Philippines: Alternatives sought for waste fruits
In Ilocos Norte, a province known more for thrift than waste, giant mango trees can be seen lining Ilocos highways, laden with ripe fruit falling on the roads and sidewalks. The highways can be carpeted with yellow fruit mashed by vehicles speeding by.
In parts of northern Luzo the mango growers find it unprofitable to harvest their produce - the sales value does not cover the costs of harvest and transportation.
The same is true of thousands of hectares of tomato cultivation in late Summer, when the price drops below P10 or $0.23 US per kilo.
A few farmers bring in the tomatoes and dry them for use later on, but most simply plough them back into the soil.
This waste has not escaped the attention of scientists and researchers at the Don Mariano Marcos State University, where mango and tomato are being processed into practical but novel products.
One of the first products they have produced is tomato vinegar. It is very similar in taste to raspberry vinegar and can be used in dips and dressings.
Tomato raisins have also been marketed and are said to be somewhere between raisins and dried cranberries on the flavour scale.
Mango has also not escaped being turned into creative alternatives and the university has developed mango wine, which is said to be too sweet to drink on its own, but is good as a mixer.
Source: www.mb.com.ph
