Why is there no fresh guanabana in the US?

Question

Guanabana (aka Soursop) is a tropical fruit that seems to be unavailable in the US, except for frozen pulp and the like. Does anyone know why? It's amazingly popular, and you can find the juice in cans just about everywhere here. But no fresh fruit.... you'd think somebody would try to grow some in Dade County, Florida to sell at Farmer's markets at least, but I can't find a thing.

Answer

I have never heard of this fruit before but I am now singing:
"Guanabana! Doot doooooooooo doo doo doo. Guanabana! Doot doo doo doo..."

Answer

you can find it in Hawaii or Puerto Rico but is very hard to find it in the Continental U.S.

Answer

You can find the plants, leaves, seeds and juice for sale on Ebay.

Answer

Guanabana/ soursop is a melon that is grown in Mexico, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and other tropical growing zones. It has properties that kills cancer cells without killing the good cells. Big pharma is trying to ban it because it isi a threat to the multi billion dollar chemo/and radiation therapy. In fact phrma has taken purified/ distilled guanabana, called it graviola and added it to chemotherapy cocktails. They do not want the public to get their hands on it, because it cures cancer more effectively them chemo... Big pharma could lose hundreds of billions of dollars if this cure gets out to the public... Google traditional chinese medicine/ tcm, health benefits of soursop and see for yourself what is says .... Bingo... There's the answer.

Answer

I had my first cherimoya (aka custard apple) last week, purchased at Eden Center in Falls Church, VA. It was a very large one; it looked like a grapefruit-sized artichoke. It is similar to guanabana, but the seeds are much easier to remove - they are not trapped in little sacs. I would say the flavor is much more complex than sweetsop, but not as complex as guanabana (soursop). This makes for an excellent gunabana substitute. I forget how much I paid, though. A couple of days ago I saw a package of two small ones (each about the size of a baseball), and the package cost $7.20. I though this was way too expensive.

Answer

I'm vietnamese andI lived in Tamarac, Florida. We have 3 trees in our front and backyard garden. It tastes sour and sweet. With the sour ones, you can eat by mixed it with water, some ices and sugar. Or you can make soursop smoothie.

Answer

you can get some from Robert is Here Produce market in Homestead

Answer

They sell guanabana (soursop) in Chicago supermarkets, at Aldi's, at Mejier's. They also sell guanabana concentrate.
I buy the fruit, eat it in different forms. I cut half and eat it raw; I remove the seeds and blend to a juice. Half of the juice I put in the refrigerator freeze trays, the other half I drink it. When I use the blender I save the residue to eat it with a lil Splenda. In summary, I eat all of the fruit. I save the seeds to dry and plant them. Or use them to make seed necklaces. You can make a milk shake with it too. You can add banana and milk and nuts to the shake. Either way guanabana is the most delicious fruit in the world.

Answer

I bought a guanababa (soursop) in Chicago at:
La Unica
1515 W Devon avenue
Chicago
Phone: 773-274-7788
they also sell concentrate juice and guanabana pulp.
----
WALMART IN MIAMI, SELLS GUANABANAS BROUGHT FROM PUERTO RICO.
--
CAROL WELLER
This person lives in Tamarac, Florida and has a soursop tree. Email 
Carol_weller@hotmail.com to ask if she will sell you one.

--------------
CHICAGO: Mekato bakery, coffee and juices. 5423 N Lincoln avenue, Chicago Il- 773-784-5181. They serve you fresh guanabana juice among other juices like lulo, mora, maracuya, guava. 
----------------------

PEOPLE IN TAMARAC, FLORIDA, HAVE SOURSOP TREES IN THEIR GARDENS.

I also found a guanabana at Dominicks supermarket near N Clark in Chicago. There was only one left. It did not have any label. But I assume is from Puerto Rico.
====
I hope this will answer your question about where to find guanabanas in the USA.
----

Answer

it is available in Tamarac, Florida.

Answer

For any Manhattanites, one of the fruit stand on Mulberry street in Chinatown had fresh guanabana today. Didn't get any though (they also had fresh non frozen mangosteens, which I found more appealing.

Answer

i live in Oklahoma where can i find it?

Answer

A tropical fruit stand "Robert is Here" www.robertishere.com in Homestead, Florida sells guanabana and even grows it during season here. They also ship. He is the foremost expert we have ever come across when it comes to fruit from all around the world.

Answer

Maybe, just go for a custard apple. They're incredibly similar. I really can't even tell the difference in taste. I had soursop juice in Colombia, and found it to be custard apple.
By the way, I can see that if this fruit is so tropical that it wouldn't grow too well in South Florida. South Florida does have a moderate winter with temperatures dipping down somewhat--much more than in the Caribbean. The custard apple is a sub-tropical fruit that can withstand some light frost or near-frost temperatures (just occasionally), so that would make it much easier to get in the US.

Answer

I see fresh guanabana very often in the Bronx, and customers don't hesitate to buy some at $6.99/lb.

Answer

Hi steve i am from Grenada and is currently exporting small amounts of soursop to customers in New york and Florida

Answer

I would like to try to grow a few in central Florida. Does anyone know where can I get seeds from the tropics?
If they do not grow, cell LA vie...at least I tried.
Anyone?

Answer

Soursops are illegal to sale in the USA

Answer

There are options here (jarred and fresh) - http://aboutsoursop.com/where-to-buy-fresh-soursop/

And fresh direct from the farmer in FL here - http://aboutsoursop.com/buy-soursop-fresh/

Answer

When I lived in Ecuador I was sitting under a tree when one hit me on the head. My Ecuabrother told me it was my lucky day. He said that they never picked them; but waited for the them to fall because it was hard to tell when they were ready if you picked them. I had no idea what that goofy looking thing was. Then we shared it and I have to believe that was the best single piece of fruit I have ever eaten. Just sublime. A food epiphany.

Those seeds are like little river rocks. But the flavor is amazing. If you find a source for fresh ones, I'd love to know. If you can chew those pits, then you must eat nails and crap out bullets.

I'll have to pitch it at my local Aldi.

Answer

Anyone know where I could buy soursop/guanábana in Boston, or anywhere in Massachusetts. I've been searching all over and no luck. Thanks!!

Answer

Hi, I'm from California Anaheim.My sister has stage 4 pancreatic cancer.We we're told guanabanas are good to fight cancel.We get guanabanas here at Northgate market only certain time of year, available now.It cost about $13.99 a pound .We also get them from rosarito Baja California for about $5 a piece.

Answer

Hi,
There are phytosanitary requirements to allow import of fresh fruits into US established by USDA-APHIS. Fruits of guanabana are restricted to be imported from almost all countries, this is probably the main reason to have a lack of fresh fruits.

Topics

Locations

Your post has been published!

Why is there no fresh guanabana in the US?

More from Chowhound

Guides

The Ultimate Spring Produce Guide: What's in Season & How to Use It

Recipe Round-Ups

Quick and Easy Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes for Less Morning Stress

Guides

How to Care for Enameled Cast Iron So It Lasts a Lifetime

Home

The Best Tool to Clean a Wood Cutting Board Is Probably in Your Compost Bin

Trending Discussions

Chowhound Recipes That You are Saving

A Final Goodbye for Chowhound

Favorite Chowhound Memories

NY Times: Chowhound Closes After 25 Years of Food Obsession, Wisdom and Debate

January–April 2022 Baking COTM: DESSERT PERSON by Claire Saffitz

Quick Links

Latest Discussions

Cookbook of the Month

Dish of the Month

Weekly Menu Planning

Get fresh food news delivered to your inbox

12 Irish Foods to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day That Aren’t Corned Beef and Cabbage

Chowhound

Policies

Community

Editorial

Content