Though unknown in many countries of the world, over 100 varieties of breadfruit exist in the Kahanu gardens, located in the National Tropical Botanical Garden on the island of Maui.

Culture
The fruit grows on a tree with soft greyish bark that is easily identifiable. Large and impressive, its leaves are a deep rich green, wide, palmate and deeply lobate. They are shiny - they look almost varnished - and can reach 1 metre (3 feet) in length.

The branches can extend skyward up to 20 m (60') above the ground.

The male flowers, their centres adorned with stamens, grow in a greenish-yellow cylinder on the end of the branches. The pistils of the female flowers form a large ball just below the male flowers. It's the female flower that develops into a spherical or elongated green fruit (depending on the variety) with a rough surface that can reach 20 cm (8") in diameter with a weight that may exceed 4 kg (9 lb.)

Reproduction
The natural reproduction of the tree is difficult since the best varieties rarely bear seeds. The most common method of propagation is by root graft, which involves cutting off a piece about 2.5 cm (1") in diameter and 25 cm (10") long. It is left to sprout in the shade and is planted once two or three shoots appear.

The roots are prolific and it is best to plant the tree in a place where its roots will not be constricted.

The tree begins producing fruit between its fifth and seventh years.

Harvest
In general, there are two harvest seasons:

• April to June
• and October to January

Ripeness criteria
Deciding when to pick the breadfruit is based on the following ripeness criteria:

Colour - Ripe fruits have a dark green skin flecked with brown and a matte surface (unripe fruits are shinier)

Shape - The segments are rounder and softer on the surface (the immature fruit is more angular with superficial ridges)

Latex - Ripe breadfruit exudes a white latex that oozes out in droplets across the skin.

Harvesting is carried out in the early morning before the intense heat of the day.

The trees have to be climbed for the fruit to be picked. They are cut with a knife at the stem end (at the branch).

The fruits are then thrown into a net or simply placed into a basket attached to a pole. The fruit must never fall on the ground.

Immediately after harvest, the fruit is placed head-down so that the latex can run out. It is then washed and dried naturally away from sun and wind.