Q&A with La Jacka Mobile

Photos by Edilbe Staff Jack Foods OF ALL Q&A WITH LA JACKA MOBILE

Edible: How long have you been operating in the food industry, and have you always operated as a vegan food truck?

La Jacka: We’ve been operating as a food truck restaurant for the past 7 years but began creating food products out of jackfruit about 20 years ago. We started out mainly selling meat options with jackfruit as a side option. But it became more popular over time and eventually we were selling 80 percent jackfruit to 20 percent meat, so we decided to make the switch. We still offer meat proteins upon request, especially during brewery events. We make sure to use separate cooking surfaces to avoid cross contamination and we also have a commercial kitchen for catering and prep.

Edible: Tell us what motivated you to specialize in jackfruit.

La Jacka: Our daughter was born with stomach problems, where she wasn’t able to process dairy or meat. She was hungry every few hours because instead of absorbing the nutrients, the food would pass through her system. There is an excess of jackfruit in Mexico, where it isn’t consumed as much, so I started using it to make her shakes and I noticed she was staying fuller longer. I started experimenting and making items like bread, jam, syrup, smoothies and juice.

Edible: Why is jackfruit a good substitute for meat?

La Jacka: Jackfruit is a tropical fruit and we grow ours organically in Mexico. It has a subtle sweet flavor and a texture similar to shredded meat, making it popular to eat in a variety of different ways. After researching, I found that it has more protein than other fruits and contains some of almost every vitamin and mineral that you need. It’s also rich in antioxidants and fiber. It’s been known to help manage blood sugar levels and it’s mainly used for medicine in Mexico. There have been instances where someone doesn’t realize they are having health issues until they make the change to eating jackfruit and feel better.4 continued on page 30

From left to right: Roberto Jauregui, Hans Ahumada, Fernanda Ahumada, and Miriam Martínez

Edible: Is the business family-run, or do you have employees?

La Jacka: We have always operated our business as a family of four (mom, dad, daughter and son), but we usually have a few employees who help. We share responsibilities, but our daughter is the main chef and manages the schedule. Our mom creates the recipes, and we help her with it, too.

Edible: What types of menu items do you offer?

La Jacka: We can make just about anything using jackfruit, but we offer breakfast burritos, chile verde fries, tamales, quesabirria tacos, Cali-style burritos, nachos and burrito bowls. We can also make items like chicharrónes, chicken nuggets, barbecued ribs, pulled pork, breads, salsas and desserts. We have created at least 150 recipes and offer catering where the menu can be customized.

Edible: Where can our readers find your food truck?

La Jacka: We post our locations weekly on our website and social media. You can find us at places like the farmers markets, community colleges, downtown Fresno’s Art Hop, breweries and festivals. We are also partnering with Toca Madera Winery to offer more options on regular days. We will be serving vegan brunches and dinners including buffet style to give our community a chance to try all of the dishes. Meat and seafood options will also be provided. We pride ourselves in being able to cater to the health-conscious and diet-restricted vegan consumers, but we want to still offer meat and seafood options for those who are able to or prefer more protein options.

Edible: What’s on the horizon for La Jacka Mobile?

La Jacka: We plan to open a restaurant storefront within the next year and we are working on packaging our products to sell in stores. We plan to have jackfruit items like dried snacks, ground to make patties for burgers, chorizo, salsas, packaged dinners and drinks, just to name a few. We do all processing ourselves, with all-natural and fresh ingredients and without preservatives. We are committed to delivering better options and making the experience positive for our community. •

La Jacka Mobile lajacka.store Find them on Facebook and Instagram We do all processing ourselves, with all-natural and fresh ingredients and without preservatives. We are committed to delivering better options and making the experience positive for our community.