U.S. Agricultural Project Seeks to Bring Many More Exotic Fruits to U.S. ... But There Are Issues
by www.SixWise.com
Move over apples and bananas, and make room for exotic fruits
like mamey sapote and rambutan. These fruits from faraway
lands have massive appeal to Americans, and may soon be hitting
your local grocery store shelves.
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You may soon have an authentic taste of the tropics
right in your grocery store's produce section.
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Many exotic fruits are referred to as superfruits
because they are rich in antioxidants
and nutrients. In the United States, as more people are looking
for healthy foods and beverages, the time is ripe for these
exotic superfruits to enter the market.
In fact, products containing superfruits increased by a whopping
67 percent from 2006 to 2007 alone!
However the fruits do not come easy. The Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) is fast at work looking to overcome the hurdles
that keep exotic fruits from crossing the border, namely pests
and diseases that they do not want to introduce to the United
States.
Using crop management practices, the ARS team is focused
on boosting yields and creating high-quality tropical fruit
that can be imported safely into the United States.
One such fruit, rambutan, has been banned from the United
States unless it is irradiated, over fears that it could introduce
a new species of fruit fly.
Mamey Sapote, another exotic fruit that is reportedly adored
by U.S. Hispanic communities, has also been hard to come by
because it often contains West Indian fruit flies. However,
thanks to research by ARS's research station in Puerto Rico,
an infection-free line of the fruit has been created, and
this exotic fruit is expected to be one of the first to reach
the U.S. market.
Which exotic fruits should you keep an eye out for?
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Rambutans
Native to Southeast Asia, rambutans have a crimson,
hairy outer shell that gives way to a sweet, translucent
flesh.
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Mamey Sapote
A cantaloupe-like fruit with orange, pumpkin-flavored
flesh that is native to Central America.
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Sapodilla
A unique fruit native to Mexico that has a soft brown
flesh that ranges in flavor from pear-like to brown
sugar.
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Spanish Lime
A South American fruit with a sweet, translucent flesh.
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Mangosteens
A coveted tropical fruit with a sweet, creamy flesh
that originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas.
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In the meantime, if you're looking to taste some unique flavors
that will give your health a boost, check out the recipes
in Alive
in 5: Raw Gourmet Meals in Five Minutes. These meals are
exotic, but use foods that you can find right now!
Recommended Reading
Yumberry:
The Super-High Antioxidant Subtropical Fruit From China That
Will Make America Say "YUM"
10
Delicious, Nutritious Fruits You've Likely Never Heard of
That Are Growing in Popularity
Sources
FoodNavigator-USA.com
January 10, 2008
The
Arizona Republic January 18, 2008