Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 96: 241-244. 1983. UTILIZATION POTENTIAL FOR SEMI-TROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN THERAPEUTIC AND FAMILY DIETS Janell Smith, Seymour Goldweber, Mary Lamberts, on some 20 ha. Fruit is marketed as a fresh commodity with Richard Tyson, and J. S. Reynolds some fruit processed on a small scale. University of Florida, IFAS, Once a promising New World commercial crop for Dade Dade County Cooperative Extension, County, guavas (Psidium guajava L.) are now being planted 18710 SW 288th St., again despite Caribbean fruit fly problems. There are Homestead, FL 33030 roughly 36 ha of red and white hybrids. This crop is highly suitable for marginal wet lands. Additional index words, potassium, sodium, calories, fiber, 'Tahiti' ('Persian') limes {Citrus latifolia Tan.), 2920 ha, vitamin A, vitamin C, fats and oils, avocados, calabaza, make Dade County the chief U.S. producer (90%) of this cassava, chayote, limes, malanga, mango, papaya, taro. tropical acid citrus. The 'Key' lime (Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swing.) is no longer produced commercially, but Ahci^n^ jm *. **.iji .1*. is sti11 a popular dooryard fruit. This is a year-round crop, Abstract. Many types of tropical and sub-tropical fruits reaching its peak volume in June, July and August. P andI vegetables are marketed throughthrouah commercial channels Lycheet ,,^i (Litchi/t ;*~u: chinensis„/• *i Sonn.),o ±\ a_ native.__.- _°_r of China,™_. is as well as being found in dooryard plantings in South Florida. planted on some 36 ha of Dade County limestone. The chief Most have not been recognized as playing an important role cultivar is the Brewster, a deep red, golf ball sized fruit with in providing essential nutrients for good health. Nutritional an off-white, sweet, spicy pulp. The season is from June values are discussed together with their potential application through August, depending upon weather conditions during in low salt, low fat, high potassium and high fiber diets. the winter blooming period. Special emphasis is given to avocado, calabaza, cassava, Longan (Euphoria longana Lam.), another native of chayote, lime, malanga, mango, papaya, and taro. China, and prized by Orientals, is becoming highly popular as a crop to follow the fruiting period of the lychee. Cultivar It has long been recognized that fruits and vegetables are selections thus far are mainly of the Kohala, which orig important in overall good nutrition. The role of tropical inated in Hawaii. fruits and vegetables in nutrition is less well known. This Mamey (Calocarpum sapota (Jacq.) Merr.), another fruit paper reviews tropical fruits and vegetables grown com of the New World, is a rapidly expanding industry with an mercially in South Florida and other areas of the semi- estimated 120 or more ha already planted to some 5 cul tropics and tropics. A brief overview of nutrient quality and tivars. This fruit commands a high market price, especially composition of these fruits and vegetables is included. In in local Latin American food markets. It is mainly used in addition, an analysis of the potential use of tropical fruits milkshakes and ice cream. and vegetables in controlled fiber, fat, sodium and calorie Mangos (Mangifera indica L.), a native of India and diets, as well as in diets for normal human nutrition is dis second only to bananas in world fruit consumption, account cussed. for some 760 ha of Dade County soil, with an additional 120 Among the more than 200 kinds of tropical fruit crops or more ha planted outside the county. The season is from grown in Dade County, this paper examines nutritional late May through August, with the peak of the season in values of avocados, bananas, carambolas, guavas, 'Tahiti' June and July. and 'Key' limes, lychees, longans, mameys, papayas, Ate- Papaya (pawpaw, fruta bomba, tree melon) (Carica moyas, and sugar apples. The tropical vegetables boniato, papaya L.) is grown on ca. 200 ha in Dade County with a calabaza, cassava, chayote, malanga, pigeon pea, and taro are yield of roughly 34,000 kg/ha. This New World fruit is also included. usually consumed fresh with some processed. The USDA Basic Four Food Plan recommends 4 servings Atemoyas (sugar apple x cherimoya hybrid) (Annona per day of fruits and vegetables for healthy adults. Fruits squamosa L. x A. cherimola Mill.) and sugar apples (A. and vegetables make major contributions of vitamins A and squamosa L.), planted on some 36 ha of limestone, are C, folic acid, micronutrients, and fiber to the diet. In gen perhaps the most unusual looking of the tropical fruits dis eral, fruits and vegetables are low in both fat and sodium. cussed here. This New World fruit has a ready market wherever Latin Americans, West Indians or Southeast Asians reside in the U.S. Tropical Fruit Crops Dade County avocado (Persea americana Mill.) cultivars, Tropical Vegetables chiefly West Indian and West Indian x Guatemalan hybrids, are planted on ca. 4,280 ha of limestone soil. Harvest season Tropical root crops of economic importance in Dade extends from late June through February. The earliest cul County, Florida, are malanga (Xanthosoma caracu Koch tivars are West Indian with mid-season and late cultivars of and Bouche), boniato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) and the West Indian x Guatemalan hybrids. There are more yuca or cassava (Manihot esculenta (L.) Crantz). Approxi than 400 ha planted in other South Florida counties. mately 1080 ha of malanga, 2,000 ha of boniatos and 140 Commercial banana (Musa spp.) production beginning ha of yuca are harvested each year. in the late 1960's consists mainly of the apple (manzana) for Malanga (yautia) is planted in the early spring in Dade local markets, with some intra- and interstate shipments. County and requires about 8 months to mature. It has a Approximately 140 ha of this fruit is produced, plus a small central corm that is surrounded by cormels. These are acreage of plantains (for local markets). potato-sized and are the marketable product (9). The taro Carambolas (star fruit) (Averrhoa carambola L.), a new or dasheen, a similar aroid, (Colocasia esculenta Schott) is and expanding tree crop from Southeast Asia, are planted grown on a limited basis since most of Dade County's trop- Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 96: 1983. 241 ical vegetable growers are originally from the Caribbean, sion (high blood pressure), though the data are still under and market to consumers who prefer malanga. review since this effect has only been observed for a portion Boniatos grown in Dade County are the traditional red- of the population at risk. Potassium, on the other hand, is skinned, white-fleshed sweet potato of Cuba and other trop frequently supplied in limited quantities and is readily lost ical countries (10). Planting material was introduced in the by persons taking diuretics. For these reasons, a diet which United States primarily by Cuban immigrants. Production contains low levels of sodium and high levels of potassium occurs year round; cultivars are cool- and warm-season spe is encouraged (15). cific. Stem cuttings from the tips of mature plants are used Fruits and vegetables are naturally low in sodium and for planting stock. Edible tubers are ready for harvest ca. high in potassium, especially when compared to foods such 150 days after planting. as cured meats and cheeses. Tropical fruits and vegetables Yuca (cassava) is also planted in the early spring in Dade offer variety and interest to therapeutic meals, that is, County. Edible tubers are ready for harvest ca. 9 months physician-prescribed diets. For example, the Florida avocado after planting. Stem cuttings 25-30 cm in length are used contains 544 mg of potassium per 100 g, nearly twice the for planting material. potassium contained in an average banana. Comparing the Three other tropical vegetable crops of commercial im potassium content of other tropical fruits to that of bananas portance in Dade County, Florida are: calabaza (Cucurbita suggests other potential additions to therapeutic meal plans. moschata Duch. ex Lam.), chayote (Sechium edule Sw.), and Longans, papayas and sugar apples all contain more potas the pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.). There are 300 sium than equal portions of bananas ( Table 1). ha of calabaza, 10 of chayote and 8 of pigeon pea. The sodium content of mango, papaya and carambola is Calabaza (Cuban pumpkin) is cultivated extensively in less than 2.5 mg per 100 g serving, which is comparable to Mexico, Central and South America and in some of the that of pears or bananas. West Indian Islands as well as tropical Asia. Fruits are round Tropical vegetables also can make significant contribu and weigh 6.8 ± 3.0 kg; vines can be over 6 m in length. tions to therapeutic meals. Plantains, included here because Dade County produces 4 crops per year. It is open pollinated of the way they are prepared as a starch, are strong sources and there is currently no commercial source of seed (14). of potassium offering 448 mg and only 4 mg of sodium. Chayote (vegetable pear) is the only perennial cucurbit. Plantains can be substituted for other carbohydrates. Taro It is grown in Central America and on the Indian Sub offers 50% more potassium per serving than Irish potatoes, continent. Production in Dade County is year round, though 499 mg vs. 305 mg, respectively. The chayote has potassium highest yields are from October through June, with a peak values similar to fresh summer squash and could be sub in May. Chayote is grown on 2.5 m trellises. Mature fruits stituted in many recipes (108 mg vs. 125 mg per 100 g serv must be used for seed (4).