Posts Tagged: dragon fruit

Exotic pitahaya possible desert cash crop

A native of Mexico and South American, the beautiful tropical fruit pitahaya - also known as dragon fruit - could be a viable crop for Southern California desert, said an article in the Desert Sun.

Ramiro Lobo, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in San Diego County, shared the results of pitahaya studies conducted in San Diego and Irvine with a group of inland desert farmers recently.

“The fruit size and quality is good ... we’re getting great marketable yields,” Lobo said.

In March, five varieties of the fruit were test-planted at UC Riverside's Coachella Valley Agricultural Research Station in Oasis.

“We’re selecting varieties that can tolerate the heat,” said José Luis Aguiar, UCCE advisor in Riverside County. “They’re doing well in San Diego County and Irvine and we’re trying to extend the range.”

Dragon fruit grows on a cactus plant. (Photo: Jose Luis Aguiar)

Garden writer blogs about UC dragon fruit festival

The beautiful color and exotic shape of dragon fruit is being produced successfully in Southern California backyards and on small farms thanks to the work of UC Small Farm Program advisor Ramiro Lobo, based at the UC Cooperative Extension office in San Diego County.

Lobo will once again host backyard gardeners and farmers at the 2009 Dragon Fruit Festival and Field Day Saturday, Aug. 29, at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center near Irvine. The event was publicized by the Village Voice blog, Roger's Pick.

Dragon fruit is native to Mexico, Central, South America and parts of the Caribbean. It's flesh can be white, pink or magenta depending upon variety, according to Roger's Pick writer Roger Boddaert. The magenta flesh, he writes, contains lycopene, a natural antioxidant believed to fight cancer, heart disease and lower blood pressure.

Next Saturday's festival will include:

• Tour of pitahaya research field plots
• Presentations by Lobo and other experts
• Lunch
• Pitahaya fruit tasting, brix measurements and cutting distribution

For more information about the festival, click here.

Lobo speaks at last year's Dragon Fruit Festival.

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