Current research on minor fruit crops focuses on their nutritional value, climate resilience, genetic conservation, and economic potential. Studies highlight their rich content of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making them valuable for health and food security.

Research also explores climate challenges, such as frost damage in loquat, and develops strategies to enhance crop resilience. Conservation efforts, like the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR), aim to preserve genetic diversity in fruits like fig, pomegranate, and persimmon.

Economically, minor fruit crops have significant market potential, with Thailand earning USD 1.3 billion from tropical fruit exports in 2017.

Overall, minor fruit crops offer promising opportunities for sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and global food security.

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MINOR TROPICAL FRUITS Mainstreaming a niche market

Contributed by: Sabine Altendorf

2018

[As a follow-up to the assessment of global prospects for major tropical fruits published in the November 20171 issue of Food Outlook, this special feature focuses on developments in minor tropical fruits markets. Contrary to their major counterparts, only a small share of minor tropical fruit production enters local markets, and, with few exceptions, the different varieties continue to be little known outside the areas where they are grown. However, production and trade of minor tropical fruits are gaining importance globally, mainly in recognition of their contribution to a healthy diet. In producing areas, minor tropical fruits play an important role not only in food and nutrition security but also as a source of income. Available household surveys from key producing areas indicate that the revenue from minor tropical fruits can account for up to 75 percent of the entire income of small rural households. In Cambodia, for example, fruits and vegetables are the second most important crop after rice, and provide the main additional source of income for most households in the country. In terms of agricultural export earnings, trade in minor tropical fruits weighs non-trivially in Thailand and Viet Nam. For Thailand, the latest estimates point to revenues of nearly USD 1.3 billion – or 7 percent of total agricultural earnings – from exports of minor tropical fruits in 2017. In international markets, minor tropical fruits are still regarded as a novelty or niche product. Only a small number of varieties tend to be available either through ethnic markets targeting migrant consumers, mostly of Asian origin, or premium retail channels targeting conspicuous and affluent consumers. However, market opportunities have shown to be developing rapidly in China and other emerging markets on the back of income growth and urbanization. Demand is also set on an upward trajectory in key developed markets, most importantly the US and EU, mainly in response to increasing health awareness and changing dietary preferences.]