Durian sellers brace for less supply, poorer quality amid rainy peak harvest season

Singapore's durian season, typically running from June to September, faces uncertainty as sellers brace for reduced supply and potentially lower quality fruit. Unpredictable weather patterns, particularly heavy rainfall, are expected to impact the taste and ripeness of the "King of Fruits," according to local sellers.

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If durian (quality) is bad, the price is going to be very cheap. It doesn't matter whether the season (yields) a lot of durians.

Jeremy Chew, founder of Royal Durian, a specialty Musang King store, noted that while consumers often link harvest volume to price, the quality of the durian can have an even greater effect. "If durian quality is bad, the price is going to be very cheap. It doesn't matter whether the season yields a lot of durians," he explained.

Austin Quak, co-founder of Rolling Durian, highlighted the challenges posed by weather. "If let's say every day there is heavy rain, durian quality will be very bland or unripe," he said. Quak is currently sourcing fruits from Malaysia's Perak and Penang states, finding the quality more stable there compared to Johor and Pahang.

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Ultimately, we need to factor in the weather as well … If let's say every day (there is) heavy rain, durian quality will be very bland or unripe.

Beyond weather concerns, sellers are innovating their sales strategies. Livestreaming has become a crucial channel, allowing real-time interaction with customers as durians are opened. "Us doing online gives us the chance to serve multiple customers at once, compared to the traditional offline store, where you have to chat one by one," Quak stated, noting a 50 percent increase in online sales for his business. However, this shift has also intensified competition, leading to more discounts and promotions.

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Us doing online (gives us) the chance to serve multiple customers at once, compared to the traditional offline store, where you have to chat one by one.

Some companies are also turning to technology to mitigate reliance on seasonal availability. Spike Durian, a Singapore startup, uses electromagnetic fields during freezing to preserve durians for at least six months, a technology that could potentially be applied to other food products.

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If we do live streaming, there's an opportunity for us to cater towards more people as compared to walk-ins.