Named so because its shell resembles a durian’s, the fruit used to be exotic and expensive but its prices have been declining over the last two years as supply increased steadily.
It has a distinct fragrance and sweetness, and is usually harvested between August and January.
At farms in the northern Son La Province, the highest grade of the fruit, weighing 0.8-2.5 kilograms, cost VND75,000-80,000, while smaller ones of 0.5-0.8 kilogram sell for VND55,000.
Four years ago, when the fruit first entered the market from Taiwan, the prices had been VND400,000-500,000 per kilogram.
Hoan Anh of Hanoi’s Cau Giay District said she recently bought a box of five fruits for just VND260,000.
Huyen, a food wholesaler in HCMC’s District 12, said she is selling durian custard apples this year because prices have dropped and consumers are attracted by its unique appearance.
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Durian custard apples at an orchard in northern Son La Province. Photo by Tam Pham |
The Me Lech Cooperative in Son La’s Mai Son District, the first to cultivate the fruit in Vietnam in 2021, said it partnered with a business to import seedlings from Taiwan.
It currently has 100 hectares under the fruit, a five-fold increase from 2022.
Many other farmers in the district also planted the high-yielding crop, growing 20 tons of fruit per hectare.
Tien, a farmer in Son La, pointed out that farmers continue to earn profits from the fruit despite the plummeting prices.
Nguyen Huu Tu, director of the Me Lech Cooperative, said, at VND60,000 per kilogram, a hectare of durian custard apple generates VND1.2 billion, much higher than other varieties of custard apple.
According to the Son La Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province has 970 ha under the fruit, with 610 ha now productive.
It is expected to produce over 7,100 tons this year, with Mai Son District, the biggest producer, accounting for 6,700 tons.
