Tropical fruit crops in spain and portugal

摘要

One of the best kept secrets is that Spain and Portugal produce and export tropical fruits, both on the Iberian mainland and in the Canary Islands and Madeira, autonomous regions of Spain and Portugal, respectively (Fig. 1 and 2). The subtropical climate of southern Spain and Portugal and the tropical climates of the two archipelagos make them suitable for the production of many tropical and subtropical fruit crops. These include banana, avocado, mangos, cherimoyas, papaya, pineapple, litchi, and carambola. Significant horticultural research efforts and innovations have been made in recent years. A special consideration common to all tropical fruits produced in Spain and Portugal is the reduction in the carbon footprint for the European market as compared to importation from other continents. This presently adds special value to these products, which increasingly command a greater appeal for European consumers.