Ghana’s cashew apples get a second life
Summary
Ghana produces a large amount of cashew nuts, but the cashew apples that grow with them are often wasted because they spoil quickly and are hard to transport. Researchers and farmers are now working on ways to preserve and process cashew apples into products like juice and beverages, aiming to turn waste into income for rural communities.Key Facts
- Ghana harvests about 250,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts each year.
- Cashew trees produce more cashew apples than nuts, but the apples are mostly wasted.
- Cashew apples spoil within 24 hours, making transportation to processing centers difficult.
- Researchers developed methods to preserve apples for up to six days before shipping.
- New products from cashew apples include juice, juice blends, sausages, and bagels.
- High tannin levels in cashew apples affect taste, but researchers worked to reduce this.
- The MA-CASH project is boosting value from cashew production to help youth development.
- Off-season income ideas, like beekeeping under cashew plantations, are also being explored.
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