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R. S. ROLLE, Agricultural Support Systems Div. (AGS), Food & Agriculture Org. of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome, 00100, Italy The African continent is the source of a diversity of “exotic” fruits, vegetables, spices, and root crops, many of which exhibit unique functional properties, and which are in increasing demand in international markets for use in flavoring, nutritional, and therapeutic applications. Increasing consumption of ethnic foods, changing immigration trends and the year-round demand for fresh produce in international markets have contributed to increased demand for exotic produce and spices in recent times. Exotic produce and spices are marketed primarily in fresh form by a majority of African countries. The functional uses of exotic produce, spices and their value-added products continue to be explored and exploited in international markets. This paper will provide an overview of exotic produce and spices produced in Western, Eastern and Southern Africa, as well as their value-added products which include beverages and ingredients. It will discuss how factors such as seasonality and volume of production, post-harvest operations as well as transportation and infrastructure, impact their quality, availability and marketability. Activities of a Global Post-Harvest Initiative spearheaded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) focused on assisting African countries (and other developing countries) in mitigating and overcoming some of these challenges will also be highlighted.
Session 5, Exotic fruit and vegetable products from Africa: Utilization and market opportunities
2005 IFT Annual Meeting, July 15-20 - New Orleans, Louisiana |