The results achieved by the Centre for the Validation of Agricultural Technology of Mision Tacaaglé (Formosa) on banana, mango, papaya, and citrus fruits are well known. However, the Centre has had other advances as a result of the validation work that took place in the orchard to introduce different fruit varieties.
The Centre studies these varieties, which include cultivated, exotic, and wild fruits, to learn about their behavior in cultivation and to see what marketing opportunities they have.
According to CEDEVA, the main varieties introduced include banana, mango, citrus, papaya, pineapple, guava, lychee, pitahaya, carambola, cherimoya, passion fruit, kaki, persimmons, acerola, pomegranate, apricots, and peaches.
The longan, a native fruit from Asia, has responded favorably to the expectations of CEDEVA Tacaaglé and its technicians have enjoyed this plant's evolution and the flavor of its fruits.
The longan (Dimocarpus longan) is a member of the litchi family, although they are very different.
The longan is smaller and it's taste is different to the litchi. It is sour but has some sweet flavor. The fruit is also known as dragon eye because of its shape and color.
Growing them in Argentina is important because, according to specialists, they are very difficult to find in fresh outside of Asia, as they don't last long after being harvested. However, they can be found canned or dried.
The fruit's shell is somewhat hard and its inside is gelatinous, with a texture that is similar to that of the grapes and a flavor that is similar, but not identical, to the mango. It is rich in vitamins A and C and also contains phosphorus, iron, copper, potassium, zinc, proteins, and magnesium.
Source: caa.nearural.com