Question
Greetings.  I know this isn't the kind of question you may have been expecting, but here goes anyway.  My daughter lived in Thailand for a year and we visited, falling in love with the various fruits.  I bought some frozen mangosteens hoping to enjoy that wonderful white treat.  When I thawed the fruits they were as hard as bricks and the meat was withered and dry.  Do you think there is a way to get the fruits here in the States?  Or is there a trick to using the frozen ones?  Wish I was living there instead of here....

Answer
Lydia:

Imports of fruits into the USA is normally a difficult situation as they have to have a serious inspection at the source. You may be able to find Mangosteens at large Asia markets.

I have never seen them frozen and do not know why they did not come out good. Perhaps you can check with the manager where you bought them. Here in Thailand most of our summer fruits are coming out now. I noticed where the cost of Lynchee is down to 6 Baht per KG because the demand is so low. The crash of the economy here is having a big effect. Political instability has also taken it's toll. Now I am in Phuket and the hotels are about 10% occupied. I have reduced my staff and all other operating costs to try to survive.

I grow a lot of jalapenos in Chiang Rai and sell sauceand pickled items to the big stores in Bangkok. These sales are also slow.

Should you come back to Thailand try to visit us in Phuket or Chiang Rai.

www.donsfoods.co

Best wishes.

Don