Gac (Momordica cochinchinensis)

Gac is a rare tropical perennial fruiting vine that produce large highly nutritious fruit loaded with health benefits.  The fruit, native to Southeast Asia, is easy to recognize with its bright orange spiny skin and deep red-orange colored flesh. Fresh fruit contains a high concentration of beta-carotene and lycopene. 

A single plant can produce on average 30 to 60 fruit. Gac vines are however either male or female and more than one are needed for production. Flowers, which typically appear 2 to 4 months after initial planting, are pollinated by insects, birds, or by hand.  Gac vines are thick and woody and female plants can also be grafted onto male plants. Gac fruit ripens within 4 to 6 months of pollination.