After Durian! EVIARC Jackfruit Looms As New Export Product

Shortly after Philippine Durian successfully penetrated the huge China market, one of the country’s sweetest jackfruit variety, EVIARC Sweet or Abiuyog Sweet, looms as the next big export commodity to the land of 1.4-billion consumers.
Thanks to the pioneering effort of a Chinese businessman married to a Filipiina, John Tan, whose Eng Seng Food Products is one of the biggest exporters of Davao Durian to China now.
This all started on Father’s Day when John and several Durian farmers from Sirib and Tamayong Districts of Davao City came to my farm in Kidapawan City to seek my advice on the use of Chicken Manure Slurry as organic fertilizer in my EVIARC Sweet Jackfruit Orchard and Nursery.
During the conversation, I served them newly-harvested EVIARC Sweet Jackfruit.
After having a few bites of what is reputed to be one of the sweetest Jackfruit varieties in the world, John declared that it would be a big hit in the Chinese market.
He said that just like Durian, it could be shipped in frozen form and ready to eat as soon as it reaches the China market.
On Monday, while he was in Vietnam, John sent me an FB Messenger Message asking me to push with the planting and propagation of the EVIARC Sweet Jackfruit for both the local and the China market.
Eng Seng Food Products is willing to enter into a marketing agreement with farmers who now grow the EVIARC Jackfruit to assure them of a market.
Well, the good thing is that long before John discovered the export potentials, farmers in Abuyog and other towns of Leyte had already planted EVIARC Sweet Jackfruit.
From my farm, several farmers had also acquired planting materials for several years now and these could already be productive by now.
Palawan has also planted hundreds of hectares of EVIARC Sweet Jackfruit through former /Governor and now Congressman Jose “Pepito” Alvarez.
In fact, on July 7, Cong. Alvarez will bring with him 50 Barangay Chairmen to visit my EVIARC Sweet Jackfruit Nursery.
In Oriental Mindoro, Mayor Aristeo Baldoz has planted 1,000 EVIARC Sweet Jackfruit and will expand the Jackfruit farms in August.
The town of Loreto, Dinagat islands through Mayor Doandre Ladaga has acquired 2,000 seedlings while the town of Cagwait, Surigao del Sur is acquiring another 1,000.
The good thing about Jackfruit is that, unlike Durian, it grows well in high elevation making it an ideal fruit tree specie which could contribute to the regressing of the denuded highlands of the country.
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#NeverStopDreaming!