Demand for exotic tropical fruits surges in Australian cities
Demand for rare tropical fruits like rambutan and mangosteen has surged in capital cities.
Exotic tropical fruits grown in Far North Queensland are gaining traction in urban Australia. Fruits including jackfruit, rambutan, mangosteens and black sapote now appear regularly on grocery shelves.
Social media trends, particularly Instagram, drive curiosity. International migrants seek flavours from home, sparking interest among Australian shoppers.
Melbourne grocer Daniel Perogiannis says he's ordering more stock each month. Farmer Warren Orsmond, who grows 14 exotic varieties outside Tully, said his phone was constantly buzzing lately with new inquiries from retailers.
Supply is struggling to keep pace with demand as production ramps up. A Brisbane fruit seller expects demand will grow further if farmers can boost production.
- 14 exotic types
- Varieties grown
- Daniel Perogiannis, Melbourne
- Retailer
- Warren Orsmond, near Tully
- Farmer
Why it mattersConsumers get access to wider produce variety, while growers have expanding markets for their crops.
AustraliaQueensland tropical fruit farmers are scaling up production, and urban Australians are discovering new flavours available in their local supermarkets.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 7 d ago
