Jujubes: Auto collectors learn about an exotic fruit grown at Cambrai

This story was contributed by Graham Edwards and Di Dawson.

Did you know there is a jujube orchard at Cambrai?

An ABC Landline program on jujubes, a fruit, aroused the curiosity of Auto Collectors Club of Murray Bridge members Maureen and Graham Edwards almost 12 months ago; they decided to research the fruit and, to their surprise, they discovered the orchard.

After contacting the owners – Jody Miltenhoff, son Marcus and family – an exploratory visit took place to arrange a club visit.

So, on March 21, after many hours of planning by the run coordinators, club members and guests assembled at their Johnstone Park clubrooms, signed a daily run book and received printed directions and run sheets prior to leaving for JJ Orchards at Cambrai.

Bang on 8.30am, members fired up their vehicles and headed for Cambrai’s park, with vehicles at Mannum and Cambrai joining the convoy of 17 classic and eight modern vehicles ranging in age from a 1925 Chevrolet truck to a 2023 Mercedes Benz for morning tea, where Mr Edwards welcomed a total of 60 members and guests.

With morning tea complete, it was back into their vehicles for a short drive to JJ’s Orchard.

With all vehicles parked along with a short walk to the house area, Mr Edwards proceeded to introduce Mr Miltenoff, who welcomed all to the former historic farm of some 40,000 acres, dating back to the 1860s and originally owned by the Hayden family, who lived in a pug and pine hut which is currently being restored by the family.

Mr Miltenoff proceeded to give an enlightening explanation of the family venture, which commenced some 20 years ago after their property purchase.

While restoring the buildings on the property, they stumbled across jujubes, and the more they investigated, the more amazed they became about the positive health benefits and the resilience of tree that would grow in extreme conditions.

Fast forward to today and they are now one of the first high-density jujube orchards in Australia, with a purpose-built nursery based on 25 years of experience for jujube tree propagation that is now in full swing, and looking forward to what the next 20-30 years has in store.

The group were interested in Mr Miltenoff’s presentation – only a handful had ever heard of a jujube.

He proceeded to guide the group down to the orchard, close to the banks of the Marne River, before explaining all about it, how they harvested, the sizes of the fruit (20-50mm), types (1000), tastes (similar to an apple), origin (China, Asia and the Middle East), along with its many health benefits, including being high in Vitamin B and C and having positive effects in helping fight certain cancers, while promoting a healthy immune system.

Members and guests were then encouraged to sample three or four different versions and sizes of fruit, with all being amazed at the taste, likened to apple, although much smaller, similar to a 50 cent coin.

The group was then invited to walk through the orchard, which was completely covered in bird netting to keep the “pesky” parrots out.

Jujubes have a very short harvest period, between March and April.

It was then back up the hill to view the propagation and drying areas, with Mr Miltenoff explaining in detail where and how the life of a jujube started and finished.

Prior to ending the one and a half hour tour, Mr Edwards thanked Mr Miltenoff and the family for a great tour and explanation of the property and the JJ Orchard and tasting, before presenting a small gift in appreciation.

Then it was time to move on to lunch; due to a last-minute change of venue from the Sedan Hotel back to the Pretoria Hotel, Mannum, most members present drove the half-hour to have lunch at around 1pm.

All 50 guests sat and talked about their experience and, their stomachs all having being filled, vice president Claude Minge thanked the Edwardses, along with assistants Elaine and Roy Bretag, for organising the outing.

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