Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) produces a true fruit (the raw cashew nut) and an accessory fruit (the cashew apple).
The cashew apple is the fleshy pedicel that holds the nut, representing an abundant but highly perishable byproduct.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Statement (A): The yield of cashew apples is substantially higher than that of raw nuts.
On a fresh weight basis, the cashew apple yield is typically 8 to 10 times greater than the weight of raw cashew nuts. Thus, (A) is correct.
Statement (B): Cashew apples are an exceptional nutritional source of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
They contain approximately 240 mg of ascorbic acid per 100 g of edible pulp, which is nearly five times higher than that of citrus fruits. Thus, (B) is correct.
Statement (C): Fenny (or Feni) is a popular distilled alcoholic beverage made from cashew apples in Goa, India.
However, it is not the *only* commercial product. Cashew apples are also used to make non-alcoholic beverages, juice, syrup, jam, and vinegar. Thus, (C) is incorrect.
Statement (D): Cashew apples are highly perishable because of their soft skin, high sugar, and high moisture content.
They begin to ferment within 24 hours of harvest. Hence, to maintain quality, the entire crop harvested from a tree must be processed on the same day. Thus, (D) is correct.
Evaluating the choices, only (A), (B), and (D) are correct.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (A), as statements (A), (B), and (D) are accurate, while (C) is false.