Coastal jackfruit all set to create ripples in US

TOI

MANGALORE, 12 Jun 2012: Jackfruit, the sticky, sweet and smelly fruit popular along the Konkan coast and Kerala, is ready to cross the seas and make it to the United States of America. There, it will be savoured sandwiched in a burger and turned into many other products. Once considered a poor man’s fruit, it is now at the heart of a campaign.

 

Global Village Fruits Inc. (GVFI), a for-profit social enterprise started by pre-med anthropology concentrator and Harvard public service traveller Annemarie Ryu is set to export 25 tonne of dried jackfruit to the US, but she faces shortage of supply. To overcome the supply crisis, Annemarie along with her local partner NV Paulose is all set to launch ’The Jackfruit Campaign’.

 

The increase in demand will translate into a boon for farmers here who are not able to market the fruit. Currently, a major share of jackfruit produced in undivided Dakshina Kannada district is wasted due to the lack of a proper market.

 

GVFI will enable farmers here to market the fruit and make more profit.

 

Paulose told TOI that though there is a demand for 25 tonne of dried jackfruit per year in the US, the supply here is less than 1 tonne.

 

"Annemarie will visit Mangalore to promote more ventures in jackfruit processing. GVFI will introduce more varieties of jackfruit products, including jackfruit burgers, if she is able to get more supply. This will further increase the demand for the fruit in the US, and farmers in India, especially those in coastal Karnataka, will get a higher price," he said.

 

Anniemarie will meet jackfruit farmers, entrepreneurs and investors at a campaign in the city on June 16. She will present a special 3D shooting session on ’Jackfruit economics’ and interact with stakeholders.

 

Being a violinist, Anniemarie will also participate in a short musical concert to be held as part of the campaign, Paulose said, adding that she is expected to get more supply from India and South Asian countries too.

 

A student of Harvard University, Annemarie had tasted jackfruit for the first time in her life in Bangalore last year. The magical feel she had after having Artocarpus heterophyllus, inspired her to start GVFI to create a market for the fruit and help Indian farmers, he added.