The durian season usually spans June to September, but this year, Sam Ho, who owns the Uncle Sam Durian store at Clementi Market & Food Centre, expects the harvest to reach its prime only in July, which will drive down prices.
“Now it’s the start of the season, so because the harvest is too little, it will be slightly expensive,” he told Channel News Asia.
Selling fruits from his own farm in Malaysia’s Pahang state, a region famed for its Musang King durians, Ho said this season’s supply is shaping up to be stronger than last year’s, even though the peak harvest is arriving later.
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Durians are seen for sale in Singapore’s Little India district on July 25, 2016. Photo by AFP |
Singapore sources about 85% of its durians from Malaysia. During peak season, shipments from across the border can exceed 100,000 kilograms a day, according to Bloomberg.
However, the main season in Malaysia got off to a slower start as heavier-than-usual rainfall disrupted the blooming process earlier this year.
“The season also started late this year as usually the season starts in late April but we are only starting to get the early batches of durians now,” Eric Yeap, a durian grower with seven orchards spanning 53.4 hectares in Malaysia’s Penang state, told Malay Mail in early May.
But the weather has recently been hot and dry in Pahang and durian flowers have started to bloom, according to AsiaOne.
With the current conditions, Alvin Yap, president of the Pahang Fruit Farmers’ Association, expects bumper crops in July and August.
With three harvest waves expected, Pahang will likely have an abundant supply of durians next month, especially Musang King—the city-state’s favorite variety.
Nonetheless, Austin Quak, a staff member at Rolling Durian, another seller in Singapore, noted that while prices are predicted to fall, unpredictable weather could still affect the outlook.
Durian deals hit the market
With the season’s peak around the corner, some businesses have rolled out or announced deals that durian lovers in Singapore can enjoy.
FairPrice, the city-state’s largest supermarket chain, kicked off a promotion earlier this month offering kampung durians for just S$1.95 (US$1.52) each. The deal ran from June 13 to 15 and from June 20 to 22 at selected outlets, according to Mothership.
The Bay Restaurant inside Resorts World Sentosa is preparing to launch a premium durian buffet on July 11, priced at S$268 per person for an all-you-can-eat experience.
Those keen on crossing the border can also look forward to a durian carnival at the Sunway Big Box Retail Park in Malaysia’s Johor Bahru state, just minutes from the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link.
The event will feature a buffet of durians reportedly sourced from one of Johor’s largest orchards, priced at RM98 (US$23) per person.
