Fresh vs. Frozen Breadfruit

Local Farmers Pick at Peak Ripeness

Fresh produce often must be picked before optimal maturity to allow for some ripening during transportation and shelving, meaning that the immature fruit or vegetable has had less time on the plant to develop the vitamins that our bodies need. HUC farmers harvest their ‘ulu at peak ripeness, bringing the best and highest quality breadfruit to our processing facilities.

Steaming + Freezing Locks in Nutrients

Before freezing our breadfruit, we parcook the fruit by steaming it. Steaming deactivates the enzymes in ‘ulu which would otherwise digest important antioxidants and nutrients as the fresh fruit ages. Low storage temperature further slows down the breakdown of nutrients in food, and that is why we quickly freeze our ‘ulu after steaming to lock in nutrients.

Convenient Storage + Less Waste

When you notice your fresh vegetables go limp or slimy in the fridge, you are actually seeing a breakdown and loss of nutrients. A two-year study published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis found that frozen fruits and vegetables contained higher levels of nutrients than fruits and vegetables stored in the refrigerator more often than the other way around. The time flexibility of frozen HUC ‘ulu also leads to less household food waste, meaning less food goes to the landfill so our communities can be more sustainable.