A smaller harvest

Durian orchard owners are facing the prospect of a smaller harvest this season. However, the lack of bounty will be made up by a longer fruit season, which is something positive for both orchard owners and consumers.

This situation is not expected to affect the price of durians this season, according to Bao Sheng Durian Farm owner Chang Teik Seng. “The price of durians is not expected to increase or decrease much compared to last year. It may go up or down by only a couple of ringgit,” he said, adding that durian sellers were usually flexible in their pricing.

Bearing fruits: Penang's durian season is expected to last until August.

Chang said the small but prolonged harvest was due to the weather this season. “Compared to last season when the weather was quite “abnormal”; where it sometimes rained for a week in a row; this season the amount of rain and sunshine is quite balanced,” he said.

He said this year’s durian season is expected to last for three months until the end of August, compared to only a month last year. He added that a long durian season with limited provisions of the fruit is good for business because the supply will not outweigh the demand.

“Even though we had a shorter season last year, we had a bumper harvest and eventually, to clear off stock, some durian sellers had to sell the fruit for as low as RM1,” said Chang.

Yummy treat: A group of tourists enjoying themselves at Chang's orchard in Balik Pulau, Penang.

However, things may change with the weather. “If it keeps raining non-stop for a few days or even a week, the durian will lose its flavour because of lack of sunlight. “This will cause people to stop buying the fruit, and result in an oversupply,” he said. Chang added that this prolonged season would also give durian lovers more time to savour the fruit.

Another durian orchard owner, Lee Min Fun, said he expects the durian season to peak in August. “I only managed to harvest a handful of them now, and I already have a long list of customers who have placed their orders weeks earlier,” said Lee, who sells his durian from house to house.

Despite the few fruits, the durian’s unmistakable aroma has begun wafting through the air. And, knowing that June is the durian season in Penang, durian lovers from everywhere have been coming to the island.

Seen at the Bao Sheng Durian Farm was engineer Tay Kai Fatt, 41, who said he purposely drove his whole family up to Balik Pulau from Kedah. “We are die-hard durian lovers and this is the second time we have come here to savour the fruits,” said Tay, who brought along his wife, parents-in-law and two children. He added that he is planning to visit the farm again soon.

Also at the farm was finance director Tan Juat Choong who said the chance to savour the fruits was worth the long drive from Kuala Lumpur. “Whenever we come to Penang, we must always go for durian,” said Tan.

In conjunction with the durian season, the state is organising the Durian Fest 2013 at Anjung Indah, Balik Pulau, which is currently ongoing until July 30.

-thestar online.