In a sense, they are ‘post-modern’ – jackfruit muffins and jack pasta – as one of the exhibitors described them. They represent the culture and philosophy, art and architecture of the new, all-encompassing food processing industry in Kerala. Jackfruit is just one of the pegs around which the story is unfolding. There are others: coconut, banana, mango, papaya, tapioca, pineapple, cashew and passion fruit, to name a few.
Of all of them, jackfruit catches the eye because it has been neglected for so long. But no more. The three-day exhibition and sale that opened at the Bolghatty Palace Hotel on Bolghatty Island on Sunday indicates the shape of things to come. Jackfruit thirst quencher and a jackfruit-based appetiser; jack seed powder, jack seed-based sambar powder and jack seed coffee are now catching the imagination of the market. The entrepreneurs behind these products want to increase Kerala’s footprint on the world of processed food market. Indian products are just a drop in the ocean, making up just 1.3% of the global market. But the country has a big ambition to increase its share to 25% by 2025.
“Kerala hopes to cash in on its advantages such as the availability of fruits, water, manpower, a strong chain of retailers and domestic market,” said an official of the Industries Department, which is organising the exhibition. Entry to the exhibition is free. It is open between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. till Tuesday.
Billion-dollar business
For Ernakulam district, food processing is a billion-dollar business. The district has a total of 4,536 food processing units involving an investment of over ₹900 crore, according to the District Industries Centre. The industry employs nearly 41,000 people. These units have a combined turnover of ₹6,043 crore. Some of these units are also involved in export of products, which fetch around ₹718 crore.
Food processing forms 23% of the total industrial units registered in Kerala. The State has 69,000 food processing units.
