Fruits from Hilo

[Samu]

Just wanted to share our fruits we got  from
Hilo Farmers Matket in the Big Island yesterday.

While the Durians are in the small side, but the taste
is the best to me, smooth/creamy, sweet, I can also taste
some fermentation going on too.
Now wishing I'd bought more...

[OCchris1]

Wow Sam great collection! Are you planning on bringing any seeds back? I would buy some from you if possible...no worries either way. Enjoy your fruit. Chris

[fruitlovers]

Lots of good fruits right now. You came at a good time.

[palologrower]

i've been lucky to get pulasan from a friend in hilo for free (even sends it via air cargo!).  what is the going rate for pulasan in Hilo anyway?

[fruitlovers]

i've been lucky to get pulasan from a friend in hilo for free (even sends it via air cargo!).  what is the going rate for pulasan in Hilo anyway?

Didn't go to market yesterday, but in the past they were around $4/pound.

[palologrower]

i've been lucky to get pulasan from a friend in hilo for free (even sends it via air cargo!).  what is the going rate for pulasan in Hilo anyway?

Didn't go to market yesterday, but in the past they were around $4/pound.

so i guess it does command more $$ than rambutan.

[Felipe]

How is the taste of pulassan compared to rambutan in your opinion?

[fruitlovers]

i've been lucky to get pulasan from a friend in hilo for free (even sends it via air cargo!).  what is the going rate for pulasan in Hilo anyway?

Didn't go to market yesterday, but in the past they were around $4/pound.

so i guess it does command more $$ than rambutan.

Definitely. Rambutan is super common, and pulasan is still a pretty rare fruit in Hawaii.

[Samu]

Hi OC,
I have promised to give all the seeds to a local grower here in Hawaii,
since I understand that the "top" fruits (durian, rambutan, pulasan, rollinia, selacca)
is impossible or not easy to fruit in California, so I have no intention to bring
those seeds home.
I also in the dark as to rules of bringing those seeds home to the main land...

$4/lbs for pulasan is spot on Oscar, how about $5/ lbs for "out of this world" fresh durian?

[xshen]

five bucks for a lb for fresh durian is super cheap. Eat plenty of it Sam!!! Frozen mu sang king here is $9 bucks a lb.

[Mark in Texas]

five bucks for a lb for fresh durian is super cheap. Eat plenty of it Sam!!! Frozen mu sang king here is $9 bucks a lb.

That's crazy!  Our local grocer in central Texas had beautiful durian for $1.48.....and I thought that was outrageous considering each one went 15 plus lbs.  Perhaps your talking about processed durian, ready to eat?

[Mark in Texas]

Just wanted to share our fruits we got  from
Hilo Farmers Matket in the Big Island yesterday.

While the Durians are in the small side, but the taste
is the best to me, smooth/creamy, sweet, I can also taste
some fermentation going on too.
Now wishing I'd bought more...

Those are incredible.  Been to Hilo quite a few times and never thought of looking for the local market, sheesh!

[Samu]

How is the taste of pulassan compared to rambutan in your opinion?

The pulasan we sampled yesterday, while bigger and a lot easier to peel, didn't impressed me much, compared to the rambutan above. The pulasan was softer, but many of the pulp still clinging on its seed.
So, I personally prefer the rambutan.

Xshen, yes I shoulda bought many more! Too late now, they only open Wed n Sat; I'll be flying back Sat!

[xshen]

five bucks for a lb for fresh durian is super cheap. Eat plenty of it Sam!!! Frozen mu sang king here is $9 bucks a lb.

That's crazy!  Our local grocer in central Texas had beautiful durian for $1.48.....and I thought that was outrageous considering each one went 15 plus lbs.  Perhaps your talking about processed durian, ready to eat?

Nope. Not processed. They are frozen whole durians with the husk intact.

You want to avoid the processed ones here with the husk removed. They are often fake varieties passed on as the premium musang king. I bought a box of processed musang king with the husk removed and they turned out to be a different variety. Large seeds, different flavor and texture, and higher price...

[HIfarm]

This is probably a stupid question where I am reading something unintended into your comment, but you are not under the impression that something you purchased in the picture is salak, are you?  Aside the the common or already mentioned fruits, I see longan and lanzones.  I have never seen salak at Hilo market (or other markets on this side) in over 5 years of looking (although some are being grown here).
John

Hi OC,
I have promised to give all the seeds to a local grower here in Hawaii,
since I understand that the "top" fruits (durian, rambutan, pulasan, rollinia, selacca)
is impossible or not easy to fruit in California, so I have no intention to bring
those seeds home.
I also in the dark as to rules of bringing those seeds home to the main land...

$4/lbs for pulasan is spot on Oscar, how about $5/ lbs for "out of this world" fresh durian?

[fruitlovers]

How is the taste of pulassan compared to rambutan in your opinion?

The pulasan we sampled yesterday, while bigger and a lot easier to peel, didn't impressed me much, compared to the rambutan above. The pulasan was softer, but many of the pulp still clinging on its seed.
So, I personally prefer the rambutan.

Xshen, yes I shoulda bought many more! Too late now, they only open Wed n Sat; I'll be flying back Sat!

There are many types of pulasans. The cling types are not the top of the line.

[fruitlovers]

five bucks for a lb for fresh durian is super cheap. Eat plenty of it Sam!!! Frozen mu sang king here is $9 bucks a lb.

When you figure in the waste which is about 3/4 of the weight durian pulp is about $20/lb. It is by far most expensive fruit here.
Sure you can get FROZEN durian from Thailand cheaper in lower 48. But they are no comparison to fresh fruit.

[Samu]

John, you're right, no selacca ("Salak" as I used to call it) on that pic;
but we bought some at a different location : South Kona fruit stand at Captain Cook;
as mentioned by some members here on previous post.
 
Here's the fruit that we got the previous Saturday there (also picked up some other fruits from
yet another farmer market on Ali'ii drve in Kona):

[Zambezi]

Nice finds Samu! Enjoy!

[LivingParadise]

Wow, so jealous - congrats!

I recognize many, but not all of the fruits pictured. Can you list all that you acquired (with variety name if you know it)?
From Pic #1, I can see durian, mangosteen, papaya (and possibly also mango, or are those all papayas?), rambutan, avocados...
I guess the more purple sipkey fruit is pulasan, which I am not familiar with yet...?
Is that bibiba in the foreground?...
Someone else mentioned longan, but if so, they are a bit different in appearance from the longan I am used to seeing, which are smaller with distinctly brown skin...

From Pic #2, I recognize pineapple, several different kinds of mangoes, papaya and rambutan again, what l think is biriba, ginger...

Is that snake fruit?  Oh... that's what you called salak. So, yes.
Looks like soursop/guanabana, and is that a jackfruit?...
Can't tell if those are abiu, or possibly giant granadilla, or what...
Also looks like some kind of dragonfruit I've never seen before...

Pretty amazing variety of delicious fruit, all available at the same time! I have been considering moving to the Hilo area, and this certainly further encourages me. Although I am a bit confused as I thought the soil on much of the Big Island was terrible quality, plus I hear there are a ton of pests, how they manage to grow all of those wonderful fruits? Do people just use a ton of organic matter to amend the soil? Or am I mistaken and the soil is actually very good despite all the volcano activity? I would like to find a location ideally that has good soil and rainfall, but perhaps not a 365-day-a-year-constant-downpour, with tropical temps and road access, and land able to be owed by non-Hawaiians (who are respectful of the local culture). But I suppose everybody wants the same thing... Although the humidity and ocean access in the Florida Keys are great, the inhospitable land here can be exhausting... and I really miss mountains.

[Samu]

Now, that I am back on my desk at home, let me try if I can name the fruits I posted here:

Picture 1;  (Fruits purchased at Hilo Farmers Market):
Approx. from back row, left to Right:
Durian, Mangosteen,Lansones, Rambutan, Papaya, Longan,Rollinia, Pulasan and Avocado.
Unfortunately, the farmers/vendors didn't have the fruits labeled with anything...

Picture 2; (Fruits purchased in Kona and South Kona area):
Pineapple, Tamarillo, Soursop, Dragon fruit, Breadfruit. Mango (Pyrie and Pope), Passion fruit, Papaya,Dragon fruit -again-, Selacca (Salak=Snake fruit), Rambutan and young Ginger.

Now, as far as soil; land ownership and climate condition in Hilo etc; I am not the expert to render an accurate information...sorry. I can say though that Hilo area looks very fertile to me..., so is Kona in the higher elevation...
Good luck!

[Delvi83]

Congrats...half of those fruits are not to be found in Supermarket, even in the right time...

[LivingParadise]

Thank you so much for listing them!

I did not recognize the tamarillo - different hue and more pointy than pictures I have seen. I have not been able to grow my own yet.

And I had never even heard of lansones before this! I looked them up, and saw people mentioning them as their favorite fruit in the whole world! Do they taste like lychee? I see that they are related...

What was your favorite of all the fruits you tasted, and why?

Thanks so much for sharing these with us!

[Samu]

Hi LP,

Glad to know that those fruit listing is beneficial to you.
Those Tamarillo were not my favorite, but they were purchased by our friend, so
I simply included those with the group photo.

Lansones, or "Langsat"; or "Langsep" as I grew up with it, is an "OK" fruit to me,
they are generally small in size but larger than Longan; sweet and clear tasting pulp, but one
needs to be careful as not to bite the seed (if there is one), it's bitter and can ruin
your tasty pulp that was already in your mouth...
For that reason, I personally prefer Lychee by far. (Didn't know they are related).

My favorite fruit by far is the Durian, it's so so good to taste a fresh, meaty, smooth,
elegant, sweet and semi fermented fruit! What makes it even more
precious is the fact (so far as I understand it) that they can only grow and fruit in the Tropic,
so mainland USA is out...unfortunately.
The fresh durian we purchased at local Asian markets at horrific prices (when they are available)
does not guaranty a superior taste, as we've been proven wrong twice!

So, those growing Durian in the Big Island, I am so jealous at you...! 

[BigIslandGrower]

There are many types of pulasans. The cling types are not the top of the line.

They're at the very bottom. No flavor, and not very sweet. At least, the one in Hilo I'm familiar with. 

The best pulasan are much better than rambutan by most accounts, including mine.