The Holistic Parrot by Leslie Moran
An antioxidant-rich and newly emerging tropical fruit is aptly named dragon fruit for it’s leather-like texture and brightly coloured skin with large scaly spikes. Even though some may be disappointed because it lacks a fruity sweetness, it’s pleasant and mild flavour offers much in its nutritional benefits.
The most commonly grown dragon fruit species for commercial production originated from the tropical and subtropical forest regions of Mexico, Central and South America. According to Aztec literature, dragon fruit date back to the 13th century.
Even though this brightly coloured exotic jewel dates back to the early Incan empire it is described as an emerging tropical fruit because it is fairly new in the global market. With consumer interest growing and cultivation plots increasing, this tropical jewel is grown commercially in Vietnam, China, Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and in the tropical Florida climate in the United States. Presently, Vietnam is the leading exporter of dragon fruit with 40,000 hectares (about 98.8 thousand acres) devoted to growing one million metric tons annually. The organic frozen dragon fruit that I buy for my parrots is grown in Vietnam.