The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Jackfruit's looks too matter: expert

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Monday, Jun 06, 2011
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Jackfruit's looks too matter: expert

Special Correspondent

‘Careless handling, poor packaging will hamper its chances in global market'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Infusion of post-harvest technology and value addition could open up global business opportunities for jackfruit farmers in Kerala and help them reap handsome returns, according to Ken Love, president, Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers.

Talking to The Hindu here on Sunday, Mr. Love, who is here to attend the ongoing National Jackfruit Fest, said post harvest handling was crucial to tap the booming global market for tropical fruits like jackfruit. Careless handling and poor packaging could make fruits and value-added products unacceptable for potential markets, he said.

“The value addition process should start from the tree itself,” said Mr. Love whose association produces 168 varieties of fruits from 750 farms spread over the U.S. State of Hawaii comprising a group of volcanic islands in the central Pacific Ocean. “Back home on our farms, every fruit growing on a tree is covered by a plastic bag. It improves the quality of the fruit and ensures higher sugar content. For the farmer it translates into better value for the product. Consumers, especially hotels and tourists, are ready to pay more for fruits of better looks and quality,” he said.

A farmer and a trained chef who also teaches at culinary schools, Mr. Love produces over 150 different products from his farm produce that includes jackfruit. “We have three jackfruit-based products, namely dried jack, jelly, and carpel in sugar syrup. All of them have a shelf life of six years.”

Guinness record

Mr. Love holds the Guinness record for producing the largest jackfruit of 39 kg. He said the Panduruthy variety weighing more than 50 kg from Tamil Nadu could make it to the Guinness Book if documents were submitted.

Technology, he said, could help farmers reach out to consumers across the world. He cited the example of localharvest.org, a website that would help consumers locate farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown crops in the U.S. and shop for organic food and grass-fed meat.

The website also hosts a community-supported agriculture initiative to promote seasonal farm produce by directly linking farmers to consumers. “The website not only lists market information, but also offers the facility to order products. It has helped small farmers stay in business,” he said.

At the Kanakakunnu Palace, the venue of the jackfruit fest, Mr. Love is participating in a live demonstration of making jelly and jam with longer shelf life.

He said that post-harvesting technology was imperative to reduce the wastage of jackfruit in Kerala. The immense market potential for powdered jackfruit seed was something that farmers here could exploit, he said.

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