Dates: postharvest science, processing technology, and health benefits

Dates are an important fruit, especially in many African, Middle-Eastern and Asian countries. In recent years this fruit has gained significant importance in terms of global commerce. During the period 1990-2009, global production of dates saw an increase of 219% and this trend is expected to continue as per FAO projections. Some of the major challenges confronting date fruit production and commerce are issues related to postharvest handling technologies, use of appropriate processing and packaging technologies, food safety aspects and quality assurance. This book provides contemporary infor.

Dates: Postharvest Science, Processing Technology and Health Benefits; Contents; Preface; Obituary: Professor Adel A. Kader; List of Contributors; 1 Overview of Date Fruit Production, Postharvest handling, Processing, and Nutrition; Introduction; World production and trade; Marketing and consumption trends; Date palm growth and fruit production; Cultivars; Maturity stages; Harvesting and fruit quality/grades; Postharvest handling and storage; Postharvest quality evaluation; Date processing and by-products; Food safety considerations; Nutritional and health considerations; Nutritional profile

Bioactive compounds and health significanceSummary; References; 2 Date Palm: Production; Introduction; Ecogeographical boundaries and limitations; Agro-ecology: implications for date production; Production systems: oases and plantations; Management practices; Integrated pest management; Propagation and breeding; Cultivars: diversity and production potential; Biotic and abiotic stresses; Research needs and future prospects; Conclusions; References; 3 Biology and Postharvest Physiology of Date Fruit; Introduction; Botanical description; Date palm; Date fruit; Fruit growth and development

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