San Carlos City eyes world record for biggest jackfruit

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines – This agricultural city is eyeing a Guinness record for the biggest jackfruit.

Its pride: A jackfruit which is 74 centimeters or 23.19 inches long and with a circumference of 136 cms or 53.54 inches – and still growing.

Its grower, former city councilor Elpidio Fermin, told The STAR in a visit to his farm in Barangay Palaming here yesterday that he had discussed the Guinness bid with Mayor Julier Resuello as “this might give pride to this agricultural city.”

Fermin said Resuello is receptive to the idea.

Last year, the five-year-old jackfruit tree bore two surprisingly big fruits, one of them almost the same size as the current lone fruit this year. 

Fermin said he did not give much thought about the tree’s fruits last year but with the unusually big fruit this year, he surfed the Internet and searched about the world’s record holder.

Based on Fermin’s research, Hawaii is currently the record holder for the biggest jackfruit – 22 inches long with a circumference of 121 cms.

He said the Philippines boasts, too, of the biggest flower, Rafflesia Arnoldii, and the biggest captive crocodile, Lolong.

“So why don’t we try to have the world record for the biggest jackfruit?” he asked.

Fermin said he has not used any fertilizer or pesticide in growing his jackfruit tree whose seedling he bought in a market and planted in his 1.2-hectare farm.

“You see this is nature-given. It existed very naturally without much effort,” he said.