Mar 08, 2026
3 min read
MSME business ideas from established jacks are starting to focus on the global market
Until now, jackfruit is most often seen as a tropical fruit that is eaten in its normal form, as compote, mixed fruit ice or young fruit.But in recent years, jackfruit has begun to gain new attention in the global food industry.
In various countries, especially in the United States and Europe, jackfruit has begun to be used as an alternative ingredient in plant-based food menus.Jackfruit has a soft texture that resembles meat when cooked with certain spices.As a result, many vegetarian restaurants offer jackfruit sandwiches, and jackfruit is used as an ingredient in menus such as vegetarian tacos and vegetarian barbecue.
This phenomenon shows that fruit fruits not only have a local consumption value, but are also beginning to be seen as a component of food innovation.For business participants, this development opens up new opportunities to develop MSME business ideas based on processed fruit with higher added value than selling fresh fruit alone.
Indonesian jackfruit production and its potential economic value
Indonesia is a tropical country and the production of jackfruit is very high.The plant grows easily in home gardens and mixed community gardens in areas such as Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan.
According to the data of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the production of Indonesian jackfruit in recent years has been hundreds of thousands of tons per year, which is distributed in different areas of tropical fruit production. The production is distributed in different provinces, which are Central Java, East Java, and West Java, which have relatively high production.
Although there is more production, most naka is sold in the form of:
- fresh fruit at traditional markets
- household cooking ingredients
- Herbal ingredients from young jackfruit
This shows that the added value of jackfruit is still quite limited.However, if we look at its properties, jackfruit has many advantages as a raw material for food products:
- Fiber structure that can resemble meat fibers.
- The taste is relatively neutral, so it easily absorbs the cooking spices.
- Due to the large size of the fruit, a lot of raw material is produced in one fruit.
These characteristics allow jackfruit to be converted into various jackfruit value-added products.
Also Read: Benefits of Kersen to be Researched and Business Potential for MSMEs through Wild Plants
Why did jackfruit start to attract the attention of the global food industry?
In recent years, the global food industry has undergone quite significant changes.Increasing attention to health, the environment and sustainability has stimulated the development of the plant-based food market, namely food products based on plant-based ingredients designed as an alternative to meat.
Menurut laporan Good Food Institute (2023), pasar makanan berbasis tanaman terus mengalami pertumbuhan di berbagai negara, terutama di Amerika Utara dan Eropa. Produk seperti burger nabati, sosis vegan, hingga makanan siap santap berbasis tanaman semakin banyak ditemukan di pasar ritel maupun restoran.
In this approach, many food ingredients such as soybeans, peas, mushrooms, and young raw fruits are being used to alter the texture of meat.
The fibrous texture of jackfruit makes it resemble meat fibers when cooked with certain spices.Numerous international food media such as BBC Good Food and The Guardian have noted that jackfruit has started to be used in various vegetarian dishes such as tacos, burgers and grilled vegan dishes.
For Indonesia, a country that produces tropical jackfruit, this development provides a new perspective. The product that is sold in the most innovative form to date has the opportunity to be processed as a food product in line with global trends.
MSME business idea from processed jackfruit
If processed properly, jackfruit can be a raw material for many value-added products.Until now, most of this fruit has been used directly or as an ingredient in traditional dishes.However, with a little innovation, jackals can be transformed into a wide range of products with high economic value and potential for small and medium business development.
1. I-Premium Jackfruit Chips
One of the very famous products is jackfruit chips.In several areas such as Malang and Lampung, this product has long become a typical souvenir that is very popular among tourists.However, there is still a lot of room for innovation in this product.Business participants can develop more modern flavor options, improve package design to make it look premium, or introduce more convenient snack sizes for the retail market.Advantages of jackfruit The advantage of chips is their relatively long shelf life and ease of distribution, so this product is very suitable for marketing through digital platforms or marketplaces.
2. Jackfruit eShredded
Young jackfruit can also be processed with special spices to produce fiber like shredded meat.These products are starting to attract consumers who are cutting down on meat or want to try plant-based foods.In recent years, the trend of vegetarian and vegan food is growing in many countries.In this context, shredded jackfruit can be a special product for commercial cooks.who wants to make a difference in the market.
3. Jackfruit Rendang is ready to eat.
In some areas in West Sumatra, small jackfruit has long been cooked into curry or rendang.However, if it is further processed into ready-to-eat products, for example through returnable packaging or frozen food, the selling price may increase.Products like this can target consumers who need healthy food but still have a unique Indonesian taste.In addition, jackfruit rendang can also attract vegetarian consumers who want to enjoy the taste of rendang without using meat ingredients.
4. Fruit powder
In fact, the processing potential of breadfruit comes from more than just the pulp of the fruit.Breadfruit seeds, which are often considered waste, can also be used as food.After drying and grinding, the seeds of the breadfruit tree can be processed into flour, which can be used as a mixture in various products such as cakes, cookies or baked goods.
Also read: Rare benefits of breadfruit, SME business opportunities from fruit waste
Calculating the added value of the Jackfruit Chips business
To see how the added value of processed jackfruit is created in business practice, we can see a simple simulation of the production of jackfruit chips at the SME scale.
For example, a business representative uses about 10 kilograms of fresh jackfruit every day as raw material for production.In the process of processing chips, especially using frying methods such as vacuum frying, the weight of the fruit usually decreases significantly due to the lower water content.From 10 kilograms of fresh jackfruit, the final result generally obtained is about 2 kilograms of jackfruit chips ready for consumption.
If the chips are then packed in 100 grams per package, then one production can produce about 20 product packages.
In terms of production costs, the assumptions used in this simulation are very simple.For example, jackfruit raw materials are purchased at a price of about Rp.5,000 per kg, so the daily raw material requirement comes to Rp.50,000. In addition, there are additional costs for oil support materials and production, estimated at around Rp.40,000 as well as packing costs of around Rp.1,000 per pack or Rp.20,000 for 20 products.Adding the need for gas and electricity is about Rp.30,000, the daily production cost is about Rp.140,000.
If the jackfruit chips product is sold at an average price of IDR 15,000 per pack, the business entity can earn IDR 300,000 per day from 20 packs produced.
In this calculation, the difference between revenues and production costs gives a total profit of about IDR 160,000 per day.
This calculation, of course, is still illustrative.In a real business process, business agencies must take into account other cost components such as labor, distribution and depreciation of production equipment.However, this comparison provides an illustration that processing jackfruit into chips can create a much higher added value than selling jackfruit fresh.
Challenges for small and medium enterprises to produce coconut products
While the opportunities are quite attractive, economic operators must also understand some of the challenges that may arise.
Consistency of raw materials: In some regions, the harvest season can affect jackfruit production.Entrepreneurs need to ensure a constant supply of raw materials.
Processing technology: Some products, such as jackfruit chips, require a special frying technology, such as vacuum frying, resulting in crispiness and not too much fat.Financing this equipment can be a challenge for small and medium business startups.
Market education: Products such as shredded jackfruit or jackfruit rendang may still be relatively new to some consumers.MSMEs must build product stories and provide market education so that consumers understand the uniqueness of the product.
Also Read: Live Nest MSME Business Opportunities and Strategies to Strengthen Your Position in the Market
Look at local markets from a value-adding perspective
Many local products have greater economic potential than is seen in traditional markets.Jackfruit is an interesting example.
Until now, this fruit is considered as a daily food.However, if they are processed into new products, its economic value can increase significantly.
The development of plant-based food trends in various countries also shows that tropical foods such as jackfruit are beginning to receive renewed attention in the global food industry.
Perhaps the question is no longer whether jackfruit can be a business opportunity, but to what extent MSMEs see the potential for added value on a commodity that was considered simple.
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Central Bureau of Statistics (2024) Annual production of vegetables and fruits by crop species.
https://www.bps.go.id/id/statistics-table/3/WXpSVU5uUTBOSEl5WVhGQmVESTVSVnBSVlhWeVVUMDkjMw==/produksi-tanaman-buah---buahan-dan-sayuran-tahunan-menutana Goodman Food.htm4.Institute.html(2023).State of the Global Food Industry.Plant.https://gfi.org/resource/state-of-the-industry-report/
- BBC Good Food: Jackfruit.what it is and how to cook it https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/jackfruit-what-it-and-how-cook-it
- The Guardian.(2019).Jackfruit: 'woh smells' the new star of vegan cuisine.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/16/jackfruit-stinking-vegan-food-trend-star
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