ABSTRACT
Fruit is an important food in our life. It provides us with rich vitamins, minerals, fiber, pectin, organic acids, sugars, and other compounds contributing to all the sensory qualities such as color, flavor, texture, and taste for eating enjoyment. It can also associate with other foods to balance our diet and maintain our health and activity. As civilization developed, scientific techniques and promotion of trade economics have made fruit production no longer the work of a few farmers; it has become an enterprise business as well. It not only supplies the needs of local markets, but also is an important item in international trade. Due to superior location, climate, production techniques, and hard-working farmers, Taiwan produces various tropical, subtropical, and temperate fruits such as banana, pineapple, citrus, watermelon, grapes, wax apple, litchi, guava, papaya, passion fruit, apple, pear, peach, plum, etc. They are quite common not only for local consumption but also for export.
