'J-Queen' Durians Sell for $1,000 in West Java
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31 January 2019 18:21 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A variety of the strong aromatic fruit durian has been sold in a store in Tasikmalaya, West Java, for a hefty Rp14 million or $1,000 per fruit.
"The "J-Queen" durian was selected by a panel of farmers in Banyumas (in Central Java) because it was deemed to have a special taste and texture", said Sudarno, a farmer who grew the fruit.
Two of the rare durians, which were displayed in a perspex case in a store in Tasikmalaya in the neighboring province, were sold for Rp14 million rupiah each, said Sudarno.
King of fruit, durian. (pixabay.com)
Asked why anyone would pay such a high price, he said the harvest from this particular tree had failed in past seasons, but a new fertilizer helped to produce fruit this year.
"It's sweet..fluffy and delicious," Sudarno said, describing the texture as creamy like butter.
Durians are often grown in family orchards or small-scale farms and are hugely popular in many parts of Asia.
Sometimes described as smelling like an open sewer or turpentine when ripe, durian is banned in some airports, public transport, and hotels in Southeast Asia.
Sudarno said most of the 20 durians produced by his tree were premature, but four were offered for sale. Two were sold and the others pulled from display after their quality faded.
He did not know who bought the fruit.
REUTERS