Kota Kinabalu: Coconuts from Kudat and Kota Belud are making their way to the state capital thanks to unemployed youths buying, delivering and selling them to outlets in the city, previously thronged with tourists.

At this tourist-deprived market, the local upper and middle-class consumers have acquired a taste for young coconut water and flesh that has seen the set up of speciality coconut shops promoting healthy living with diversified products like coconut ice cream and drink shakes.

This augurs well to boost the local economy and provide employment besides business opportunities using local products, unlike in West Malaysia where in the Federal capital, coconut fruits and products from Thailand dominate at eateries.