Ukraine presents encapsulated watermelon seed oil at Gulfood

“The Association of Producers of Kherson Watermelons became the winner in the nomination ‘Most Innovative Organic Product’ at the international exhibition Gulfood 2022, which takes place in the United Arab Emirates from 13 to 17 February. Kherson entrepreneurs presented a unique product – encapsulated watermelon seed oil. It contains plenty of nutrients and is a novelty on the market of healthy food products,” the International Trade Centre Ukraine project posted on Facebook.

It is noted that encapsulated watermelon oil can be used as a dessert or ingredient in various confectionery products for diabetic patients.

"The product contains a large amount of cold pressed oil from watermelon seeds (up to 50%) and does not contain sugars, other carbohydrates, and proteins. A human body receives energy from watermelon oil, alongside a unique complex of substances: squalene, lycopene, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, copper. The capsule shell protects the oil from oxidation," co-founder of the Association Valeriy Fedorenko noted.

He stressed that dessert as a food product is fully ready to enter the market. It can be used as a common dessert and as a component in the preparation of various fruit salads and other dishes. "But we will continue to work on it. We want to create a line of similar products with different tastes, enhance useful properties, adding specially selected natural supplements of plant origin," Fedorenko added.

The Association of Producers of Kherson Watermelons is a participant in the collective stands of Ukrainian companies at Gulfood 2022, organized by the Linking Ukrainian SMEs in the Fruits and Vegetables Sector to Global and Domestic Markets and Value Chains project, funded by the Government of Sweden and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC).

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