical with sole health benefits. The best counsel, then, is to eat berries frequently for their huge taste and health boost, but stay alert on the main goal of eating a wide variety of produce every day.

Strawberries are recognized as excellent sources of vitamin C, as long as much or more than a whole day’s suggested amount in just one cup. But all berries are good sources of vitamin C, with one cup of raspberries or blackberries giving you close to half of amounts presently recommended for a whole day for adults. One of the ways vitamin C defends our health is its function as an antioxidant. Antioxidants attract and neutralize highly immediate molecules called free radicals that can otherwise damage body cells in ways that start cancer development, heart disease and age-related eye damage. Yet laboratory studies demonstrate that much of the antioxidant power of fruits and vegetables comes not from the classic antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C, but from usual defensive compounds called physiochemical

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ISLAMABAD: The 15th National Mango and Summer Fruits Exposition 2006 would start from today (Friday) at the Zarai Taraqiati Bank, Zero Point, in Islamabad.

The three-day expo has been organized by the Horticultural Foundation of Pakistan in collaboration the Zarai Taraqiati Bank.

Policy makers, expatriates, exporters, researchers, fruit growers and representatives of fruit dispensation industries would attend the show. The event is intended at humanizing horticultural production and processing in the country.

Mango peeling and eating contest and display of fruit baskets would be added attractions. The show would be opened to public on Friday between 6pm to 8pm. RA Chughtai, the president of the Zarai Taraqiati Bank, would install the expo. Staff report.

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While other parts of the state resist for decent fruit crops, Montcalm County and the surrounding area should be OK.

A warm spring and late frost caused troubles with fruit crops somewhere else in Michigan. But Bruce Watts, owner of Watts Orchard in Howard City along with his father, Wayne Watts, called the season “good.”

At their farm they grow apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, strawberries and all types of vegetables.

“The first couple of crops got froze off,” Bruce Watts said. “But overall this season we have a good group.”

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World banana production has augmented 11.1% since 1999; banana land has been extended 11.3% during this period of time. This information is given by “Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits” journal referring to FAO data. Around 73 mln. Tons of bananas were created on the acreage of 4.5 mln. Hectares in the world in 2005.

Bananas are grown in more than 110 countries, but first ten producers secure 70% of the gross production volumes. The world largest banana producers are India (16.8 mln. tons), Brazil (6.6 mln. tons), China (6.5 mln. tons), Ecuador (5.8 mln. tons). Apart from the mentioned countries, Philippines, Indonesia, Costa-Rika, Mexico, and Thailand belong to ten leading producers. Burundi completes this list with 1.5 mln. Banana production in 2005.

China has confirmed the best success among other leading manufacturer during 6 recent years. This country was able to make up banana production on 45% and to move from fifth to third place in the top banana manufacturers list. Brazil harvested 23% more bananas in 2005 comparing to 1999. Banana production has not changed much; Ecuador reduced 7% banana production volumes.

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Tholen – Last Wednesday, the Spanish agricultural society AVA-Asaja declared in a press release that presently 20% of summer fruits are not harvested. The fruit is not picked since of a production surplus. The campaign started 20 days ago, but the amount of fruit released to the market is too large, as multiple area came into production at the same time. This results in low prices for the growers.

This announcement was followed by criticism of the ordinary market regulation, which is said to be inefficient. The AVA is powerless when tackle with the low prices. The present situation strongly resembles the situation of a few years ago. The major question is to what extend people learned from these experiences.

Popularity: 4% [?]

A sign in front of the Lopez Ranch fruit place, famous for its juicy cherries and peaches, reads “Sold Out.”

No one answers the phone at Sharp Ranch off Hoffman Lane, which is classically buzzing with fruit-picking customers this time of year. A programmed telephone message states, “We had a strange year with all the rain and we’re not certain about the cherries yet. Call back in two weeks.”

Memorial Day weekend, naturally the busy U-Pick season opener in Far East Contra Costa County came with a whimper, not a bang. The fruit just isn’t mature yet or is too sparse. For months, farmers have been forecasting a late season this time around.

They blame the schizophrenic winter, with its unusually warm days that deception fruit into blossoming early, only to drown those same blossoms afterward on with too much rain. Also, there weren’t enough “chill hours” throughout the January and February, which are required so fruit could hibernate. And the frosts that did approach came at the wrong times.

It’s too early to know the degree of scratch to the fruit economy, but farmers, being farmers, stay optimistic.

“We’re opening one ranch Saturday, but the other won’t open until June 10,” said Del Chiaro, who owns Seko Ranch and D.C.’s strange Cherries. “Usually Memorial Day Weekend is the big push, but we missed that.

“Hopefully people would know we’re open now.”

He said the good news is the season would still happen; it will just be a little late. Crops are spotty, but the fruit, which did make it through looks good.

“It’s a nice crop, really,” Del Chiaro said. “It’s just a matter of when it would be ready.”

Most U-Pick farms are opening in mid- to late June instead of the usual May — especially those selling peaches and nectarines that are particularly late bloomers this year.

Popularity: 2% [?]

HYDERABAD: Sensation, Terpentine, Lal Kathra, Patara… Don’t get intrigue by the names, they are some of the 222 varieties of the `King of Fruits’ on display at the three-day mango demonstrate which was inaugurated by Agriculture Minister, N.Raghuveera Reddy at the Jubilee Hall here on Thursday.

The biggest fruit on show is Sora (average wt. two kg) while the least is Chekara Guthi (75 gms). Banganapalli, Suvarnarekha, Dasheri, Alphonsa, Totapari, Pedda rasam, Himayath and Tellagulabi are amid the 32 succulent commercial varieties being exhibited in 20 stalls.

The stalls have been put up by progressive farmers, dispensation units, DWCRA groups, exporters, Non-Governmental Organizations and persons dealing with post-harvest skill and micro-irrigation systems.

New hybrids, pickle varieties, home- made and profitable mango products are also on sale.

Talking to reporters, Mr.Reddy said that this was the first time such a big show was planned.

He said that mangoes were organism sold at lower than the prevailing market prices.

The king of fruit was grown in 10 lakh acres in the State and the estimated production was 31.36 lakh tones.

He harassed the need to increase exports.

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Hyderabad: Fruits for breakfast, lunch and also for dinner, no it’s not a joke. A lady in Andhra Pradesh is doing precisely that. She is ongoing on fruits diet for the last 43 years.

72-year-old Laxmi Tulasi from Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh stopped consumption food since 1963. For one year she took just honey and lime juice but later she started eating only fruits. Till date she has merely fruits as food.

Laxmi is 72 and is extremely healthy. No prizes for guessing the secret, yes, it is fruits that she thrives on.

Laxmi is taking only fruits like banana, grapes, pomegranate, and guavas for the last 43 years. Laxmi left food in 1963 after a quarrel with her family members. As a protest, she started having only honey and lime juice for one year but later she began eating fruits for all meals.

“In 1963 I left food. For one year I continued with lime and honey and later started eating one banana and fruits and have two cups of tea everyday. The reason for this was a tiff with my family members on some issue. I was peeved when someone said something which I did not like.’”

Laxmi Tulasi is a very well educated lady and she retired as Mandal (Block) Development Officer. After retirement, she promptly took up social service to help the other women in her village.

Not only is she connecting women of her village but from surrounding villages also in various vocational courses.

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LAHORE: The export of fruits and vegetables was boosted to $40 million in 2004-05, and substantial progress is also very much expected in the current fiscal year because of the environment offered by the government to exporters, said Punjab Agricultural Marketing Minister Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon at the meeting to review the facilities for fruit and vegetable exporters on Sunday.

The meeting was told that more than 282 million kilogram’s of fruits had been exported, earning $92 million in foreign exchange, whereas almost 173 million kilogram’s of vegetables worth $51 million had been exported in 2004-05. Plans had been made to increase the export of fruits, vegetables and flowers, the minister said, adding that a modern Citrus Resource Centre was being established in Bhalwal to improve the storage system for the fruit.

Rana said the 31 fruits and vegetables markets were being improved and development work on market committees was being carried out at a cost of Rs 1.18 billion. He said flower markets were being established to improve marketing and boost the export of flowers. Market committees of Punjab would be computerized by the end of this year, he said, adding that electronic display boards were also being set up in major cities.

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