Naranjilla

Abstract

This fruit is native to the inter-Andean region, incas called it “lulum” since it was identified as “small orange” (Chiquita orange”), later it was called naranjilla. In Ecuador it is a Typical fruit being cultivated in the eastern region, mainly between the foothills of the Andes and the amazonic plains. The main production areas are in the provinces of Morona Santiago, Pastaza, Tungurahua, Pichincha and Imbabura. This crop is Found in the American continent in countries like Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras and in the southern region of the United States whereas in Oceania continent is found in New Zealand (Pastrana, 1998; Ochse et al., 1972).