Also, a refreshing and colorful beverage is prepared by blending tg he flesh wit lime juice and water, pouring a shot of white rum turns it into a cocktail knowns as Panther Blood. As an ornament, its colorful and exotic apperance make pithayas a fruit of choice for unusual fruit baskets and flower arrangements. It is worth mentioning that in addition to its refreshing taste and extrarordinary appearance, the fruit conatins naturals oils that improve functioning of the digestive tract. Ample supplies of export-quality fruit are available from June to October every year. These are packed in 3.5 kg cartons containing 7 to 15 units with and individual weight range of 230 to 500 grams.
Current trends point to steady prices as demand and supply increase.
At present, the U. S market is off limist for fresh pitahaya due to phytosanitary regulations. Meanwhile, experimental trials of hot water dip treatmen are being exported to the U.S. as frozen puree to satisfy institutional and consumer markets, mainly in Florida in California. Additionally, Nicaragu'as processing capacity has been expanded to satisfy international food industry's demand for pitahaya puree as an ingredient in manufacturing fruit juice, fruit bars and smoothies, dairy products and preserves. Also, its coloring properties have generated a lot of interest and are being actively investigated as a source of natural red color for the food and cosmetic industries. All in all, growers, packers and exporters in Nicargua are working to satisfy the world's increasing demand for this exciting fruit.