Now, baby food from jackfruit

KOZHIKODE: Diverse cuisines are made out of Jackfruit  regularly, and now the new entrant is JF baby food. Wayanad native Johnson P.J. launched the baby food last week, under the banner of Anna Food Products, Meenangadi. The product is made out of raw JF carpel powder, jack seed powder, wheat, Nendran banana powder and cashew nuts. The new product underwent nutrition test at the Agriculture University, and Mr Johnson hopes that the certification would help him market it widely.

“We got a tremendous response at the trial launch. Mothers and Anganwadi teachers welcomed the product encouraging us to take it forward,” said Mr Johnson. He had showcased the baby powder at the JF Festival in Pathanamthitta which concluded on Sunday to an enthusiastic reception.

He says more jackfruit products meant more awareness about the nutritious potential of the product yet to be fully tapped in Kerala. “In Wayanad, more than 90 percent of jackfruits are gone waste. We are buying the fruit from farmers giving Rs 50-100 according to the size and quality,” he said. If the fruit is not available in Wayanad, he travels to Kannur and far off Idukki to get it.