Lemon and Lime - Tropical and Subtropical Fruits: Postharvest Physiology, Processing and Packaging - page 364

Table 20.1. Leading lemon and lime-producing, -exporting, and -importing countries, by quantity
(metric tons).

Producers 2010 Exporters 2009 1 Importers 2009 1

India 3,098,900 Spain 473,270 USA 407,346

Mexico 1,891,400 Mexico 464,514 Russian Federation 208,581

Argentina 1,113,380 Turkey 407,068 Netherlands 154,900

China 1,050,600 South Africa 253,252 Germany 142,959

Brazil 1,020,350 Argentina 250,351 France 116,424

USA 800,140 Netherlands 112,572 Italy 105,429

Turkey 787,063 USA 104,322 Poland 105,149

Iran 706,800 Brazil 66,374 United Kingdom 98,062

Spain 578,200 Italy 39,983 Ukraine 62,787

Italy 522,377 Chile 36,938 Canada 58,071

Egypt 318,111 Egypt 32,406 Greece 54,983

Peru 233,032 Lebanon 32,359 Japan 54,441

1 Latest data available.
Source: FAO (2011).

triterpenoids, fatty acids, pigments (carotenoids, chloro-
phylls, flavonoids), bitter principles (limonene), and en-
zymes. It is composed of several cell layers that become
progressively thicker in the internal part; the epidermic
layer is covered with wax. When ripe, the flavedo cells con-
tain carotenoids (mostly xanthophyll), which, in develop-
mental stages, contained chlorophyll. The internal region of
the flavedo is rich in multicellular bodies with spherical or

pyriform shapes, which are full of essential oils (Izquierdo
and Sendra, 2003).
Mesocarp or albedo is the middle layer of the pericarp sit-
uated between the exocarp and the endocarp. It is part of the
peel which is commonly removed by hand. The albedo con-
tains celluloses and soluble carbohydrates, pectin and pro-
topectin, flavonoids, amino acids and vitamins (Goodrich,
2003). The albedo of grapefruit, orange, lemon, and tanger-
ine contains higher flavanone than juice vesicles or flavedo
(peel). The albedo and flavedo contain a higher concentra-
tion of bitter components and pectin than other parts of the
fruit (Baldwin, 1993).
Endocarp is the inside layer of the pericarp (or fruit),
which directly surrounds the seeds and is the edible por-
tion, divided into 10-14 segments (carpels) separated by
thin septa. Each segment is composed of up to several
hundred units called juice sacs or vesicles containing the
actual lemon juice. The walls of the vesicles are composed

Algeria Egypt South Africa Sudan Others

100

80

60

40

Flavedo (exocarp)

20

Albedo (mesocarp)

Central column or medulla
Seed

0

2004

2005

2006

2007

2009 Endocarp

Septa

Figure 20.1. Africa's top four lemon and lime
producers, by percentage (2004-2009)
(source: Adapted from FAO, 2011).

Figure 20.2. Section of a lemon fruit.