Fruit that tastes like chocolate pudding, creme caramel or banana bubblegum. It may sound like something from a childrens storybook, but its all there in John Picones exotic fruit tree orchard. We recently had the privilege of visiting John’s immaculately kept one-hectare orchard near Mullumbimby, which contains an incredible collection of more than 240 varieties of tropical exotic fruits, herbs and spices. Every row contains a new discovery, fruits you won’t find in any supermarket or green grocer: from the pretty pink pineapples, sweet tasting loquats and giant prickly pears, to massive trailing vanilla bean and pepper vines. There are four varieties of dragonfruit (including a delicious pink variety developed by John), ten varieties of mango, apples, loquats, longans, abiu, jakfruit, black Brazilian cherries, sapotes, mulberries, grapes and cumquats to name a few. John’s says his passion for fruit began during his childhood in Italy, where he could often be found climbing the family fruit orchard: “I can remember fruits there that were just amazing – tiny little pears, like a teardrop shape, red and yellow and you’d get close and oh, the fragrance.” His started growing exotic fruits in Australia about 20 years ago after leaving behind his city graphic design job and relocating to the Northern Rivers with Lyndall and their young family. During that time he has amassed a vast amount of knowledge, and is constantly seeking out new and unusual varieties. His fruit is only sold locally, which ensures time between picking and eating is kept to the absolute minimum and all fruit is fresh off the tree. “I want to share with people the pleasure of actually eating a fruit which has grown to perfect maturity, said John “That sensational taste and texture when it’s grown properly, because I think we’re losing that.” If youre interested in visiting Johns orchard, he can be contacted on on piconeexotics@gmail or come and say hello at the market.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 20:46:49 +0000
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