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Morinda fruit: the source of Noni Juice.
Challenging in appearance, but good for you
Photos: Greg Calvert
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AN unusual tree with an unusual reputation
could be the means for a new industry in the remote township of
Pormpuraaw on Cape York Peninsula. Morinda citrifolia is
famous across the south Pacific for the alternative health drink,
Noni Juice—but its taste is unlike any other fruit, with some
likening it to a combination of blue vein cheese and hot
mustard!
Yet this hot fruit could become hot property
for the Christmas Creek Aboriginal Corporation, which plans to
enter the fledgling Australian Noni juice market with its first
plantation scheduled for picking in 2006.
Eddie Holroyd, chairman of the corporation, said that the Noni
Juice production project would mean a steady income for the
Pormpuraaw people. Pormpuraaw is located in the Gulf of Carpentaria
near Weipa and supports between 750 and 1000 residents.
“Aboriginal people have always chewed the fruit as a medicine
for many illnesses,” said Mr Holroyd. He also doesn’t
have a problem with the fruit’s taste. “I like it;
it’s very different to every other fruit, like apples and
oranges. It’s bitter and smells horrible—but it does
have a lot of good properties.”
The potential new business began with a 2002 feasibility study
undertaken by the Indigenous Business Unit of the Queensland
Department of State Development, Trade and Innovation. The
Christmas Creek Aboriginal Corporation has now received a $197,000
grant from the department to develop and market the product. Dr
Tony Page, at James Cook University’s School of Tropical
Biology, has been involved with the project since its inception,
researching domestication of the crop and how to develop cultivated
varieties with improved fruit size and yields—which can lead
to greater volumes of juice and long-term profitability for the
corporation. “We looked at a number of sites on traditional
land on Christmas Creek,” he said, “Looking at fruit
size, variation in habit and yield, and found considerable
variations. So we thought it would be great to undertake a
commercialisation project with the community.”
There is no previous history of large-scale production in
Australia, but the fruit is starting to be grown south of Cairns,
where a growers’ association is now based. In the early
stages, the Christmas Creek Noni Juice will be sold to the
association, which Tony says is a good step into the market for the
corporation.
The fruit does have high amounts of vitamin C, but its health
tonic reputation is still largely anecdotal. It is used for
ailments as diverse as colds, flu, diarrhoea, asthma and sore
throats—not to mention joint pain, heart palpitations and
cancer. “It’s powerful and potent stuff,” said
Eddie. “Take my word for it—it won’t cure in a
day or two, but over the years you will feel as good as gold
again.”
