The nutrition value of fruits places them on the crest of our edibles. Fruits contain vitamins and minerals in large quantities. Fruits are the oldest food of mankind. Taking fruits everyday strengthens our vitality. Most fruit trees live for years. Fruit farming is quite profitable although it may be a little expensive at the beginning. Fruits can be processed for preservation in many ways. For example, different kinds of healthy foods like jam, jelly, candy, etc. and drinks can be made from fruits. Some fruits can be dehydrated for marketing. Classification of fruits: Fruits are mainly divided into two categories:

(a) Periodical- Short term fruits, Long term fruits

(b) Seasonal - summer fruits, winter fruits:

For example, different kinds of healthy foods like jam, jelly, candy, etc. and drinks can be made from fruits. Some fruits can be dehydrated for marketing.

Floriculture, or flower farming, is a discipline of horticulture concerned with the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for gardens and for floristry, comprising the floral industry. The development, via plant breeding, of new varieties is a major occupation of floriculturists. Flowering plants are largely sold in pots for indoor use. The major flowering plants are poinsettias, orchids, florist chrysanthemums, and finished florist azaleas. Foliage plants are also sold in pots and hanging baskets for indoor and patio use, including larger specimens for office, hotel, and restaurant interiors. Floriculture crops include bedding plants, houseplants, flowering garden and pot plants, cut cultivated greens, and cut flowers. As distinguished from nursery crops, floriculture crops are generally herbaceous. Bedding and garden plants consist of young flowering plants (annuals and perennials) and vegetable plants. Vegetables and fruits are vital components of our daily food. Efforts are being made from various angles to encourage farmers to increase the area under these important food crops. Mainly 12 major varieties of vegetables and 6 minor varieties of fruits are cultivated in Kerala.

India is one of the most important fruit producing nations in the world, accounting for about 10.4 percent of all fruits and nearly 40 percent of tropical fruits produced globally. Fruit production in India increased at an average annual growth rate of 3 percent, while harvested area and yields increased by 2.4 and 1.5 percent, respectively. Fruit production increased steadily from 36 to 47 million tonnes, the main tropical fruits produced in India include banana, mango, guava, pineapple, papaya, lychee (or litchi), and to a lesser extent sapota, jackfruit, phalsa, annona and ber. The 3 major tropical fruits (mango, pineapple, and guava) accounted for 33 percent of total fruit production. Mango output was 10.8 million tonnes, a 6.2 percent increase, while production of papaya and pineapple was 700 000 and 1.3 million tones. Globally, the export of floricultural products has increased phenomenally from 8 billion US $ to 13 billion US $. The number of countries reported to have exported floricultural products in 1996 was a mere 50 which has increased to 118.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Cultivation of Fruits, Vegetables and Floriculture describes the detailed information on the subject. The major contents of this book are: Integrated Development of Fruits, Scope and Importance of Fruits, Almond, Annonaceous fruits, Aonla, Apple, Avocado,  Bael,  Banana , Ber , Apricot , Carambola, Ash gourd, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chilli, Cowpea, Curry, leaf ,Drumstick, French, bean Garlic etc.

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