Garden Club of Cape Coral | Potential vanilla production in southern Florida
By CATHY DUNN
In my last article 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 over the past several years the price of vanilla has been volatile. 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 beans, which weigh between .3 and .4 kilos when dried and cured; a kilo of cured vanilla beans contains approximately 200-400 beans. Over the past 10 years, prices for vanilla beans have ranged from $200 – $650 per kilo.
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. The majority of vanilla beans production is centered in Madagascar, but 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. While the high labor costs associated with vanilla production could reduce Florida’s global competitiveness, demand in the cosmetics, beverages and desserts markets for specialty vanilla is rapidly growing.
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, University of Florida researchers have been working to identify the most appropriate cultivar. In 2017, The Vanilla Breeding Program was initiated by a research group from the University of Florida. These scientists began to identify and collect vanilla species that would be suitable for production in Florida. More than $390,000 in grants have been secured by Dr. Xingbo Wu and his colleagues to establish crop cultivation in Florida.
More than 27 varieties of vanilla are currently being studied to identify an ideal variety with the best yields, superior disease resistance and high vanilla content for commercial farming. Vanilla has the potential to surpass all other crops grown in our state if suitable varieties can be identified. 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 continuing difficulties in transporting and processing vanilla beans in leading production locations such as Madagascar, has caused Florida growers to seriously evaluate the possibility of vanilla orchid production. Because 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. With the assistance of Dr. Wu and the University of Florida, scientists and volunteer residents have begun 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 president of the James E. Hendry Hibiscus Chapter, a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer and Garden Club of Cape Coral Member. Visit gardenclubofcapecoral.com. Like us on Facebook and Instagram.