Rumor has it that this fruit will end world hunger; so of course, I had to investigate for myself! I went to HEB and easily found the little sign labeled “jackfruit”, but to my amusement, I see something that resembles a dragon egg more than a fruit. As cool as that would be, I am not sure dragon eggs would go for only $1.50 a pound. Anyway, I rummage through the pile of spiky green volleyball sized fruit/egg/thing to choose which one is best; which, big surprise, I have no idea how to do. So I pick a smaller one with a pretty color. How else would you narrow it down? I haul my surprisingly heavy purchase to check out. Now, I am sure you have just as many questions as I did, so let us get to it!
The jackfruit is native to Asia and is a tropical tree-borne fruit. They can grow to weigh nearly 80 pounds, making the jackfruit the largest tree-borne fruit! Immediately after it is sliced open, the fruit has a very distinctive, sweet smell which has been described as a combination of pineapple and ripe banana. Once you cut passed the threatening outer skin, you encounter amber fruit pods separated by white fibers. Beware, the fruit emits a very sticky syrup that actually has been used as glue! The sweet fruit can be eaten fresh or used to make sweet dishes. But before you bite into this wonderful fruit, each pod has a large seed in the middle which can also be cooked to take on nut-like properties. If the fruit is harvested before it is ripe, it can be used as a vegetable or even as meat! Not only is it massive, therefore able to feed many people, and versatile, it has significant nutritional value. Quantity and quality! Specifically, the jackfruit is rich with simple sugars, which provide energy, dietary fibers that protect the colon, vitamin A with carotenes to protect from lung/oral cancers, and vitamin C aids in building resistance against infections. On top of that, it is one of the few fruit to be a great source of B-complex vitamins and the seeds are rich in starch as well as protein! If you are not convinced yet that the jackfruit is a super food, each tree can produce 100-200 fruits yearly and is undemanding to cultivate. Once the tree has matured and established itself, it requires minimal upkeep; only pruning off dead branches and watering if it is in an area of lower rainfall.
Now you know everything you need to know about this miracle crop! Planting and growing these marvelous trees in areas that have limited access to food, whether it be due to low income or unsafe sources, could help combat the deep hunger that is inflicting too much of our world.
