Cherimoya (Annona cherimola, Annonaceae)

Cherimoya in Cali, Colombia

Cherimoya (Annona cherimola), with its impeccable white flesh and unique flavour that balances a floral fragrance with sweetness and pleasant acidity, is probably the tastiest of all table fruits in the large tropical genus Annona. A native crop from the Andes with some commercial production in Peru and Chile, cherimoya has potential for wider use in tropical highlands. However, hand pollination may be needed to ensure fruit set. There is much unexploited variation of fruit characters in native seedling populations but markets prefer the smooth-skinned varieties shown in this picture from Colombia. Indeed, some clonal varieties, such as the Peruvian “Cherimoya de Cumbe” are so highly valued that this quality label is being misappropriated by suppliers of cherimoyas of inferior quality.

Cherimoya field report from southern Spain

http://www.cropsforthefuture.org/crop-of-the-week-archive/cherimoya-annona-cherimola-annonaceae/