Re: Pepino

At 07:35 AM 11/11/1998 EST, you wrote:
>I'd like some help identifying a fruit that I came across in Chile in January
>of this year.  It is six or seven inches long and shaped something like a
>football.  The skin is thin and green with darker green striping (something
>like a watermelon).  It is all green on the inside and has a soft center with
>many small seeds (something like a papaya).  It is eaten by slicing it in
>half, scooping out the seeds with a spoon, and then eating the firmer flesh
>with the spoon.  The flesh is somewhat melon-like in both taste and texture.
>It is found everywhere.  Every fruit market had a display.  The hotels we
>stayed in always included it with breakfast.  The locals call it "pepino" and
>we were told that it grows on trees and comes from northern Chile (closer to
>the tropics).  I was tempted to try to bring some seed back with me, but I
>didn't want to run afoul of the law.  Any ideas?
>
>Kurt Mize
>Stockton, California

Kurt:

Pepino is a variable, popular relative of the tomato.  It is grown
commercially in Chile, New Zealand and California.  Solanum muricatum is
adaptable to all warm temperate climates, making it a good crop for Mexico,
China, Africa, etc.  The name means cucumber in Spanish.  It is an easy
plant to grow as a home crop.

This info comes from Lost Crops of the Incas by the Ad Hoc Panel of the
Advisory Committee on Technology Innovation Board on Science and Technology
for International Development, National Research Council (National Academy
Press), Washington, DC 1989 ISBN 0-309-04264-X.

There is a California group with a Web page covering exotic fruits that you
should check out.  They could probably help you find a source.  I don't have
the URL easily accessable right now.  Also, try Redwood City Seed Company:

	P. O. Box 361
	Redwood City, CA  94064
	Craig Dremann		415-325-7333
	Web page:  http://www.batnet.com/rwc-seed/).   

Rich Dufresne
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