Lal’s baby pineapples
IF you take a stroll inside the Nausori market, the perfectly sweet pineapple smell would always invite you to take one home.
Dharmend Lal, 48, from Koronivia sells baby pineapples at 50 cents for a heap of six.
Resembling a regular pineapple, a baby pineapple is about 12.7cm in height and tends to be sweeter than the full grown varieties.
For 20 years, Mr Lal has been a market vendor in Nausori. He has 56 acres of land that he uses to farm pineapples, cassava, dalo, coconuts and cattle.
"I have 56 acres of land that I use for farming n Dawasamu, Tailevu," he said.
"I'm extra interested in my pineapple business because it's really good money.
I've been selling them in the old market as well. Pineapple season is usually from September to March but nowadays you could get it from January to December. After paying for my stall fees, expenses, home bills and groceries, on a good day I could rake in about $400 to $500 per week."
His usual customers are road side juice sellers and mostly bakers.
"Instead of buying fizzy drinks or snacks from the supermarket, opt for healthy foods such as in-season fruits or even pineapples," Mr Lal said.
"Pineapples have a lot of health benefits — you could mix a nice healthy pineapple juice or you bake a tasty upsidedown cake or pie for Sunday’s breakfast."
He said it was his late father who had established their farm and market business.
"My dad used to plant rice back then but someone had advised him to plant pineapples because the red soil was good for pineapples and other crops as well. Ever since then, we have used it for farming pineapples and crops."
Mr Lal says it's always important to stand out of the crowd in an ever growing and competitive business.
"I have not worked anywhere but I have attained my Diploma in Business studies from Australia," he said.
"Today I have about 20 people who work for me five days in a week.
“There are six of us at home and I'm the sole bread winner in our family.
“Whether you're a market vendor, retailer or wholesaler, you could enjoy anything you do but you need to work extra hard for your loved ones."