The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has warned durian farmers against selling unripe durians or face legal action for deceiving consumers.
According to Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chutima Bunyapraphasara, many farmers try to sell unripe durians at the beginning of the harvest season, which runs from April to May, when the price of durian is high.
Inexperienced consumers were often tricked into believing that the durians they bought were ripe. However, deceitful vendors could now face fines and jail time for their offence. Chutima feared disappointed consumers would no longer want to buy durian and that prices would soon begin to suffer.
She further stated that Thailand could lose its market share to Vietnam and Cambodia if unripe durians are exported overseas.
Department of Agricultural Extension Director-General Somchai Channarongkul has announced that a special team has been appointed to prevent the sale of unripe durians in provinces where durian trees are grown. A maximum jail term of six months and a fine of up to 50,000 baht will be applied to any offender.
