The pepino fruit, native to South America, is now being grown in the village of Dereağzı in the southwestern province of Aydın. The head of the village, Ali Seymen, presented Friday a fruit from the first crop to Caner Yıldız, the governor of the district Nazilli in which the village is located.
Seymen told the Anatolia news agency that pepino displays the characteristics of both a fruit and flower. “Pepino, originally grown in South America, lives for eight to 10 years. It”s a very soft plant and sensitive to handling. Our goal is to produce more pepinos in the region,” he said.
Seymen said they had been working for a year to get the first product. “Pepino, a well-known fruit in the world but not popular in our region, is an energy-booster and good for health. Our goal is to expand the production area of pepino with the support given by the residents of the village and local governmental officials.”
Yıldız said he was happy with the pepino production in the region. “I”ve heard that pepino includes the flavors of melon, banana and pineapple. Pepino, which is also edible like melon, can also be used as a side dish with salad.”
A ripe pepino weighs between 50 and 1,300 grams. It is said to have a medicinal effect on some diseases, including diabetes and gastric diseases, according to Yıldız.
The pepino is an exotic fruit that is produced from the pepino plant, which is a small bush that resembles a tomato vine and which grows to approximately three feet in height. Pepinos can be found in climates where the weather is moderate, frost-free, and where much sunshine is present and is native to South America.
It tastes similar to a cucumber and a honeydew melon, because of this; other common names for the pepino include melon shrub, tree melon, mellowfruit, pear melon, and the sweet cucumber.
Resource: Turkish Daily News
