To provide a commercial income at Cape Tribulation, we concentrated on two main species - the Salak from Bali and the Mangosteen from South East Asia, which were particularly suited to Cape Tribulation climate, organic practices and our long distance from the markets. We went to South East Asia and collected the seeds ourselves by purchasing fruit in the markets, cleaning the seeds and importing them through Australian Quarantine. We have 350 Mangosteens, and planting more trees each year. We have approximately 1000 Salaks.

Our Mangosteens produced their first crop in December 2000, 12 years after we collected the seed. The Salaks produce fruit at about 5 years old, we are have started selling small quantities in northern Queensland.These fruit find their way on to resort menus at Port Douglas. We wanted fruit which was resistant to pests, travelled well, and which would be in high demand because it could not be grown elsewhere.

Salaks being sold at the markets in the mountains of central Bali.