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By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Sept 10: If a durian makes a ‘tek-tek’ sound, then it is not ripe—but if it makes a ‘koop-koop’ sound, then it is ripe.
In saying that, 32-year-old Mohamad Firdaus from Samariang Baru noted there is no guarantee you will get a ripe durian.
“If the customer does not know much about a good durian, I recommend them to smell and tap it. It makes a hollow sound if it is ripe. Look for the stalk of the fruit and scratch a bit. If it is greenish, then it is fresh. Also, the colour of the ripened fruit is slightly golden green.
“The thorns could also be an indicator, but it is difficult. My experiences over the years can help me tell if a durian is good. I would inform my customers and tell them how to choose a good durian.”
He said that customers think they know what good durian is, but after over ten years of selling the fruit, he knows that the best ones came from the orchard.
“I will be honest with my customers and tell them what a good durian is and where it is from, as I want them to return. People recognise a trader after doing the same business over the years, so there is no point in not telling the truth.
“I am almost certain that if they come to my stall during durian season and ask me to choose, I can point out which durian is good,” he told DayakDaily.
According to Mohamad Firdaus, there are plenty of fruits this year compared to the previous year.
“I am not a pomologist, so I am not sure why the fruit is more, but as a fruit seller, there is plenty for me to sell to make a side income.”
Mohamad Firdaus shared that the durians he sells are from local orchards of good quality, and he had booked the fruits prior.
“We know there is a demand for specific species from these orchards, and I want to sell good durian so that people will come to my stall every season.”
With that, he said he could ensure that his income during the durian season would be optimal.
He sells four to five durians for RM50; hybrid species would be RM40 per kilogramme, while the local Musang King would be RM60 per kilogramme.
For inquiries, call 010-9286272. — DayakDaily
