Tropical Fruits - From Cultivation to Consumption and Health Benefits : Guava and Mango

Guava and mango are fruits mainly cultivated in tropical regions and are both highly consumed worldwide, either as raw edible fruit or processed into a variety of food products. It is unquestionable the high nutritional significance of these fruits as sources of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, as well as it is emerging to a greater extent the additional benefits to health associated with the consumption of guava and mango fruits and their related products, since they accumulate large amounts of pigments and a variety of other phytochemicals with bioactive properties.

Both, guava and mango, are also fruits of economic significance in the regions where they are cultivated. Their production chains are expanding progressively as their international trade is increasing: the demand of guava and mango for row edible consumption exists at the same time that a growing demand is appearing in consequence of the new opportunities of industrial use of these fruits.

However, as a result of the increasing demand of these fruits, it appears several challenges to be solved. Is it possible to act on the reduction of the global food losses, improving food security, by avoiding fruit losses during their entire production chain? How to keep undamaged and safety fresh guavas and mangoes throughout the logistics and trade process? Is it possible to guarantee that a regular consumption of fresh fruits and fruit products, which is necessary to achieve adequate nutrition and good health, will not result in an impaired body function due to high levels of pesticides? How to promote sustainable practices and minimize the possible impacts on the environment in the cultivation process and the industrial use of guava and mango? How to add value to the by-products obtained from these fruits?

In this way, important aspects associated to the production chains, technology and science of guava and mango in addition to the contribution of these fruits for nutrition and well-being, including the potential activity of the whole fruits, their constituents and other parts of guava and mango plants for the prevention and the improvement of management of diseases, are matter of book "Tropical Fruits From Cultivation to Consumption and Health Benefits Guava and Mango".