The investigation was carried out from 2006 to 2008 with the aim of observing the stability of morphological traits in Latgale's melon (Cucumis melo L.) lines in the Tukums region of Latvia. Four lines of Latgale's melons ('8', '14', '5(2)', and '4(3)') were grown in high plastic tunnels: five plants from each line. The following parameters were measured to determine stability of morphological traits in melons: fruit petiole and flower scar diameters (cm), length and wide of melon fruit (cm), and thickness of flesh (cm). Results showed that there was a significant difference in fruit petiole scar diameter between the years 2006 and 2007 for all lines. The melon line '14' was stable in all parameters from 2006 till 2008 except fruit flower scar diameter. The melon line '4(3)' was less stable in all parameters between all melon lines in all years of investigation.

Cultivars of northern highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) are the most suitable for areas with long, cold winter, because they require the greatest number of winter chilling hours. The blueberries are excellent sources of phytochemicals that are believed to have a significant biological activity. The experiment was done at the Institute of Agrobiotechnology, Latvia University of Agriculture, Jelgava, in the year 2009. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate phenological development of 9 highbush blueberry cultivars, their yield, fruit weight and biochemical composition: total anthocyanins, total phenols, ascorbic acid, titratable acids, and soluble solids. The obtained data showed correlation between duration of flowering and fruit ripening; between harvest and end of vegetation period of the highbush blueberry. The phenological development was dependent not only on cultivars, but also on the effective air temperature (above + 5 deg C). The research results allow assessing the phenology development of blueberry cultivars and predicting the fruit ripening time in conditions of Latvia. The most productive cultivars were 'Patriot' and 'Northland' The biggest single berry weight presented the cultivars 'Chippewa' and 'Bluejay'. The cultivar 'Jersey' had the highest content of titrable acid, anthocyanins, and ascorbic acid. The highest phenol content was detected in highbush blueberry cultivars 'Spartan' and 'Bluecrop'.

The contents of soluble solids, acids and their ratio as well as phenol content are important indices for quality evaluating of sour cherry fruits. These parameters are influenced by the cultivar and growing conditions. The trial was carried out at the Latvian State Institute of Fruit-Growing to evaluate the effect of woodchip mulch and drip irrigation on fruit quality of sour cherry cultivars 'Bulatnikovskaya', 'Desertnaya Morozovoi', 'Latvijas Zemais', 'Orlica', 'Shokoladnica', 'Tamaris', and 'Zentenes'. The biochemical composition of the fruits was analyzed in 2009 and 2010. The content of soluble solids was determined with the method of refractometry; the content of total acids by titrating with 0.1N NaOH; the total content of phenols with the method of spectrometry. The content of total soluble solids in sour cherry fruits was decreased by use of woodchip mulch. The content of acids, the ratio of soluble solid content to the acid content and the content of the phenols was not significantly influenced by woodchip mulch and drip irrigation. The cultivar 'Desertnaya Morozovoi' showed the highest soluble solid content in the fruits, the cultivar 'Latvijas Zemais' - the highest acid content, and cultivar 'Tamaris' - the highest phenol content in the fruits.

Apple trees are the most common fruit tree type in the EU covering 450 000 ha. At the global scale, the largest apple exporters are EU-27, China, Chile and the USA, but the largest importers – the EU-27 and Russia. In the EU and Russia, large volumes of apples are imported during the cold time of the year. The market for fresh fruit has traditionally been driven by price, but today’s market has become even more dynamic and consumers – more fastidious. The aim of the article is to identify the main determinants influencing prices of fresh fruits and indicate a range of differences between winter and summer prices of fruits based on the example of apples. The current research should be regarded as a ‘work in progress’, as it will be a part of more extensive research conducted in several EU countries and different times of the year. In the present research, the authors have used comparative analysis, which was based on theoretical literature studies, publications and statistical data available in EUROSTAT databases as well as statistical data aggregated by Spanish, Polish and Latvian market research institutions.

Enteral feeding also known as enteral nutrition is nutrient delivery into the stomach. Products for enteral nutrition are a specific group of products designed to provide nutrients to the human body in case of various diseases and after surgery, when the daily intake of the product is affected. Today market offers special dietetic products, which are supplemented with synthetic vitamins and minerals, which bioavailability in the body is lower than that of natural organic complexes. Therefore it is important to develop special dietetic products from natural raw materials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vacuum cooking on the content of bioactive compounds, soluble solids, pH and shelf life of enteral food made from fresh and semi-finished (heated) fruit and vegetable juices. For this research enteral food was made using fresh or semi-finished fruit and vegetable juices. Products were vacuum cooked in 0.02 MPa pressure, with boiling point 67 °C, and 0.06 MPa pressure at 79 °C, withstander for 15 min. All samples were stored at room temperature and tested for their content of vitamin C, total carotenoids, anthocyanins, total phenols and antioxidant activity and microbiological safety, as control untreated enteral food samples were used. The obtained data showed that samples made from semi-finished juices have higher contents of vitamin C and total carotenoids and anthocyanins than samples prepared from fresh juices, but this wasn’t observed with content of total phenols and antiradical scavenging activity (DPPH), where the type of ingredients used for sample preparation had no significant effect.

A research has been done on the possibility to increase the range of beer drinks by substituting hops with additives of other plants in the wort boiling process. The obtained data present evidence of the possibility of substituting hops by oak bark, yarrow, wormwood and oak acorn.

This study seeks to detemine whether there are real opportunities for Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member countries to market fresh pineapples in the lucrative Western European market. The trends in world pineapple production and trade are analysed. It concludes that the Western European market for huge quantities of CARICOM-grown fresh pineapples is more a myth than an immediate opportunity, but that Guyana and Belize have some advantages to successfully solicit overseas investors to make the idea a reality.