The jackfruit season brings significant income to growers and traders.

Trade

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 abundant and large, with delicious, sweet, and fragrant segments. On each 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 business 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 harvest is good, the fruit is beautiful, and the quality is excellent. Besides jackfruit from my own garden, I also buy and sell jackfruit from other gardens in Thuy Bang."

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."

Due to its popularity and suitability to many people's tastes, dry jackfruit is usually priced 5-7 thousand dong higher per kilogram than wet jackfruit. Currently, wet jackfruit is priced at 10-12 thousand dong/kg, while dry jackfruit is 15-17 thousand dong/kg. Ms. Xuan added: "Not only does dry jackfruit have a better flavor, but it's also easier to transport and preserve 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 for 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, you must first observe the outer skin of the fruit. Ms. Ngan shared: "To make a profit, for me, each jackfruit must be carefully selected. In the orchard, I prioritize evenly shaped fruits, without shriveled ends or tails. The stem must be fresh and firm, the skin must be smooth and even with worn spines, and the color must be uniform. The greater the distance between the spines and the size of the spines, the bigger 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 (Phu Loc) and Nam Dong, in recent years, A Luoi and Huong Tra 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 from 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.”

Text and photos: Tuệ Lâm