Countryside and street markets in TT-Hue sell a lot of delicious jackfruit, why do many people crave wet jackfruit?

Jackfruit trading trips

For many years, traveling the Phu Loc - Nam Dong route as a trading convoy, Mrs. Ngan would regularly arrive at My Loi market early every morning. Along with other local specialties, her trading vehicle would be packed with ripe jackfruit, filling the air with its fragrant aroma.

Ms. Ngan said: "Thanks to the suitable soil, the jackfruit from Nam Dong is both prolific, with large fruits, and the segments are delicious, sweet, and fragrant."

"On each truckload trip, I gather all kinds of vegetables and fruits from Nam Dong such as oranges, bananas, guavas, lemongrass, and figs to sell at My Loi market. When it's in season, jackfruit is also an indispensable item."

Depending on the quantity of jackfruit harvested, Ms. Ngan sells them whole or cuts them up and sells them by the kilogram. With the advantage of an early-blooming market and high-quality jackfruit, even though each shipment sometimes contains 10-15 fruits, Ms. Ngan still sells out her Nam Dong jackfruit quickly.

Unlike Mrs. Ngan's wholesale selling method at the market, Mrs. Xuan (Thuy Bang commune, Hue City) takes advantage of having a grocery and beverage stall right in front of her house to sell jackfruit directly from a table in front of her yard.

She said, "This year, my work is busier because the jackfruit crop is abundant, the fruit is beautiful, and the quality is good. Besides the jackfruit from my own garden, I also buy and sell jackfruit from Thuy Bang's gardens."

With over 11 years of experience selling jackfruit, Ms. Xuan said: "In Hue, there are two types of jackfruit commonly sold: the wet jackfruit and the dry jackfruit. The characteristics of the jackfruit are reflected in their names. Wet jackfruit has soft, moist, and sweet-smelling flesh. Dry jackfruit has drier, chewier flesh with a rich, distinctive sweetness."

The jackfruit season brings significant income to jackfruit growers and traders in Thua Thien Hue . These jackfruits arrive at the market through traders traveling from the mountainous district of Nam Dong. Wet jackfruit sells for 10,000-12,000 VND/kg, while drier jackfruit sells for 15,000-17,000 VND/kg.

Because they are popular and suit the taste of many people, dry jackfruit usually costs 5,000-7,000 VND more per kilogram than wet jackfruit.

Currently, the price of wet jackfruit is usually between 10,000 and 12,000 VND/kg, while dry jackfruit is priced at 15,000-17,000 VND/kg.

Ms. Xuan added: "Besides the flavor, dry jackfruit is also easier to transport and store than wet jackfruit. Typically, after ripening on the tree, dry jackfruit can be kept for 3-5 days in a cool, airy place. But wet jackfruit only lasts 2-3 days. Dry jackfruit, when separated into segments and stored in the refrigerator, can be preserved for longer, which is why it's more popular."

Everyone benefits.

According to the experience of Ms. Xuan and Ms. Ngan, to choose a good jackfruit, the first thing to do is observe the outer skin of the fruit.

Ms. Ngan shared: "To make a profit from selling jackfruit, I carefully select each fruit. In the orchard, I prioritize evenly shaped fruits, without shriveled ends or tails. The stem must be fresh and firm, the skin smooth and even, with a uniform color. The greater the distance between the thorns and the size of the thorns, the larger the jackfruit segments will be, and the higher the price."

To gather enough jackfruit to meet buyer demand, in addition to tree-ripened jackfruit, Ms. Ngan also uses methods such as wedge-shaped jackfruit (using wooden sticks to pierce the stem) or wrapping salt around the stem to accelerate ripening of mature jackfruit. These methods are convenient and safe for consumers' health.

Being a relatively easy-to-grow plant requiring little effort and maintenance, jackfruit is often planted in gardens or along the edges of forest plantations. With its peak season from May to August, thanks to traders, most jackfruit is purchased directly from the orchards, providing income for farmers while reaching consumers at reasonable prices.

Besides areas long known for jackfruit such as Truoi region (Phu Loc district) and Nam Dong district, in recent years, A Luoi district and Huong Tra town have become increasingly known for their heavy and high-quality garden jackfruit.

Mr. Thiep, the owner of a jackfruit stall in Hue City, added: "Currently, I source jackfruit from Binh Thanh and Binh Tien communes (Huong Tra town)."
"The jackfruit in these areas is very large and of good quality. Each tree can yield 5-10 fruits, and some trees can produce dozens of fruits weighing 3-10 kg each. The price is reasonable, and the jackfruit is delicious, so customers love it, which provides me with a stable source of income during the summer."

Source: https://danviet.vn/cho-que-cho-pho-o-tt-hue-bay-ban-la-liet-mit-ngon-sao-nhieu-nguoi-them-an-trai-mit-uot-20240729200053461.htm