Ancient fruit needs new
guidelines
Pia Nänny
Packed with vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, pomegranates’ status as a
superfood is steadily growing. The increased demand, however, makes it essential to
study this fruit in depth to provide science-based post-harvest solutions for industry.
S
outh Africa competes with countries
such as Chile, Australia, Peru and
Argentina to supply the off-season
demands for pomegranates of
consumers in the Northern Hemisphere.
As such, the long supply chain is key to
maintaining the commercial viability of
this crop. Therefore, harvesting fruit at the
optimum maturity level when quality (and
optimum nutritional and medicinal values)
can be ensured is essential for this specialty
crop.
In the interest of establishing and maintaining
a competitive edge in the global market,
there is also a need for an index of common
disorders that compromise export quality, as
well as for effective post-harvest management
in the areas of packaging, storage and
transport. This affects the processing options,
packaging and marketability of the whole fruit
in the overseas markets.
Prof. Umezuruike Linus Opara, who holds
the DST-NRF South African Research Chair in
Post-harvest Technology in the Department
Prof. Opara and his multi-disciplinary research team (back from left) Matia Mukama, Dr
Alemayehu Ambaw Tsige, Dr Olaniyi Amos Fawole, Prof. Umezuruike Linus Opara and
Dr William Mavengere; (front from left) Karen Munhuweyi, Tatenda Kawhena and Dr
Rebogile Mphahlele.
AgriKultuur |AgriCulture
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