Abstract
The jaboticaba is a delicious fruit indigenous to Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. The fruit is highly esteemed and is commercially cultivated in large quantities in Brazil. Several factors favor its potential establishment in South Florida including the trees' adaptation to our humid subtropical climate, the large Brazilian population that has settled in Florida, and few pest problems. Brazilians are very familiar with the fruit and have high regard for it, thus providing the initial clientele needed for its commercial production. The main drawbacks for commercial production include: the trees slow grow rate, taking 5 to 7 years to begin production; the lack of superior cultivars; difficulty in picking the fruit and; trees are not well adapted to the highly calcareous, high pH soils in southern Miami-Dade County, thus requiring minor element applications. This paper covers a brief botanical description, cultural practices and the potential market for this under exploited fruit.
