A vanilla orchid growing on an avocado tree. UF/IFAS PHOTO

Last month we learned that the vanilla orchid is the source of natural vanilla flavor, which is the leading flavoring used worldwide. Demand for natural vanilla continues to escalate, and the price of vanilla has likewise increased over the years.

The seed pod or vanilla bean produced by the vanilla orchid is the source of natural vanilla. A large healthy plant can produce about 2 kilos (2.2. pounds) of green beans, which weigh between .3 and .4 kilos when cured; a kilo of cured vanilla beans contains approximately 200-400 beans. Seven years ago, cured vanilla beans were selling for approximately $10 per kilo; prices are currently as high as $600 per kilo – trading at a price higher than silver! It is easy to understand why there is such great interest in vanilla production in Southern Florida.

Why is vanilla so expensive? There are a number of reasons:

1. Vanilla bean growth is highly centralized; Madagascar produces 80% of the world’s vanilla beans, and 70% of that nation’s population is reliant on this crop for their income. Any economic, climate or export difficulties will significantly affect crop yields and distribution.

2. Vanilla production is a labor-intensive and lengthy process; the majority of the growing and curing efforts involve manual labor. The vines are hand-planted, hand-pollinated, hand-harvested and hand-cured. Vanilla orchids do not produce beans for 2-3 years after initial planting, so there is a significant delay in crop yield.

Vanilla beans on the plant. UF/IFAS

3. Historically there have been marked supply and demand fluctuations for vanilla. For many years cheaper artificial vanilla (vanillin) dominated the markets, but over the past 10 years the “all natural” trend in food processing has increased demand for real vanilla.

4. Because of high demand, vanilla beans are a target for theft. Since most vanilla orchids are grown by independent farmers in third-world countries, there is very little security available for growers.

5. Climate challenges pose a threat to vanilla production; Madagascar is subject to storms and cyclones which are occurring more frequently due to climate change.

6. Demand is steadily increasing for vanilla, and China and Brazil are newly emerging vanilla consuming countries that are driving additional demand.

Increased occurrences of disease and hurricane damage have caused a decline in Florida’s citrus yields which has led farmers to search for alternative cash crops. Because of the tremendous value of vanilla and the increased demand for natural flavors, interest has grown in vanilla production in Florida. Other tropical areas such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Mexico have established small pockets of vanilla production that cater to niche markets of brewers, herbalists and bakers. The high labor costs associated with vanilla production would likely prevent Florida from competing globally, but demand for specialty vanilla is rapidly growing.

Cured vanilla beans. UF/IFAS

South Florida’s hot and humid climate is ideal for growing vanilla orchids, but to ensure that the vanilla grows successfully and quickly without compromised taste, disease resistance or yield, UF researchers have been working to identify the most appropriate cultivar. For the past several years, Dr. Alan Chambers, a tropical plant geneticist at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC), has led studies on vanilla DNA gene sequencing. More than 300 varieties of vanilla orchids have been tested, and the group is close to finding a cultivar with the traits necessary to sustain a viable Florida vanilla industry. Fortunately, vanilla orchids require very little space to grow and will flourish on tropical fruit or avocado trees. Around 1,000 plants can be grown on an acre of land, and vanilla orchids can also be grown in shade-house cultivation environments.

The tremendous value of vanilla coupled with the many difficulties in transporting vanilla beans to processing facilities outside the growing area has caused Florida growers to seriously evaluate the possibility of vanilla orchid production. Since southern Florida is one of only a few locations in the U.S. with conditions to favorably grow vanilla orchids on a commercial scale, the public and private sectors have joined forces to determine how to reliably establish vanilla orchids as a crop. Now that the vanilla genome has been sequenced by TREC, scientists and volunteer residents will begin growing vanilla orchids to evaluate their growth patterns and sustainability. It’s an exciting prospect for Florida farmers who are looking for a new crop that has a high yield, low growing density, and reliable profitability!

Cathy Dunn is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer and Garden Club of Cape Coral member.