Rare tropical fruits from Far North Queensland are gaining popularity in capital cities as retailers put more unusual produce on their shelves. ABC News reports that demand has increased substantially over the past year, with growers receiving more inquiries while markets seek additional supplies.
Melbourne retailer Daniel Perogiannis, who has sold exotic fruit for two years, said he had increased orders in recent months. He attributed the trend partly to people from overseas seeking flavours familiar from home, and to Australians learning about the fruits and researching them independently.
Social media has also helped draw attention to unfamiliar varieties. Perogiannis said black sapote, promoted on Instagram as a “chocolate pudding fruit”, prompted a surge of customers wanting to try it. In Brisbane, fruit seller Michael Nguyen said interest was growing and predicted mangosteens could eventually become a household name.
Both retailers source produce from Warren Orsmond, who farms outside Tully, between Cairns and Townsville. Orsmond grows 14 varieties commercially and told ABC News that inquiries from small shops and agents had increased noticeably in recent months. Rambutans and mangosteens were his most popular products, while rollinia and sapodilla were also attracting interest.
Orsmond said Far North Queensland’s humidity and climate resembled conditions in South-East Asia, South America and Central America, where many of the fruits originated. He also said international travel had exposed more people to tropical flavours, creating demand after they returned home.
The farmer is working to enlarge his harvest but said expansion required balancing the amount he could produce with what the market wanted. Nguyen similarly said tropical fruit lines could become mainstream if farmers were able to grow more produce.