Introduction and Overview - Tropical and Subtropical Fruits: Postharvest Physiology, Processing and Packaging - page 2

1
Introduction and Overview

Adel Kader and Muhammad Siddiq

INTRODUCTION
Although several topics on postharvest biology and technol-
ogy of horticultural perishables, including some of the sub-
tropical and tropical fruits (Table 1.1), have been published
during the past 20 years (Seymour et al., 1993; Salunkhe
and Kadam, 1995; Shaw et al., 1998; Kader, 2002; Knee,
2002; Chakraverty et al., 2003; Thompson, 2003; Gross
et al., 2004; Kays and Paull, 2004; Ben-Yehoshua, 2005;
Lamikanra et al., 2005; Wills et al., 2007; Nunes, 2008;
Paliyath et al., 2008; Florkowski et al., 2009; Valero and
Serrano, 2010), only two focused on tropical and subtrop-
ical fruits (Mitra, 1997; Yahia, 2011). Books dealing with
specific tropical and subtropical fruits include those on avo-
cado (Whiley et al., 2002), banana and plantain (Robinson
and Galan-Sauco, 2010), citrus fruits (Wardowski et al.,
2006; Ladaniya, 2008), durian (Ketsa and Subhadra-
bandhu, 2001), lychee/litchi and longan (Menzel and Waite,
2005), mango (Litz, 2009), olive (Therios, 2008), pineap-
ple (Bartholomew et al., 2002), and pomegranate (Seeram
et al., 2006). This topic focuses on tropical and subtropical
fruit processing and packaging for maintaining quality and
safety between harvest and consumption. In this chapter,
we provide an overview of current trends in production,
consumption, and marketing of tropical and subtropical
fruits. Also included is a brief discussion of current trends
in postharvest technology research and development and
of strategies for reducing postharvest losses of foods of
plant origin.
The significance of tropical and subtropical fruits can be
seen from the data presented in Table 1.2, which lists these
fruits, by rank, in the top 20 commodities produced in a

specific world region. It is to be noted that Food and Agri-
culture Organization (FAO) data on top 20 commodities not
only includes all fruits but is composed of all vegetables,
field crops, dairy, livestock, and any other specialty crop.
Banana, plantain, mango, pineapple, oranges, coconut,
olive, and avocado are of commercial importance for many
regions of the world. In addition to tropical and subtropical
fruits' significance in local economies, in many cases, these
fruits are a source of foreign exchange earnings.

TRENDS IN PRODUCTION AND MARKETING
Tropical fruits include acerola, banana, breadfruit, caram-
bola, durian, guava, jackfruit, longan, Mamey sapote,
mango, mangosteen, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple,
prickly pear, rambutan, sapodilla, soursop, and sweetsop
(Table 1.1). A few of these fruits are also grown in sub-
tropical regions. Only four of these fruits, i.e., banana,
mango, papaya, and pineapple, are important in interna-
tional commerce. However, other tropical fruits are becom-
ing more significant in international trade. Most of the trop-
ical fruits are consumed in and/or close to their production
areas. The top ten producing countries of tropical fruits
are India, the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh,
Thailand,

Brazil, Pakistan, Colombia, and Mexico

(FAO, 2011).
Subtropical fruits include avocado, carob, cherimoya,
citrus fruits, dates, figs, jujubes, kiwifruit, loquat, lychee,
olive, persimmon, and pomegranate. Some of these fruits
are also grown in tropical areas. The top ten producing
countries of citrus fruits are Brazil, the United States, India,