Melons

Melons
Melons belong, as do squash, to the cucumber.

There are to general types, the cucumis species, which includes muskmelon, cantaloupe and honeydew melons and the citrullus species, including the watermelon and the Chinese watermelon.

There are numerous varieties of melon.

Although they may be grown in almost any of the 50 states, except possibly Alaska, cucumis species require warm weather for good growth and 75 – 130 days from planting to harvesting; therefore, most are grown commercially in the southern states.

The citrullus species are grown in the South, but can also be grown those northern states where 130 – 140 days of growing weather prevail. In warmer climates, about 85 days are required from planting to maturity.

Melons are planted as seed but may be started in greenhouses or hot frames and set out as plants.

Melons do not improve in flavor after harvesting, hence, are picked when fully ripe.

Care must be taken to prevent bruising during harvesting and handling. Melons are mostly handled as the fresh product.

At packing plant, melons are washed, drained, dried and shipped to retail markets in wooden crates.

Melons are not preserved by drying. Some melons are frozen as melon balls.

In preparations for freezing, the melons are halved, the seeds are removed. And the melon meat is removed in ball-shaped pieces.

The melon balls are washed with sprays of water drained and filled into liquid-tight cartons and covered with syrup (25-30% sugar), and the cartons are sealed.

This product is frozen and stored at 0 degree F or below until shipped to the retailer.

Frozen melons should be held at 0 degree F or below until sold to the consumer. Some melons used in the production of fresh fruit salad.
Melons

World Production and Yield of Mango

World Production and Yield of Mango
There is an estimated 3.7 million ha of mango worldwide. Mango production in 2004 was estimated at 26.6 million ton, ranked seventh in worldwide fruit production behind banana, grape, organs, apple, coconut and plantain.

The top ten mango-producing countries based on area of production include India, China, Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nigeria, Pakistan, Guinea and Brazil.

The top five largest mango-exporting countries are Mexico, India, Brazil, Peru and the Philippines with exports worldwide valued at US$560.4 million.

The top five mango importing countries are the USA, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh with imports valued at US$703.9 million.

Fruit are available year round depending upon production location and cultivar.

Production per ha varies greatly with average yields of 2-6 t/ha being common in some regions and with highest yields reported to be 10-30 t/ha.

Average yields for productive orchards range form 22 to 25 t/ha.
World Production and Yield of Mango

Orange Fruit

Orange Fruit
The orange is utilized as a food to a greater extent than any other citrus fruit. The trees are set out from nursery stock and must be protected from freezing weather. As with other citrus trees some pruning has to be done each year.

The five states that produce oranges commercially are Florida, California, Arizona, Texas and Louisiana, with Florida being by farm, the greatest producer.

About three quarters of all oranges in this country, are used for the production of frozen juice concentrate and for the so-called “fresh” orange juice.

Fresh oranges are pick, and handled much in the same manner as are grapefruit. When picked, the solids to acid ratio should be 12:1 – 18:1. Oranges may be dyed by immersing in a solution of certified food dye at 120 degree F for about 3 min prior to waxing polishing and cooling, since the color of the skin often green when the fruit is picked.

Some oranges are cooled to 32 degree – 40 degree F and others to 40 - 44 degree F depending on variety. They should be held at these temperatures until sold to the consumer, under these conditions, they have storage life of 1 – 3 months, depending on variety.
Orange Fruit

Wine and Wine Vinegar from Grapes

Wine and Wine Vinegar from Grapes
Considerable quantities of wines are manufactured in the United States. The European varieties of wines are mainly used for making wines. The various procedures are used in the production of wines. The pressed juice method usually used after treatment with sulfur dioxide or compounds that liberate by natural yeasts surviving the sulfur dioxide treatment. During fermentation, sugars are converted to ethyl alcohol until a level of 12-14% alcohol, and these may be used as such for fortifying wines to obtain higher alcohol content.

In manufacture of wine vinegar, fermented grape juice (containing alcohol) is allowed to drip over wood shavings in an enclosed cylindrical container. The shaving previously soaked in a high quality vinegar. Air may be introduced into the generator under pressure, bacteria of Acetobacter group present (from the vinegar) on the shavings convert the ethyl alcohol in the wine to acetic acid.

The effluent from the vinegar generator may be collected and recycled to obtain a complete conversion of the ethyl alcohol. The finished vinegar may be stored for several months at 40 – 50 degree F, then filtered, bottled and pasteurized.
Wine and Wine Vinegar from Grapes