Brazil is an important producer of tropical fruits, such as pineapple,guava, mango, papaya and acerola, which are mainly commercialized ‘‘in nature’’.Their high moisture contents allied to
the typical weather characteristics that predominate in that country, i.e., high relative humidity and temperatures, are not favorable for preservation under natural conditions,resulting in great post-harvest losses. The drying of tropical fruits can be an excellent alternative to make their shelf-life longer and commercialization easier. It allows conversion of perishable materials into stabilized products by lowering water activity to appropriate levels, thus preventing microbial spoilage and quality deterioration due to undesirable biochemical reactions.
Facility for transportation, storage and handling of dried fruits are also important factors in globalized world. Moreover, drying reduces wastes and post-harvest losses, and might allow that whole production is absorbed by the food industry and distribution sectors. Finally, the development of dried