Tang (left) showing Mat Suaid (second right) and agriculture department staff the durians at his Gertak Sanggul orchard. The opened fruits are Black Thorn (right) and Musang King. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
BALIK Pulau durian farmers take immense pride in the varieties grown for generations in Penang.
They include the Ang Hae (Red Prawn), Hor Lor, Ang Bak and XO varieties of the fruit.
In order to avoid disappointment and paying a premium price for sub-par fruit, Southwest District Agriculture Department officer Mat Suaid Sapiyin advised durian lovers to learn to recognise the physical traits rather than trusting a seller’s claims.
“Take the much sought-after Black Thorn (Or Chi) for instance. “The premium variety is typically round and weighs between 1.5kg and 2.5kg.
“It has a prominent dot at the base resembling a thorn,” he said.
Mat Suaid encouraged consumers to familiarise themselves with the main clones from the area and verify the orchard’s location.
The Black Thorn (right) has a prominent dot at the base resembling a thorn, while Musang King (left) has a flat crown and vertical seams running down to a distinct five-point star at the base.
“Do not to be swayed by irresponsible traders or middlemen when buying the fruit.
“Choose reputable or registered farmers, check the stem, aroma and ripeness of the fruit, and ask for documentation, especially for the Geographical Indication (GI) of premium varieties.”
Mat Suaid said Penang was still in the process of implementing Mi-Trace, a QR code system developed with Mimos Bhd to help combat fraud and misrepresentation.
Farmers are also registered with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) and district agriculture office and have acquired Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices (myGAP) certification to strengthen source verification of their fruits, he added.
Orchard owner Tang Boon Ley, 60, said there was also a need for processing platforms or collection centres with blast freezers, cold storage, and downstream processing facilities.
He said it could be a long-term solution for surplus durian.
“Now may be the best time for people to eat premium durian at a lower price, but eventually something must be done.”
He said such infrastructure, coupled with cooperative models, would help stabilise prices, reduce wastage and allow growers to tap into value-added products such as durian paste, ice-cream and confectionery.
Musang King now RM20-30/kg
Going easy: Tang (left) showing Fahmirudin (second from left) and other officers a particular type of durian at his orchard in Getak Sanggul, Penang. In the foreground are Musang King (left) and Or Chi durians. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: The prices have dropped but many consumers are not biting.
Musang King durian is now selling at lower prices due to oversupply but traders are not seeing roaring sales yet.
Durian orchard owner Tang Boon Ley believes this is partly due to families prioritising school expenses as the new term begins on Monday.
“Durians are not a priority for them at the moment,” he said in an interview.
Tang said Musang King is now priced between RM20 and RM30 per kg, a sharp drop from RM60 to RM80 per kg during the previous durian season from May to August.
Furthermore, he said weaker consumer spending was also due to the fact that the fruit is being sold outside the main durian season.
“This is considered a ‘bonus’ season,” he said.
Tang said the growing number of Musang King orchard owners had led to an oversupply, further driving prices down. At the same time, newer durian varieties have also entered the market, intensifying competition, he said.
“For durian lovers, this is the best time to enjoy affordable Musang King. This is expected to last until Chinese New Year.
“Prices are likely to return to normal when the new durian season begins in May,” he said.
Once the undisputed favourite among durian fans, Musang King now faces stiff competition from other varieties such as Or Chi (Black Thorn) and Tupai King.
Penang Agriculture Department assistant agricultural officer Fahmirudin Zainol Abidin said wholesale prices for Musang King have dropped significantly, as processing facilities struggle to cope with the surplus.
He said the price decline was driven by simultaneous harvesting in Penang, Perak, Pahang and Johor, with overall production estimated to have tripled.
“This is not a demand issue but a capacity problem. Excess supply has pushed prices down,” he said.
Penang has two durian seasons annually, with the harvest typically peaking in June and July.
A smaller, less predictable harvest can occur from November to January.
In identifying genuine durians from Balik Pulau, particularly Ang Hae (Red Prawn), Fahmirudin said the variety can be determined through subtle physical traits.
“Local Ang Hae typically has a slightly greyish husk and a distinctive fruit shape that differs from similarly named varieties found in Perak, Pahang or Johor.
“Or Chi, on the other hand, is recognised by its rounder shape, widely spaced thorns and a pronounced star-shaped base.
“These are the features growers use to distinguish it from Musang King,” he said.
