UTTARADIT, May 20 – The annual ‘Amazing Durian’ fair in this northern province will kick off May 31, attracting spiked a flow of fruit lovers and tourists to the province.
Uttaradit governor Chalermchai Fuengkorn today invited the public to participate in the event in Lablae district’s central fruit market. The fair is expected to draw in more than Bt1 billion baht in circulation.
He said the province boasts a particular ‘Long-Lin’ variety priced at over Bt400/kg found only in Uttaradit. With its special qualities of a mild smell, small seeds, a light yellow colour and a small size, it weighs only about one kilo.
The fair includes an exhibition on the history of the prized local durian. Processed durian products will also be on offer for sale such as durian sheets, crispy durian, durian with sticky rice, durian somtam (spicy salad), and other durian desserts as well as snacks.
Mr Chalermchai said he expected the provincial durian harvest, both ‘Mon Thong’ and ‘Long-Lin’ varieties, to be around 14,000 tonnes from 20,000 rai of plantations.
About 10,000 tonnes of the fruit will be in the market mostly in June-July.
He said Uttaradit’s ‘Mon Thong’ variety currently sells at Bt100/kg, while the ‘Long-Lin’ variety goes for Bt400-700/kg.