The continent produces a variety of tropical and subtropical fruit, mainly for domestic consumption. Transport facilities, where available, can be used only for limited distances. In view of the climatic conditions and the general lack of refrigerated transport, consumption tends to be…

…corn (maize); or the mature fruit, such as tomato and pepper.

Plants cultivated for their fruits are found in temperate, tropical, or subtropical regions. Temperate plants are generally deciduous and either tolerate or require a cool period for growth. Apples (Malus) and pears (Pyrus) are important pome fruits of the family Rosaceae. Some well-known stone fruits of the family include…

…flowering plants that produce edible fruit can be grown on a windowsill. With sufficient light and ventilation, success may be had with the Calamondin orange (×Citrofortunella mitis), the dwarf Chinese lemon (Citrus limon ‘Meyeri’), and the American-wonder lemon (C. limon ‘Ponderosa’). The fig tree (Ficus carica) can be grown to…

Fruit juices are useful for their vitamin C content and are good sources of potassium; however, they tend to be very high in sugar. Coffee and tea by themselves are of little nutritive value; coffee contains some niacin, and tea contains fluoride and manganese. These…

Fresh fruits and vegetables soften after 24 hours in a watery solution and begin a slow, mixed fermentation-putrefaction. The addition of salt suppresses undesirable microbial activity, creating a favourable environment for the desired fermentation. Most green vegetables and fruit may be preserved…

Fruits are frozen in a syrup or dry sugar pack to exclude air and prevent both oxidation and desiccation.

… and preserve manufacture, an important fruit by-product industry, is based on the high-solids–high-acid principle, with its moderate heat-treatment requirements. Fruits that possess excellent qualities but are visually unattractive may be preserved and utilized in the form of concentrates, which have a pleasing taste and substantial nutritive value.

Edible fruits produced by trees include apples, cherries, peaches, pears, walnuts, chestnuts, pecans, and others in temperate climates; avocados, figs, persimmons, and citrus

The crudest method of rendering oil from oleaginous fruits, still practiced in some countries, consists of heaping them in piles, exposing them to the sun, and collecting the oil that exudes. In a somewhat improved form, this process is used in the…

Popularly, however, the term is restricted to the ripened ovaries that are sweet and either succulent or pulpy. For treatment of the cultivation of fruits, see fruit farming. For treatment of the nutrient composition and processing of fruits, see fruit processing.

>fruit crops, including nuts, primarily for use as human food.

>fruit for human consumption.

True fruit flavours are obtained by expression, concentration, or distillation of fresh fruits. The alcoholic content of the finished product is usually between 18 and 22 percent to prevent fermentation.

Fruits may be added to green salads; avocado, orange, and grapefruit are suitable accompaniments to fatty meats such as duck or pork. Named for the Waldorf Hotel in New York City, the Waldorf salad is made of apples, walnuts, and celery in mayonnaise. Gelatins are…

A notable exception are the fruit soups favoured in northern and eastern Europe, which are often served for dessert. In China a thin soup is consumed throughout the meal as a beverage, and elaborate soups such as the celebrated bird’s nest and shark’s fin may be interspersed with other courses…