Dragon fruit is a fruit that commands the sort of attention a lesser fruit could only
dream of.
Apples?
Tired.
Oranges?
Yawn.
Cantaloupes?
Come on.
"Cantaloupe.
Cantaloupe."
The dragon fruit, however, is a fruit like no other.
Obviously, it's pretty exotic looking — with its outer pink flesh and vibrant green leaves.
Slice it open, and you'll find flesh that's just as strange.
It's white and bespeckled with tiny black seeds.
Even the name is awesome.
And because of all this, dragon fruit has garnered itself the same sort of reputation
that has pushed even the most exotic fruits to the side.
Unfortunately, if you go shopping for some dragon fruit, you'll probably notice pretty
quickly that it's not the cheapest fruit in the produce section.
Sure, it won't cost you as much as a square watermelon, but it's considerably more pricey
than your standard issue banana.
"I mean it's one banana, Michael, what could it cost?
Ten dollars?"
So what's up with dragon fruit's high price, and is this cool-looking fruit even worth
it in the first place?
Well, there can be no doubt that dragon fruit will set you back a pretty penny, as each
individual dragon fruit can sell for as much as $10.
That's a lot of dough for a fruit that's not much bigger than an orange.
As it turns out, there are a few reasons for its high price tag.
First off, the fruit is native to Mexico and Central and South America, so it is mostly
imported into the United States — although most of America's dragon fruit actually comes
from Vietnam.
That alone makes it pricier than domestic fruits like, say, red apples.
Farmers in California, Florida, and Hawaii do grow the fruit, but natural disasters such
as droughts, hurricanes, and wildfires can deliver a real economic gut punch to the agricultural
industry of those states.
It doesn't help matters that dragon fruit's harvest season — June through September
— also happens to lead right into wildfire and hurricane season.
The law of supply and demand dictates the cost of nearly every commercial good, and
dragon fruit is no different.
When you consider the appeal of dragon fruit, it's definitely been hyped up a lot over the
last decade.
According to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, the demand for dragon fruit in the
United States exceeds the supply available — thus the higher price at your local fruit
stand.
Organic fruits and vegetables also tend to cost more than the run-of-the-mill variety,
and organic dragon fruit can cost double the price.
But although shelling out up to $10 for dragon fruit might seem pretty steep, this doesn't
stop fans of it from touting its numerous health benefits.
Dragon fruit is rich in prebiotic fiber and other vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium
and vitamins E and C. It's also a food that's high in antioxidants, which may make it beneficial
in combating everything from heart disease to diabetes and arthritis.
In recent years, there's been more focus from the health community on the importance of
gut health — and guess what fruit has been linked to promoting gut health?
"Ding ding ding!
What do we have for her, Johnny?"
This is because the fruit helps to promote the growth of two types of healthy bacteria
that you actually want in your stomach – lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria.
So what's a person to do who enjoys eating this exotic fruit on the regular, but doesn't
want to pay the high price for it week after week?
Well, the good news is that if you live in a warm and humid climate like South Florida
— or have a greenhouse — you can probably avoid the pricey cost by growing your own.
Dragon fruit is part of the cactus family, and gardeners can either grow it from a seed
or through stem cutting of an existing plant.
Plants grown from seed can take a few years to produce fruit, so the latter method is
probably a better option if you hope to enjoy those dragon fruit smoothies as soon as possible.
Either way, it beats having to peel an orange.
Check out one of our newest videos right here!
Plus, even more Mashed videos about your favorite fruits and veggies are coming soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.