Food Source Information Pomegranates

A pomegranate tree or shrub can stand between 20 to 30 ft high, is well-branched with thorns, and is exceptionally long-lived. Flowers on the branch tips can occur singly or in groups up to five. Almost rounded, but crowned at the base by the calyx, the pomegranate fruit is 2.5 to 5 inches in diameter and has a tough, leathery skin or rind. The fruit is yellow blanketed with light or deep pink, or rich red coloring. The pomegranate is native to areas in the Middle East and across some parts of Asia. In the U.S., pomegranates are grown primarily in the dry zones of California and Arizona although they are also grown in Utah, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and North Carolina.

Possibly due to the reported antimicrobial properties of pomegranates, there have not been many reported outbreaks. Between 2000 and 2020, at least 1 pomegranate-associated outbreaks was reported to CDC’s National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS), causing 157 illnesses, 70 hospitalizations, and no deaths.

In 2013, pomegranate arils from Turkey were implicated in an outbreak of Hepatitis A virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed as of September 20, 2013 that approximately 162 people, primarily in the western U.S., became ill after consuming contaminated pomegranate arils. Three different brands of frozen ‘berries or kernels’ were associated with the outbreak. It was later determined that pomegranate arils which caused illnesses in Wisconsin and New Hampshire had been contaminated by fruit from California and Nevada, respectively.

Pre-harvest

Pomegranates are primarily grown in mild-temperate to subtropical climates and grow in regions with cool winters and hot summers. Colder temperatures below 12º F (-11.11º C) can severely damage the pomegranate fruit. The trees are capable of tolerating drought and prefer a semi-arid climate. In southern Florida, fruit development is enhanced after a cold winter. The pomegranate prospers in soil that is calcareous and alkaline, in deep, acidic loam, and a wide range of soils in between these extremes. The pomegranate tree can grow in any soil that has good internal drainage. Pomegranates are susceptible to a number of insect infestations and plant diseases, which can cause the loss of an entire crop or discoloration of fruits and arils unless properly managed.

Harvest and Post-Harvest

Pomegranate harvesting begins in August. The fruit does not continue to ripen after harvest and should be picked when fully ripe for best eating quality. The fruit is ready for harvest if it makes a metallic sound when tapped. Certain environmental conditions can cause pomegranate fruit to crack open, including rain, wind, and insufficient irrigation. The stem is generally removed at harvest to prevent damage to other fruits during the shipping and handling process. In north and central Florida, pomegranate fruit ripen from July to October.

The fruit should be transported in cool temperatures and cushioned in wooden crates or in baskets lined with paper or straw. Some growers use wax to cover the fruit to enhance the appearance. Improper humidity can lead to grey mold, which is caused by Botrytiscinerea fungus infection. Botrytis cinerea fungus can be prevented by using an approved fungicide or by keeping the pomegranates in a 15% carbon dioxide-enriched atmosphere. In California, an approved fungicide called Fludioxonil (Scholar) is used on pomegranates with a 5 ppm maximum residue limit. The pomegranates must be dipped in the fungicide solution because the fungal spores are usually in the calyx area of the fruit, which may not be adequately covered by simply spraying. Subsequently, surface moisture must be removed by airflow to avoid having free moisture on the fruit in the transportation box.

Although the fruits have a long storage life, pomegranates are prone to water loss and physical damage by abrasions, impacts, compression, and even vibrations.

Maintaining the fruits at a temperature of 32ºF to 41ºF and sustaining a relative humidity of 80 to 85% can extend the storage life of a pomegranate fruit for up to 6-7 months while maintaining market quality. When the fruits are kept at room temperature, they continue to develop darker skin color and may last up to several weeks. Warmer temperatures and prolonged storage results in internal breakdown and increases dehydration, causing the fruit skin to harden and shrink. Shrink-wrapping is sometime used to preserve quality and surface color and to reduce moisture loss. Chilling injury is a common occurrence due to improper storage. Chilling injury occurs when the fruit is exposed to temperatures below 41ºF during storage. The fruit will have a brown discoloration of the skin, pitting, and increased susceptibility to early decay. The arils will lose their rich, red color and the white membranes will turn brown.

Harvesting Arils

Two methods are typically used to collect the arils from the pomegranate: hand extraction and commercial extraction. There are three commonly used techniques to collect the arils by hand: (1) cut off the calyx end and lightly score the rind in quarters from top to bottom, then break the fruit open, peel the membrane back, and remove the arils; (2) submerge the scored pomegranate in a bowl of cold water and soak for approximately five minutes. While holding the fruit under water, split the sections of the pomegranate and the arils will sink to the bottom; (3) remove arils by cutting the pomegranate in half and placing the cut face down while hitting the shell firmly with a blunt instrument. The section walls will break loose, freeing the arils. To efficiently collect the arils by commercial extraction, a six-step process is used. The benefits of commercial collecting via machine include increased efficiency and improved hygiene. Plastic containers with a thin, plastic film covering the arils are commonly used to commercially store the fruit. The arils are packed with air, nitrogen, and enriched oxygen to extend quality and shelf life. The commercial shelf life is estimated to be up to 18 days.

Some people have experienced allergies when consuming pomegranates or when rubbing the fruit on their skin or gums as a health supplement. Pomegranate roots and stems are not believed to be safe and should not be consumed, or should only be consumed in small doses.

Pomegranates may pass through many hands before selection by the consumer at the grocery store, so consumers should be encouraged to wash the fruit well under running water before opening it to hand-remove the arils. This may help prevent cross-contamination and, may also help in removing any pesticide residues.

Production trends indicate that the health benefits and nutritional values have quickly made pomegranates a common food staple of the human diet in the U.S.; from 2007 to 2012 the number of pomegranate farms and acres growing the fruit jumped from 599 farms and 24,517 acres to 1,056 farms and 32,887 acres, respectively. The fruit can be consumed in a variety of ways ranging from snacking on the arils alone or adding them to fruit cups, cakes, salads, soups, sauces, and ice cream. The fruit is commonly juiced, and consumed as such alone, or added to alcoholic drinks (i.e. wine), candies (i.e. lollipops and gummies), mixed fruit drinks, jellies, puddings, salsas, salad dressings, and syrups like Grenadine that is used to flavor beverages and desserts. Additionally, pomegranate consumption is also encouraging the intake of traditionally ethnic dishes like the Persian fesenjan, a (duck/chicken) stew containing walnuts and pomegranate juice/syrup.

Pomegranates have a long history of being used to treat a variety of ailments, and current scientific evidence suggests this unique fruit does provide health benefits. Over 120 different phytochemicals have been identified from pomegranate juice, and antioxidant levels are reported to be higher than those of both green tea and red wine. It has also been reported that consumption of pomegranate fruit or juice can reduce inflammation, combat heart disease, inhibit cancer, and may slow the effects of aging. There are hundreds of arils in each pomegranate and each aril “sac” houses a tiny seed called the embryo, which can be soft or hard. The tart flavor and refreshing sweetness of pomegranate is popular with consumers. An 8 oz. serving has 150 calories and is a good source of folate and potassium and a very good source of vitamin K. There has even been some limited evidence that theorizes that pomegranate fruit contains antiviral and antibacterial properties which protect against foodborne illnesses. More research is needed to further explore this hypothesis.

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