THE imposing entrance archway of the multiple award winning Desaru Fruit Farm Agro Tourism looms large as the car banks left from the road linking Kota Tinggi and Pengerang.
Sight of ample parking space available brings a smile to my face as well as a self-congratulatory pat on the back for starting the hour long journey from Johor Bahru soon after dawn broke.
Together with a handful of others who had signed up for the first group tour, I board the spacious bus-like vehicle while adhering to the prevailing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Apart from the engine's rumbling sound, everyone sits in silence while peering through the windows as the vehicle slowly makes its way through the dusty dirt track snaking through the compound of the 50 hectare farm that is filled with more than 120 species of tropical fruit plants.
AN EDUCATIONAL TOUR
At the first stop, company director Steve Er Wee Heng walks us through several shady groves with plants that bear fruits year round. As he rattles off a seemingly never ending list, we manage to catch several familiar ones like the kedondong (amra), jambu air (roseapple), guava, markisa (passion fruit), nangka (jackfruit), durian belanda (soursop) as well as several renowned Johor pineapple varieties including the highly prized MB2 variant.
Before long, the walking trail leads to a section filled with towering dark green foliage covered trees laden with orange yellow fist sized fruits. Plucking several within reach, Steve proceeds to cut them into quarters and invites us to sample the rare abiu, a tropical fruit endemic to the Amazon rainforest of South America.
At first bite, the translucent white flesh tastes rather similar to a slightly sweet caramel custard. We are all smiles when Steve announces: "The creamy, jelly-like texture tastes even better when cold. You will get to sample more when we return to the retail centre later."
While enjoying the unexpected treat, we learn that it was Steve's father who acquired several abiu saplings from a nursery years ago. Thanks to his foresight, the Desaru Fruit Farm is one of the few companies offering this exotic fruit in Johor today.
On the way back to the transport, Steve points out several fruiting thousand finger banana plants growing nearby.
Although inedible, he claims that those who are superstitious make it a point to gently caress the bunch from top to bottom as the practice is supposed to bestow good fortune and prosperity. In general, however, this interesting evergreen is quite popular as an ornamental plant in private homes.
The remainder of the comprehensive guided tour brings us into close contact with quite a number of seldom seen fruit varieties like Brazilian longan and pulasan. With such differing external characteristics, it never occurred to us that both are actually very closely related and belong to the soapberry family.
The hour long tour also includes visits to the herb and vegetable plot, agricultural gallery, freshwater fish and lotus pond as well as the highly popular petting farm where visitors get to get up close and personal with various docile animals including cute furry rabbits, spring chickens and adorable goats.
A RETAIL THERAPY
Returning to the retail centre which is located right next to the main entrance, we are pleasantly surprised to find several large platters of attractively arranged fruits waiting at the dining table. Thanks to the knowledge acquired earlier, we are able to identify many including the elusive abiu.
While enjoying the sumptuous freshly picked spread, Steve reveals that the Desaru Fruit Farm practices sustainable farming where nothing goes to waste.
Fruit peelings and tree trimmings are placed in designated compost heaps to produce organic compost through natural decomposition by bacteria and fungi in the soil.
The nutrient rich compost are then applied as environmentally friendly fertiliser to help the plants mature well and yield superior fruits, not unlike the very ones on our table.
Best of all, the adoption of biological control techniques throughout the farm ensures that all plants are pest free without the need for toxic and damaging chemicals.
Our visit draws to an end after a sumptuous lunch where most ingredients used come direct from the farm. The excellent 10-course spread includes tom yum soup with fresh young coconut juice, shredded mango salad, Hainanese boiled spring chicken, sweet and sour prawns with fresh fruit cubes, asam pedas stingray, organic vegetable of the day, homemade bean curd and fragrant rice.
The dish that proves most popular is the deep fried squid with dragon fruit sauce. The slightly sweet deep red fruit sauce compliments the crunchy squid bits.
FAST FACTS
Desaru Fruit Farm
No 1, Hentian Penawar, Sungai Cemaran Desaru,
81900 Bandar Penawar, Johor
TEL 07-8223886/012-772 1817
WEBSITE www.desaruff.com
EMAIL sales@desaruff.com
HOURS Daily 9am to 6pm while fruit retail at the farm entrance is round the clock.
PAY The tour, fruit fiesta and lunch cost RM 58 (adult) and RM 50 (child age between 3 and 11 years old). Packages that include a 20 minute ATV ride are priced at RM 98 and RM 90, respectively.
Snag additional price cuts on Grab rides with Grab Coupon.