WHILE tourists may initially flock to Penang to relish the King of Fruits this season, their visit could be enriched by exploring the diverse array of tropical fruits at Penang Tropical Fruit Farm.
Situated about 800ft above sea level on the hilly terrains of Teluk Bahang in Penang, the Penang Tropical Fruit Farm is touted to have Southeast Asia’s largest collection of fruits with an active area that spans a sprawling 25 acres located in the northwest of Penang island.
Started back in 1993, the farm now boasts a collection of over 200 species of fruits.
Penang Tropical Fruit Farm owner Quah Ewe Kheng said visitors would occasionally throng the farm.
“Visitors do not specifically come for durians alone. Durian hunters can enjoy the King of Fruits from the many stalls along the road during the durian season.
“Instead, we provide guided farm tours for our visitors to know more about fruits. As for durians, we want to promote our local kampung durians.
“During the guided farm tours, visitors will learn about the wild, kampung, and hybrid durians, gaining a deeper understanding of these unique varieties.
“Besides durians, there are also other fruits which are available during the durian season, such as rambutan, cempedak, and rambai,” he added.
Quah highlighted that the prolonged dry weather has significantly altered the harvesting seasons for certain fruits.
“For instance, the typical harvesting period for rose apple, originally slated from April to October, arrived unexpectedly early in January.
“Likewise, the harvesting window for mamey sapote, typically spanning from May to October, shifted forward to March,” he said.
Quah, however, pointed out that the prolonged hot and dry weather might result in an extension of the durian season in Penang.
He welcomed locals and tourists to visit and join the guided farm tour.
Check out https://tropicalfruitfarm.com.my/ for more information about Penang Tropical Fruit Farm.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat, Alissala Thian and courtesy of Penang Tropical Fruit Farm