ONE EYED JACK....FRUIT

By - Hesmel Faznee Faisal

Salam, to my fellow bloggers and Bacalah readers (Jose, kalau ada!)

Who had ever thought that one-day, we could import local fruit like jackfruit to overseas?

The jackfruit or its scientific name, Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jose, don’t ask me from where they got that name!) is part of the mulberry family species of tree from South and Southeast Asia. The fruit is well suited to tropical lowlands and it bore the largest fruit in the world, seldom less than about 25 cm (10 in) in diameter.

Even a relatively thin tree, around 10 cm (4 in) diameter, can bear large fruit. The fruits can reach 36 kg in weight and up to 90 cm (36 in) long and 50 cm (20 in) in diameter. The jackfruit is something of an acquired taste, but it is very popular in many parts of the world. The sweet yellow sheaths around the seeds are about 3–5 mm thick and have a taste similar to that of pineapple, but milder and less juicy.

I am sure some of my blog readers (Jose, kalau adalah!) would be wondering, why on earth do I started my column with a write up on the jackfruit tree.

Well, whilst reading the Utusan, I saw one interesting article about the innovation of the jackfruit and how it was been packaged. Usually, people seldom take the fruit, due to the difficulties of cutting the fruit to get its flesh. Yes, it is very difficult and quite a complex process.

Thanks to MARDI (Malaysia Agricultural Research and Development Institute) we have managed to reduce the difficulties of removing the skin in order for us to enjoy the sweetness of its fruit.

According to MARDI, there has been some effort in exporting the fruit to countries such as Dubai, Australia, Hong Kong and even to Europe.

It is also interesting to note that if a fruit can travel to countries as far as Europe or elsewhere, we could do the same. It is up to us to prove our ability and to convince others that we have the spirit of Malaysia Boleh and would be able to conquer the world with our own ability without depending too much on others as well.

Hendak seribu daya, tak hendak seribu dalih.

Kita Kan Tersesat Pabila Malam Menjemput Bulan Semula Ke Sangkar Waktu – The Salam Connection

the photo potrays a donkey, an animal which people usually called the JACKass..