Abstract
Strengthening the use and improvement of species native to South America may lead to the development of new food products with high nutritional potential, in addition to contributing to disease prevention, thus meeting the varied demands of consumption. The focus of this strategy is especially on native plant species and/or introduced species, but which have become very popular for presenting edible fruits appreciated for their characteristic flavor and aroma. In addition, the pulp of such fruits has antioxidant potential, which makes it possible to call them functional foods. However, perishability and seasonality hinder production on a larger scale, and it is necessary to explore conservation alternatives to make the fruit pulp available all year round. Studies have shown the use of conventional technologies and emerging and promising technologies for the preservation of the organoleptic characteristics of fruits. Finally, the strengths and weaknesses of each conservation technique are discussed in view of the variety of fruits found in different regions of the world and especially in South American countries.
Highlights
South America has the largest biodiversity in the world
For a better discussion of publications and materials collected in this study, the present research was organized into five thematic units that describe the main dehydration techniques used for drying native and exotic fruits consumed by populations in South America
During the dehydration process, some constituents such as vitamin C, anthocyanins, and carotenoids may degrade mainly due to heat, sudden temperature changes, contact with oxygen, and process time
Summary
South America has the largest biodiversity in the world It is a world heritage of plant genetic resources that plays a strategic role in sustainable development and increased quality of life, especially for vulnerable populations (Boeri et al, 2020; Abreu et al, 2017). The perishability and seasonality of native fruits are attenuating factors for the food fragility of traditional populations, in addition to economically hindering production on a larger scale, the development of the bioeconomy, and the creation of agro-industries and rural associations (Sasson & Malpica, 2018). Fruit consumption is inversely proportional to the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases (Scoditti et al, 2019). The consumption of fruits and vegetables is inversely proportional to per capita household income (Benton & Young, 2019). The minimum recommended food consumption is 400 g/day, which corresponds in Brazil to 6-7% of the total daily calories of a diet of 2,300 kcal (Herforth et al, 2020)
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