By Thai Newsroom Reporters
FOUR TROPICAL FRUITS of southern Thailand – durian, mangosteen, rambutan and longkong – are being harvested for sales and largely destined for export.
According to the Department of Agricultural Economics’ deputy secretary-general Anchana Tracho, a peak volume of durian fruit is getting ripe for harvest between this month and next in the southern provinces of Chumphorn, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
The export-bound durian is selling for 130-140 baht per kilogramme with most being shipped to China.
The southern mangosteen for export is selling for 80-100 baht a kilo with most bound for China, Japan and South Korea.
The rambutan, especially that from Surat Thani, is selling for 37 baht a kilo with most destined for Malaysia, Singapore, China and Hong Kong.
Unlike the export-bound durian, mangosteen and rambutan, the southern longkong is largely supplied for domestic consumption.
Many rubber and oil palm plantations in the southern region have been replaced with fruit orchards, specifically those of durian which sells like hot cakes in the export markets.
Most southern fruits were earlier picked between July and August, but it has been a month later than usual this year due in part to climate change, according to the department’s deputy secretary general.
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Top: Flat Stanley, the central character in a series of children’s books, in China with durian fruit. Photo: Jimmie (CC BY 2.0)
