Australia: Jackfruit project looks to add convenience to world's largest tree fruit

Large, spiky and heavy; the jackfruit isn't exactly a model of convenience when it comes to fruit. Researchers in the Northern Territory have set out to change that by collaborating with food processors and major retailers to develop ready-to-eat jackfruit products. This initiative aims to introduce innovative, value-added jackfruit options to the Australian market and capitalise on rising consumer interest in plant-based and tropical foods. Jackfruit is the largest tree fruit in the world. When ripe, its sweet fruit segments are similar to the tropical tastes of banana, mango and pineapple, and when unripe, its stringy texture is known to be a meat substitute increasingly popular in western cuisine. Australia's jackfruit industry is concentrated in the tropical regions of North Queensland and Darwin. Currently, international competitors are limited to selling only canned jackfruit in Australia due to strict quarantine restrictions, providing an opportunity for the local market to ...