Sapodilla Box (Pre-Order)

Manilkara zapota, also known as Sapodilla is a delicious tropical fruit with a very sweet, rich flavor reminiscent of brown sugar, maple syrup or molasses. The ripe fruit is hard while on the tree. However, several days after being picked, the fruit becomes very soft and at this point the fruit is ready to eat. The fruit has a soft, tender inner consistency, mildly granular yet exceptionally sweet with a depth of flavor unlike any other fruit.

Sapodillas vary in size and shape, usually ranging from 2”-4” in diameter.  Some are naturally round, while others are oblong. Individual fruits can weigh anywhere from 2 ounces to 2 pounds, depending on the cultivar.

Sapodilla is native to southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean; however, Sapodilla has long been cultivated across south Florida and we grow and pick some of the most delicious fruits right here in Miami.

Sapodillas are chock-full of vitamins and nutrients such as vitamins A,  C, folate, and B6, to name a few.

The fleshy center of the fruit is delicious and edible; however, take care to remove all seeds, as they are not edible.  Further, Sapodilla seeds have a hook on the end that can get caught in the throat.  The fruit may be cut in half and easily eaten with a spoon once the seeds have been removed.  If serving to children, we recommend the fruit be cut into smaller sections so that seeds are not overlooked and can be easily removed before eating this wonderful fruit.

The fruit is ripe and ready to eat once it becomes quite soft, and fruits should be consumed once they are ripe as they will not keep for long. The fruit will ripen in about 5-7 days at room temperature, although the fruit does becomes soft somewhat suddenly, the result of natural starches within the fruit converting to sugars.  But don’t rush to cut the fruit open as soon as it feels a little soft because the center may not be ripe yet, give it time to ripen to the core.

 As a best practice, you should feel the fruit daily, giving it a light squeeze so that you do not eclipse the ripe phase. Once the fruit is soft to the touch, it is ready to be eaten. This is the natural ripening phase for these fruits, and is unlike commercially available fruits throughout north America, which are generally not very soft when they are ripe.

 You may store ripe fruits in the refrigerator for a couple days, or they may be frozen for blends and smoothies once the seeds are removed. Do not refrigerate unripe fruits, as this may indefinitely suspend the natural ripening process.

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Why our fruits are the best:

Our fruits are allowed to grow on the trees further into the growing season to allow proper fruit development for optimal flavor, vitamin and nutrient content.  Our fruits are picked from our own rare tropical fruit trees, from the trees of our local partners, collectors, and sourced internationally from sustainable organic niche farmers.  Follow us on Instagram @Fruitpeople_com

Please Note:  We are currently unable to ship this product to the following state(s): California.  This is in compliance with restrictions placed by the respective Department(s) of Agriculture regarding the importation and shipment of various tropical fruits, due to the potential ecological impact of the possible introduction of various foreign fruit fly species upon Agricultural Infrastructure within the listed state(s).  Please check out our other products as this restriction does not apply to all fruits & produce.  We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

Pre-Orders will ship in the order they are received, as soon as the fruit is in season and ready to be picked.

• Small Box contains approximately 3-5 pounds of fruit
• Medium Box contains approximately 8-10 pounds of fruit
• Large Box contains approximately 14-16 pounds of fruit

Box weight and amounts vary depending on fruit type, volume and density.  All boxes are shipped with sustainably produced biodegradable packing material instead of Styrofoam or bubble wrap.  See our Shipping Guide for more information pertaining to our shipping schedule.

Please be mindful of estimated delivery times for orders, as prolonged package exposure to outdoor weather conditions, such as snow or extreme heat, will affect perishable produce.

All boxes are assembled and shipped starting on Monday of the week following your purchase.  Please allow 1-2 weeks for your order to be shipped for any product which is in season.  Pre-Orders will ship the following season for each respective fruit type, see details below.

Pre-Orders:

When one of our fruits is not currently in season, or has sold out, we highly recommend placing Pre-Orders. Placing a Pre-Order of our rare and premium tropical fruits reserves your Box for the following season. When supply is low and demand is high, Pre-Orders are shipped first. Pre-Orders are shipped in the order in which they are received for each type of fruit. Your Pre-Order is shipped as soon as the fruits are in season and ready to be picked. Some fruits have only one season per year, others have multiple seasons.  Please refer to our Fruit Seasons Guide for more information. You don’t want to miss out on these delicious and sensational fruits!