Jackfruit is a popular tropical fruit in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand. For many years, jackfruit was mainly consumed within the region or exported to Asian countries such as China and Vietnam. However, a significant event helped Thai jackfruit gain a foothold in the US market. In 2017, as the vegetarian and vegan movement gained momentum in the US, consumers began to look for plant-based meat alternatives. Jackfruit, with its fibrous texture, became a perfect choice to replace pork in dishes such as pulled pork. Seeing this opportunity, many Thai companies increased their exports of fresh and canned jackfruit to the US. In 2018, Thai jackfruit exports to the US increased sharply, reaching thousands of tons per year. Major supermarket chains such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have begun importing canned green jackfruit to serve the vegetarian demand. This has helped Thai jackfruit become a popular product not only among Asians but also among vegetarians in the US. The success of Thai jackfruit in the US is a testament to how a traditional fruit can become a global product thanks to changes in consumer habits and effective business strategies. Today, jackfruit is not only sold fresh but also in many processed products such as dried jackfruit snacks, frozen jackfruit, and canned jackfruit appearing everywhere in US supermarkets. This story shows how a local fruit can become an important export item thanks to changing global consumer trends.
The efficiency here is mind blowing
Jackfruit is a popular tropical fruit in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand. For many years, jackfruit was mainly consumed within the region or exported to Asian countries such as China and Vietnam. However, a significant event helped Thai jackfruit gain a foothold in the US market.
In 2017, as the vegetarian and vegan movement gained momentum in the US, consumers began to look for plant-based meat alternatives. Jackfruit, with its fibrous texture, became a perfect choice to replace pork in dishes such as pulled pork. Seeing this opportunity, many Thai companies increased their exports of fresh and canned jackfruit to the US.
In 2018, Thai jackfruit exports to the US increased sharply, reaching thousands of tons per year. Major supermarket chains such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have begun importing canned green jackfruit to serve the vegetarian demand. This has helped Thai jackfruit become a popular product not only among Asians but also among vegetarians in the US.
The success of Thai jackfruit in the US is a testament to how a traditional fruit can become a global product thanks to changes in consumer habits and effective business strategies. Today, jackfruit is not only sold fresh but also in many processed products such as dried jackfruit snacks, frozen jackfruit, and canned jackfruit appearing everywhere in US supermarkets.
This story shows how a local fruit can become an important export item thanks to changing global consumer trends.