Pitahaya or Dragon Fruit: A New Crop with a Future for Southern California Small-scale Farmers

Pitahaya or dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp. and Selenicereus megalanthus) is the name of a vining cactus and the edible fruit it produces. The fruit has been very popular among Southeast Asian consumers as a fresh fruit and is also important to their culture and traditions. However, the appeal and interest for this fruit has also increased among mainstream American consumers demanding new, exotic, and nutritious fruits for their diets. Most fresh pitahaya or dragon fruit consumed in the United States (U.S.) is imported from Southeast Asia or grown in the U.S. (Florida and California) from white-fleshed cultivars of Asian origin. Consequently, most consumers’ first experience with pitahaya or dragon fruit has been with white-fleshed varieties, which often do not meet consumer's flavor expectations based on the exotic look of the fruit. Tastier, more colorful varieties were needed to meet consumer demand and to help growers capitalize on this opportunity. Pitahaya or dragon fruit plants adapt quite well to field growing conditions in subtropical climates in the U.S., and can be a profitable crop alternative for small-scale producers Southern Coastal California. In addition, dragon fruit is a cactus and it is perceived as a drought-tolerant, water-efficient plant that requires less water for successful commercial production than citrus and avocados—two of the primary crops grown in the region. Interest among growers and the acreage planted has increased over the past few years. However, lack of performance data and information regarding the pollination requirement for the many cultivars available limited the expansion of this crop and increased the risk of failure for producers. Pitahaya or dragon fruit cultivars were screened for flesh color, flavor, and their ability to produce fruit without hand pollination. Eighteen cultivars were identified, sourced from various geographic origins (United States, Nicaragua, Mexico, Colombia) and propagated from 2004 to 2005. A replicated field trial was established in late 2005 at the University of California South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, CA to evaluate these cultivars for adaptation and overall performance. Most pitahaya or dragon fruit cultivars evaluated adapted to the local environment, grew well under field conditions, and produced marketable quantities of fruit without hand pollination. We will present results and observations from this research, discuss cultural practices, pest management issues and postharvest management guidelines for the successful production and marketing of this crop, while also highlighting current and future research efforts.