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Red grapes, green grapes, purple grapes, seedless grapes, grape jelly, grape jam, grape juice... the ways to consume grapes are endless! And don't forget wine and raisins! This popular fruit's history goes back as far as 8,000 years, when grape vines were first cultivated in what is now the Middle East.It may surprise you to hear that the humble grape is actually considered to be a berry. Seventy-two million tons of these berries are grown each year worldwide, with most of them being used to produce wine - 7.2 trillion gallons of wine per year, to be exact.7The portability, texture, flavor and variety of grapes have made them a popular finger food in countries all over the world. The potential health benefits of consuming grapes are numerous, with past studies associating them with prevention of cancer,heart disease, high blood pressure and constipation.This MNT Knowledge Center feature is part of a collection of articles on the health benefits of popular foods. It provides anutritional breakdown of grapes and an in-depth look at their possible health benefits, how to incorporate more grapes into your diet, as well as some potential health risks associated with their consumption.
Pomegranate is a fruit that is grown for centuries in Valandovo. Valandovo is known as the city of pomegranates and that means that that’s the trademark of Valandovo. This fruit is closely associated with many traditions in Valandovo. In the past, boys proposed marriage to girls with pomegranate. The fruit pomegranate symbolizes unity and fertility. It’s the "Day of pomegranate" on 09/10/2013 in Valandovo within the campaign "Healthy food for childhood without fault". Event which included children in the harvesting of pomegranates in order to raise awareness among children about the use of this fruit as a very healthy food. In Valandovo the pomegranate fruit is used to make juices, wine, and pomegranate peel (when dry) used in the preparation of tea that cure stomach ailments. The fruit of the pomegranate helps in treating diseases of the heart, and pomegranate juice has more antioxidants than the red wine and even from the green tea. You should come in autumn in Valandovo when pomegranates are growing and feel the power of this fruit.
Grapes
Pomegranate
Fig
Japanese apple
Mespilus
Medlars are found naturally along the Black Sea coast of Turkey, Asia Minor, Caucasus and Northern Iran where they are still appreciated. However, in the rest of the world they are neglected and almost forgotten. It wasn't always so. The history of the medlar spans nearly 30 centuries. They may have been grown by Assyrians and Babylonians. The Greeks and Romans definitely cultivated them from the 2nd century BCE. Pliny makes reference to drinks made with medlar fruit. Persians also grew them for centuries. They were popular in England during the 17th and 18th centuries as well as during the Victorian era. Writers such as Chaucer, Shakespeare and Cervantes made literary reference to medlars. Up until about a century ago, it would not have been unusual to enjoy medlar fruit for dessert.
The people from Valandovo (Valandovchani) for half a century grow Japanese apple, which is also called the ''Fruit of the Gods''. The first written data about this fruit dates from the 4th century BC. The trees can grow up to 100 years. Planted once and they can grow for several generations. Japan Apple succeeds here only in Valandovo - Gevgelija region. In Vladandovsko it is grown on about 40 acres. Production capacity is around 2,000 tons per year and Valandovo is the third by volume of production in Europe. Japanese apple is rich in selenium and is a strong antioxidant. Association
"Organic kaki" Valandovo recently received certification for Swiss manufacturing kaki without the use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides. Earlier inspection was carried out by the Institute for markets in Switzerland
Figs are a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps to control blood pressure. Since many people not only do not eat enough fruits and vegetables, but do consume high amounts of sodium as salt is frequently added to processed foods, they may be deficient in potassium. Low intake of potassium-rich foods, especially when coupled with a high intake of sodium, can lead to hypertension. In the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) study, one group ate servings of fruits and vegetables in place of snacks and sweets, and also ate low-fat dairy food. This diet delivered more potassium, magnesium and calcium. Another group ate a "usual" diet low in fruits and vegetables with a fat content like that found in the average American Diet. After eight weeks, the group that ate the enhanced diet lowered their blood pressure by an average of 5.5 points (systolic) over 3.0 points (diastolic).
Biljana Platno Belese
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