Minor Fruits Production and Post harvest technology

Fruits are indispensable part of our diet. It is the best source of minerals, vitamins, fiber, antioxidants and many nutraceutical which are vital for health, balanced growth and normal functioning of human system. Fruit growing is perhaps only cropping system where economics and environment go together for which we are so much concern these days. Fruit growing not only contribute to food, nutritional security, income, employement generation but also help to clean air, water and soil. Minor fruits occupy a prominent place in certain area of the country and enter in a limited way in the inter-state trade. Unfortunately little or no systematic attention has been paid to these fruits. For most of them, there is few or no recognizied variety, no orcharding and little is known about their utilization or value addition. The rich potential of these resources has to be largely exploited.Fruits being perishable in nature, post harvest management are very vital to reduce the losses in these fruits. Fruit processing is an important sector of our economy for reducing post harvest losses, alleviation of rural poverty, employment generation and diversifying rural economy. The book contains the latest information on scientific crop production, handling and processing of minor fruits at single source for better under standing of each crop. The book is oriented for undergraduate and postgraduate programme in Fruit Science and can be great use to students, teachers, researchers, extention workers, processors, progressive farmers and others interested in field of minor fruits production and value addition.