Children like school
rambutan because of its sweetness.
Warunya Thongrod
Rainy season has come and that means rambutans are back.
Fruit vendors in Naklua are among the many area sellers doing brisk
business for the spiny red-, yellow- and orange-skinned fruit. Current
prices are running about 20 baht per kilogram, with vendors buying stock
wholesale, on average, for about 11-12 baht.
Somkhid Phongsree, who sells fruit and grilled pork on Naklua Soi 14,
said she buys up to 200kg of rambutans in Rayong, but acknowledges
prices vary by day, depending on stock and the number of wholesalers.
From that, she makes about 1,000 baht per day in sales.
“Children like the school rambutans because they are sweet and smell
good,” agreed customer Nattanant Insorn. “I usually buy 2kg each time to
take home and eat.”
Originally from Indonesia and Malaysia, rambutan
trees now grow naturally in Thailand and produce a variety of types in
all different colors. Golden, brown, pink, school and Jaemong breeds are
grown in the east and south. The gold and pink varieties, however, are
rarer and bought for home consumption and industrial use.
Thai growers have new competition, however, as Australian and Honduran
farmers are now selling rambutan varieties worldwide.
Besides a sweet taste, rambutans offer other benefits, including
bleaching, wastewater treatment, bacteria fighting, disinfecting and
treating diarrhea.
