Review on status of temperate fruit production: In case opportunities and challenges of temperate fruit production

Abstract

Temperate fruits are those grown naturally in Mediterranean climate as they need chilling temperatures for their best performance and quality. This review paper is designed to review the production of temperate fruits and their opportunities and challenges for their production. Production of Temperate fruit needs unique environmental condition found in Mediterranean regions. This area includes California (USA), southern Europe, Turkey, Northern Africa, and Middle East, portions of Australia, Greece and Central Chile. In Ethiopia its productions are at infant stage in terms of distribution, area coverage, yield and quality. Mainly it is restricted to areas like Bonke, Boreda and Chencha, Debre Birhan, Agena and Degem in Ethiopia. However, there is the opportunity to expand and produce in the rest highland areas of Ethiopia. Lack of chilling condition (low temperatures) for their successful growth and flowering, changing of climate inefficient organized policy for the growing and supply of health and quality fruit cultivars, lack of awareness of importance and management of the fruit and disease such as crown gall, powdery mildew, scab and peach leaf curl are considered as the major challenges and limiting factor for production of temperate fruits in Ethiopia. Generally, it is important to develop cultivars adaptable to mid altitude areas to share economic importance and advantage of temperate fruits.