VFIC's Foods for Health: In the Context of Asian Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are an integral part of sustaining life on the planet Earth. They are nature's bounty of energy, nutrients, vitamins, and above all an important dietary source of multitude of biactive components. Advanced processing, storage, rapid transportation and globalization of horticultural products have led to introduction of several Asian fruits and vegetables in various parts of the world. While the driving force for the globalization of certain Asian Fruits and Vegetables could be their taste and flavor, consumer's awareness of health promoting properties is still beginning to unravel. Interdisciplinary Centers/Institutes including the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center's (VFIC's) foods for health have initiated research activities to provide "proof of concept" on the role of bioactive components in human health. These types of partnership efforts are critical and challenges still exist to expand to several Asian fruits and vegetables. VFIC's foods for health impact and how those activities can be used as an opportunity for Asian vegetables and fruits will be discussed.