Australian jackfruit is rich in vitamins, minerals and many phytochemicals that are known to have positive health benefits. And yet, jackfruit remains an underutilised food source in Australia. With transportation and labour costs high in Australia, jackfruit production which is predominantly located in the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland, has plateaued in recent years. However, new research has indicated that the industry has the potential to grow significantly with forecasts of production of $5 -$10 million by 2025.
In a project funded by AgriFutures Australia as part of its Emerging Industries Program and in conjunction with the Northern Territory Government’s Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Monash Food Innovation were commissioned to pull jackfruit apart and explore how the industry can drive more consumer demand for the versatile but largely unfamiliar fruit – to find ways to process jackfruit into ready-to-eat products and ingredients and make jackfruit jump off the supermarket shelves.
Source: nationaltribune.com.au