By Muhamed Salim bin Mohd Ali, Chief Executive Officer of the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet)
When people think of tropical fruits, a few stars dominate the stage — banana, pineapple, mango, papaya, and more recently, avocado. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a total of 254 million tons of these major fruits were produced globally in 2023, a 13.9% increase since 2019 despite the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. World exports of major tropical fruits also rose by 3.5% in 2024, to USD 11.3 billion, marking a new record high level.
But beneath the spotlight lies a quieter diversity: jackfruit, mangosteen, rambutan, longan, soursop, durian, and many others. For too long, these “minor” tropical fruits have been underestimated. Yet, I believe they may hold the key to answering the future global demand for tropical fruits.
History gives us reason to be optimistic. Consider the avocado. Once a niche crop confined largely to Central America, it is now a global superfood, powering a multi-billion-dollar industry. What changed was not just consumer taste, but investment in branding, supply chains, and consistent quality. There is no reason why a similar transformation cannot happen with other tropical fruits.
The global appetite for new flavours is growing. Consumers are seeking healthier options, plant-based alternatives, and sustainable food choices. Minor tropical fruits have all the right qualities: they are nutrient-rich and diverse in taste as well as texture. Jackfruit is gaining traction as a plant-based meat substitute. Mangosteen by-products, the “queen of fruits,” is increasingly featured in wellness products. Even longan and rambutan, once enjoyed mainly in Southeast Asia, are slowly finding new audiences abroad.
But potential alone is not enough. These fruits face serious hurdles: inconsistent supply, limited research, fragmented production, and weak branding. Mostly are grown by smallholders as backyard crops and often rely on them as a supplementary source of income. Supporting these growers is not only about boosting trade — it is about sustaining rural livelihoods, reducing poverty, and keeping traditional fruit knowledge alive.
This is why strengthening the value chain is essential. Farmers need access to modern techniques, researchers must provide solutions to pests and diseases, and marketers must craft compelling stories that resonate with consumers. Only then can these fruits move confidently from orchards to supermarket shelves worldwide.
This is not only about exports. Promoting minor tropical fruits is also about revitalising domestic markets. Too often, consumers in producing countries overlook their own fruits in favour of imports. By modernising production, effectively managing seasonal demand, and raising awareness of their nutritional benefits, we can encourage people to embrace tropical fruits as everyday staples. The pride we show at home will echo abroad.
At the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet), we see this as a shared challenge across our member countries. TFNet was established in 2000 under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and is hosted by Malaysia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Our mandate is simple but ambitious: to bring together governments, researchers, industry players, and farmers to advance sustainable development of tropical fruits.
This September 23-25, TFNet will host the International Symposium on Tropical Fruits (ISTF 2025) in Darwin, Australia in a hybrid format. The theme — “Advancing the Global Production and Trade of Minor Tropical Fruits for Sustainable Markets” — reflects a growing recognition: the next wave of growth in the fruit sector may not come from the well-established major fruits, but from the rich diversity of lesser-known tropical fruits waiting to be unlocked.
Registration remains open for participants eager to explore the potential of minor tropical fruits and their role in shaping future markets.
The way forward is clear: invest in research, modernise sustainable production systems, support farmers, maintain fruit quality through Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs), strengthen branding, and tell the stories of our fruits to the world. Just as New Zealand turned the kiwifruit into a global icon, tropical countries can do the same with jackfruit, mangosteen, rambutan, and many more.
The future of tropical fruits is not only about preserving what we already know, but about unlocking what we have yet to imagine. The world is ready for new flavours. Our farmers are ready to grow them. What we need now is the will to transform “minor” fruits into major successes.