Production and availability of fruit in the 19th c.

"Oranges, citrus, apricots, pomegranates, figs (inferior to those of Smyrna), watermelons, melons and lastly the varieties of grapes are probably the most plentiful fruit in the island. The African figs are everywhere. Walnuts, almonds, plums and pistachios are rare. And the chickpeas and chestnuts are rarer. The apple and pear trees produce fruit of somewhat inferior quality. The peaches and cherries are mediocre. The bananas, once common in Cyprus, are rare. Berries are unknown. The palm trees, which are beautiful and numerous, especially in the Turkish villages, yield fruit that cannot ripen.

The reason is that while the legumes need care, the grapes and the citrus fruit ripen under the sun on their own" (Frangoudi EN, 1885 p. 38-39).