You don't know jack(fruit)? If you're a tropical fruit fan, maybe it's time to check it out at Bonita sale

Remember the great lychee revolution of 1999? The carambolas craze of 2005? Forget about them — there’s a new fruit sheriff in town: jackfruit.

Long the obscure province of adventuresome foodies (or south Asians), this once-exotic delicacy now turns up in Walmart for $3.99 for a “Jackfruit Meal.”

But, as master grower Madeline Bohannon of Fort Myers recently asked, then answered: “Do you know what the fruit itself tastes like?  Well, it tastes just like it smells when it's ripe on the tree ... like Juicy Fruit gum!”

She should know. Bohannon was in the vanguard of Southwest Florida jackfruit cultivators, and she’s eager to welcome new initiates into the brotherhood, come the next Bonita Springs Tropical Fruit Club’s annual sale.

Beyond jackfruit, the nonprofit club's sale is a great chance to stock up all manner of reasonably priced edibles, including mangoes, avocado and papaya (even classics like carambola and lychees). Growers also will be on hand to offer advice and tastes of their crops.

Those who snag one of Bohannon's $20 jackfruit seedlings will be on their way to cultivating a truly superlative crop.

“Jackfruit is the largest fruit to grow on a tree anywhere in the whole world,” Bohannon says — potentially weighing in at upwards of 100 pounds.

However, she points out, ”The varieties grown here in Florida have smaller fruit, thank goodness! Just think of one falling on your head — or even on your foot.”

Most Florida-grown jackfruit are more like 10 pounds each, with a nubbly green exterior. “Just inside the tough skin is a latexy, really sticky thin layer,” Bohannon says.

After harvesting, jackfruit is usually cut length-wise to remove the long, inedible inside core.

When perfectly ripe, the little pear-shaped fruits inside hold a seed that is also edible.  

“You just boil or roast these seeds, which taste a bit like roasted chestnuts,” Bohannon says. “The little ‘pears’ can be either soft or crunchy (depending on the variety), and are surrounded by ‘rag’ which hold each pear in place. Some varieties have rag that is edible, but in most it is considered too stringy or tough.”

Trader Joe’s and other high-end grocers sell canned unripe green jackfruit, which “makes a great meat substitute for vegans, who appreciate its chewy texture,” Bohannon says. “(It’s) a great substitute for beef in beef stew.”

Unlike some fruit trees which require a male and female for pollination, jackfruit will bear all by themselves, usually May  through October, and can grow up to 40 feet tall, though they happily tolerate trimming.

If given good care, she says, they can go from a foot-tall seedling to a full-size fruiting tree in just four years.

In addition to the $20 seedlings (which are about a foot tall and come with a 30-day guarantee), 3- to 4-foot trees in 3-gallon pots will be available as well for $35.

Bohannon has one warning: “Jackfruit are very valuable (so) are susceptible to theft,” she says. “Although this is a beautiful, evergreen landscape tree, plant it in the backyard … or you may lose your fruit!”

If you go

What: Bonita Springs Tropical Fruit Club tree sale

When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 24

Where: St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 9801 Bonita Beach Road SE, Bonita Springs

Info: Call 239-851-4448.