Posted on: Wednesday, September 22, 2004

BUSINESS BRIEFS
Specialty fruit sales rise 21%

Farm sales of tropical specialty fruit rose 21 percent to $2.1 million last year on an increase in acreage and maturing of fruit trees.

Rambutan, mango, longan and lychee were the top four fruits sold by farmers last year, according to the Hawai'i Agricultural Statistics Service. Production of atemoya, passion fruit and star fruit declined. Acreage of tropical specialty fruits increased 80 acres to 1,250 acres in 2003.