Several species of Annonaceae family produce edible fruit. They are cultivated in commercial orchards or collected in an extractivism way in different parts of the world. The Annona genus has many species, but only a few of them are edible. Among them only a few ones are commercially cultivated, the most important economically are: (soursop) Annona muricata, (custard apple) Annona squamosa and Annona cherimola (cherimoya) especially; atemoya (hybrid between A. squamosa x A. cherimola) also presents in increasing importance. They are important economically for many countries in Africa, Asia and America (Central, North and South). The main producing countries are: cherimoya production in Australia, Chile, Spain, the United States, New Zealand and Israel in soursop; Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela and Costa Rica in custard apple: India, Brazil, Thailand, Philippines and Cuba. Fruit yield of Annonaceae in several producing countries is relatively low, due to the inappropriate use of management techniques (irrigation, fertilization, pruning, pollination, insect and disease control, etc.). In Brazil, the most important commercial crops with Annonaceae are: custard apple, soursop and atemoya. The objective of this study is to present the current status and perspectives for the Annonaceae in Brazil and worldwide. The cultivation is characterized mainly by small farmers, especially using the family labor. In general it can be considered that this group of fruits presents increasing important socio-economic values within the producing countries, but considering international market it recently presents more and more importance, because of their status as exotic fruit showing excellent qualities, including the functional value, such as vitamins, antioxidants and other functional properties. The increase in consumption of Annonaceae may be intensified if the producing countries implement an aggressive marketing program demonstrating its nutritional and functional qualities for consumers' health.
Annona; production; consumption; market; producing countries
