Although the idea of a bread-flavored fruit may seem far-fetched, this starchy crop is a mainstay in the world’s tropical areas. Breadfruit, a thorny oval-shaped fruit native to Southeast Asia and Hawaii (also known as ‘ulu), tastes like a cross between freshly made bread, plantains, and potatoes.
Breadfruit’s talents, however, extend well beyond taste. This fruit, related to the increasingly famous jackfruit, offers a viable answer to food poverty, especially in tropical areas where breadfruit plants grow with minimal maintenance. One breadfruit weighs around 7 pounds (3.1 kilograms) — occasionally up to 12 pounds (5.4 kilograms) — and provides enough carbs for a family of five to eat for one meal. Breadfruit has several health advantages. The crop is an energy-rich diet high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, and minerals such as iron, zinc, and calcium. It’s also gluten-free and may be dried and processed into flour. It’s also safe to consume and prepare at all stages of growth.
Aside from its health benefits, breadfruit has several other significant advantages. It’s a natural insect repellent; the male breadfruit’s bloom actually repels insects! Breadfruit sap may also be used to seal boats and dwellings, while fibers from the breadfruit tree bark make mosquito nets, clothes, and artwork. Animals may eat the leaves and fruit that have fallen. Breadfruit’s abundant harvests and ecological advantages do not disappoint either. “Breadfruit trees contribute to diverse regenerative agriculture and agroforestry, better soil conditions and watersheds, and substantial environmental advantages such as CO2 reduction,” according to the National Tropical Botanic Garden (NTBG). Breadfruit is also a very sustainable crop, according to Diane Ragone, head of the NTBG’s Breadfruit Institute in Hawaii. “Farmers and households have been growing more breadfruit trees for local food and economic stability during the last decade.” Plant pollinators and seed dispersers such as birds, bees, and bats benefit from the fruit.
