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Off to Costa Rica In Support of Vanilla Farmers

Written by Patricia Rain on March 2, 2016. Posted in Awareness, Be the Change, Eco-Tips, Environmental Issues, Farms, For Farmers, Intl Tropical Farmers Network, Protecting the Future, The tropics-why they matter

In 2013 I was contacted by the National University of Costa Rica to speak at a round-table conference on vanilla in 2016. I was both honored and excited by the prospects of returning to Costa Rica after 52 years (which sounds impossible, but it’s true).

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2013 Market Report on Vanilla

Written by Patricia Rain on February 11, 2013. Posted in Global Growers' Info, Intl Tropical Farmers Network, Tropical Farmers

This report comes from Aust and Hachmann, Canada and is based on the North American Vanilla Bean Importer’s
Association (NAVBIA) report. I am adding to this report the latest information on Mexican beans.

Mexico had a disastrous year in 2011 due to extreme heat and drought, and had 10% of their normal crop. 2012 was far less hot and there was ample rainfall. Unfortunately, the plants were so stressed from the previous year that the crop was again 10% of normal. There will be very few beans coming from Mexico this year. Hopefully there will be enough to produce extracts, but at this time we simply don’t know what to expect. [PR]