AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL – TROPICAL AND

SUBTROPICAL CROPS

Source: https://twitter.com/search?q=%23lychee2019.

TAIWANESE ACADEMICS AND Hiwin Technologies

Corp have developed a new technique to extend the

shelf life of lychees to 30 days. Lychees exported to Ja-

pan and South Korea previously underwent vapor treat-

ment to eliminate pests, but this darkened and dried the

fruit’s skin and made it less attractive, Taichung-based

Hiwin said. They added that the new technique they

have developed with National Chung Hsing University

horticulture professors Hsieh Ching-chang and Lin

Hui-ling can help keep the fruit fresh, as it retains its

moisture for 30 days. Last Monday there was an event

marking the export of nearly 1,500 boxes of lychees

treated with the new technique. President Tsai Ing-wen

said the new process allows the fruit to be exported

fresh, calling it a testament to Taiwanese agriculture’s

global competitiveness. It is great that local businesses

have collaborated to boost the nation’s agricultural

diplomacy, she said, calling on Hiwin to license the

technique to other municipalities. As reported on taipei-

times.com, bananas, pineapples, mangoes and lychees

are the nation’s primary fruit exports to Japan, although

banana exports have dropped off somewhat.

Source: http://www.freshplaza.com/article/196607/Academics-

and-Hiwin-Corp-extend-lychee-shelf-life-to-30-days; published 18

June 2018.

THE SHORT FLORIDA lychee season is almost over for

the year, as the last varieties are being picked off the trees

and sent to market. Damage from Hurricane Irma last year,

along with cool winter temps has meant numbers are

down this year compared with previous years. Some grow-

ers had a good crop, while others did not.

“Many of the lychee trees were damaged by Hurricane

Irma last year, and some groves have been wiped out,”

said Brandon Cepeda of the Robert is Here Fruit Stand and

Farm. “The younger trees have not yet established a strong

root structure, and therefore many were blown over when

Irma passed through, resulting in significant losses for some

growers. Older, more mature trees held firm, however sus-

tained damage such as broken branches and other physical

damage. These trees still yielded some fruit and this is what

is supplying the market right now.” Cepeda did, however,

mention that the younger trees will respond better for future

crops. “The benefits of the younger trees is that as long as

growers responded quickly and re-planted them, they will

recover much faster and hopefully next year, will return a

more normal crop,” he explained. “The older trees may take

an extra season or two to return to full production.”

Despite the damage to the trees and the subsequently

lower numbers, the quality of the fruit is excellent accord-

ing to suppliers. The market is also very good, with plenty

of demand for the domestic lychee crop. “Because fruit is a

lot more scarce, prices are higher,” Cepeda noted. “How-

ever, they are not so high so as to extinguish demand. The

majority has sold out and in fact we have sold over 1,500lb

of lychees already. And what is left is excellent quality as

the hurricane did not affect the fruit quality.”

There are a number of varieties of lychees, with varying

flavor, size, and ripening times. Currently the Brewster vari-

ety is one of the major ones being harvested right now, but

according to suppliers, there are other varieties along with

this one that customers seek out every year. “The Black

Leaf is the most popular lychee variety,” Cepeda said. “It is

one of the sweetest and has a smaller seed. We also have

the Emperor, which is just about ready. It is huge in size –

bigger than a golf ball – and is also very sweet with a little

bit of tartness.” Cepeda also shared that the use of particu-

lar bags that absorb ethylene gas has been very successful.

“These bags are made of special plastic that absorbs the

gas and also any moisture that may be present on the fruit

after harvest,” he said. “It keeps the fruit fresher for longer,

which for lychees is particularly important. They are more

expensive, but are worth the cost.”

Source: http://www.freshplaza.com/article/196596/Lychee-growers-in-

Florida-feeling-effects-from-weather-events; author: Dennis M. Rettke;

shortened; published 18 June 2018.

CONTINUED...>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“THE LYCHEE KING, originally

named Toad in the Moon, has a rich

fruit flesh, sweet and sour juice, and

it endures transport well. This prod-

uct variety comes from Hainan and

has already spread across production

areas in Guangdong, Guangxi, and

Fujian. Yongxing Village in Hainan

is known as the “hometown of ly-

chees”. This town depends on its rich

volcanic environment to guarantee a

unique lychee variety.

Yongxing lychees grow bigger be-

cause of the minerals in the volcanic

earth, the nucleus remains small, and

the taste is perfect. The Yongxing ly-

chee received the status of a nation-

ally acknowledged regional product

in 2015. This is according to Mr. Wang

Zhiqiang of the Yongxing E-commerce

Charity Center.

There are many lychee varieties.

Concubine’s Smile, March Red, and Rice

Cake are well known, but Yongxing

lychees are relatively new.

“The optimum time to enter the

market is between June and mid-July.

Last year our production volume was

smaller as a result of a limited produc-

tion environment and weather condi-

tions. The bumper harvest this year,

however, will provide ample business

opportunities for plantation owners and

traders alike. We own 1,333 hectares of

lychee plantations in Yongxing. We cur-

rently sell online and offline, primarily

Front row: Lani Wepener, Dr Mmantoa Kgapula, Dr Fikile Zwane, Maud Nkosi, Pre-

cious Nengwekhulu, Lauren Strever, Lizel Pretorius and Siseko Dunjwa.

Second row: Dr Konanani Liphadzi, Sipho Dlamini, William Davidson, Sibusiso Myeza,

Sizwe Magagula, Nomvuyo Matlala, Wynand Steyn, Myles Osborn, Uthmaan Rhoda,

Ant Goble, Tshepo Mokgothu, Akho Seku and Derek Donkin.

Presenters at the Subtrop Transformation Summit.

ENCOURAGING FEEDBACK FROM

delegates was received after Subtrop’s

Transformation Summit in Durban. For a

report on the summit go to page 45.

Some of the feedback (with minor ed-

iting) that Nomvuyo Matlala as Subtrop’s

Transformation Coordinator received from

delegates, included the following:

• “I really enjoyed the event, the speak-

ers was informative and I will make

sure not to miss next years event. I

even bumped into my former lecturer,

Prof Modi. The Summit sparked my

interest in macadamia farming.”

• “The Summit was very lovely I en-

joyed it ... Did some networking and

I haven’t looked back ...”

• “The Summit was well organised

and informative.”

• “Very interesting, I believe that this

was the perfect platform for us to

move our farmers forward. Concerns

was raised and different stakeholders

Yongxing lychees

Yongxing’s vast lychee orchards

through the wholesale markets and

supermarkets on Hainan. Now that

the harvest looks to be abundant, we

hope to open up markets beyond

this island.

The Yongxing lychee distribution

center will play an important role in

that development. The center is an in-

tegrated information and distribution

center where Yongxing lychees are

packaged and sold. Plantation owners

and traders can connect here and

gather relevant data on the lychee

trade.”

Source: http://www.freshplaza.com/arti-

cle/193208/China-Yongxing-lychees-may-be-

this-years-dark-horse; shortened; published

20 April 2018.

worked together to address them.

You must address the concerns/

challenges raised and involve each

stakeholder according to their level

of expertise.”

• “I really enjoyed being at the Sum-

mit, it was amazing. Thank you.”

• “Thank you for the wonderful

Summit, it was well organised and

impressive.”