  The hadronization process for quarks combining into two mesons, q\bar q\to
MM' at temperature T is described within the SU(3) Nambu- Jona-Lasinio model
with finite current quark masses. Invariant matrix elements, cross-sections and
transition rates are calculated to leading order in a 1/N_c expansion. Four
independent classes, u\bar d, u\bar s, u\bar u and s\bar s\to hadrons are
analysed, and the yield is found to be dominated by pion production. Threshold
behaviour is determined by the exothermic or endothermic nature of the
processes constituting the hadronization class. A strong suppression of
transition rates is found at the pionic Mott temperature T_{M\pi}=212 MeV, at
which the pion becomes a resonant state. The mean time for hadronization is
calculated to be 2-4 fm/c near the Mott temperature. The calculation of
strangeness changing processes indicates that hadronization accounts for a 1%
increase in the absolute value of the kaon to pion ratio at T=150 MeV.
