Indian women in and around the city of New Delhi have been turning abandoned corners, neglected backyards and even garbage dumps near their homes into breathtaking gardens where they are growing exotic vegetables, flowers, fruits and medicinal shrubs. They are doing all of this on their own, without grant or sanction from local authorities, and this has caused some run-ins with the law.

But what keeps these green workers going is the satisfaction of sprucing up their neighborhoods. One example is 75 year old Sudershan Khanna, who lives in an apartment complex that used to be surrounded by wastelands that were a blot on the landscape and an unofficial garbage dump. She got a team together and even hired trucks in order to clear the garbage off the land and level it in order to plant a garden that is now home to over 500 plants.

There is a raging debate going on about the claims made by the companies about the properties of exotic fruits such as goji berries, pomegranates and acai. These fruits have been given the super fruit status considering their high nutrient and anti-oxidant levels. The more common fruits have not made this category even though they meet the nutritional standards set by Agencies.
These exotic fruits are put into this category without any scientific definition or standards. Many companies are selling these exotic fruits with unverified claims on their health benefits. For example, acai berry is being marketed as a cure for cancer to baldness and weight loss. The companies selling them make a killing by selling these properties without mentioning the actual scientifically verified properties such as anti-inflammatory properties and healthy vitamins. The latter properties can also be found in less "exotic" varieties of berries which are also less expensive.
It is getting difficult to find out whether the claims made by the companies regarding the exotic fruits are true or not. In a recent case the FDA issued a letter to POM wonderful company for making unsubstantiated claims on their pomegranate based drinks. Pomegranate has been proven to have reduced risk factors in heart disease and its undergoing other trials.
So overall the consumers have to be aware when they buy products containing exotic fruits. Take care not to be fooled by the specific claims made by the companies but these fruits do contain the required nutrients and anti-oxidants so do not hesitate in buying them for just that.

An excellent example of how global trade can benefit developing countries is the case of a Mozambican company called Mozfoods that specializes in the production of exotic vegetables for export to South Africa and Europe under the Vandruzi brand. This brand is well known as the baby corn specialist in Africa, where they grow true Thai varieties in order to produce the highest quality vegetables.

The company has now added gooseberries and passionfruit to its line of products for the first time. Vandruzi exports three refrigerated 30t trucks every week during low season, and those volumes double during the peak season, with products shipped through Johannesburg or Tambo airports directly to the UK, Iberian Peninsula and the Netherlands. All of their products are grown under the standard certifications that European customers require and their pack house is BRC accredited. They are also working on getting a Fair Trade certification, with an audit set to held in the 2nd quarter of the year.