The Fruit Forest a Victorian gold medallist in delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards

Chocolate pudding fruit and red-fleshed apples are among The Fruit Forest’s weird and wonderful produce, which has been named a 2021 delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards gold medallist.

Kara Irving

less than 2 min read

July 2, 2021 - 8:31AM

Food

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Chocolate pudding is more dessert than fruit to most people.

But at The Fruit Forest, black sapote is one of many rare, unusual and heirloom varieties grown at the Mornington Peninsula farm.

Cecilia and Geoff Egan’s passion-project turned thriving-business has been named a 2021 delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards gold medallist.

The duo’s business of 10-years supplies unique fruit — such as Brazilian starfish chillies, red-fleshed peaches and apples, yellow and red tamarillos and 50 varieties of fig — to peninsula restaurants and cafes including Point Leo Estate and Moke Dining.

St Kilda’s Newmarket Hotel and Sweet Canteen, in the city, reap the benefits of the Egan’s fruit.

The Fruit Forest owners Cecilia and Geoff Egan are Victorian Gold Medallists of the Harvey Norman Delicious Produce Awards 2021. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Yuzu and finger lime were unheard of 20 years ago when the Egans began their backyard hobby farm, but are now commonly seen on restaurant menus.

“It makes me feel validated. Nobody had even heard of the word yuzu when we planted our tree and now we have gin distilleries taking our produce to make gin,” Mrs Egan said.

Mrs Egan said a short shelf-life and transportability issues could explain why these unique fruits hadn’t yet gathered a mainstream following.

“A lot of things perish quickly. You can pick them and the next day they go soft or mouldy,” she said.

“A lot of them don’t travel well and bruise easily, plus a lot of people love fruits they can pick up and eat.”

A total of 14 of 59 producers gold medals recipients are from Victoria.

Finalists were selected across dairy, earth, paddock and sea categories and five finalists were named in the Outstanding Farmers’ Market National category, including Alphington Farmers’ Market.