VEGETABLE AND SPECIALTY CROP NEWS istock.com/lzf Potential for commercial vanilla production in southern Florida

By Alan Chambers

hink about your favorite des- created with premium, natural vanillin (commercial vanilla) is an emerald serts like ice cream, cookies, from southern Florida growers com- green, shade-loving vine native to the cream-filled pastries and mitted to quality, sustainability and the Americas. It was most likely domes- Tchocolate. These indulgences economic viability of local agriculture. ticated in southeastern Mexico by are the perfect end to an otherwise Growing vanilla in southern Florida Totonac or Mayan people, and was healthy meal, or a guilty snack when may be a new industry for ambitious used by Aztec noble families to flavor no one’s looking. Many of our favorite entrepreneurs, but there are many fac- their chocolate drink. V. planifolia desserts include a common, yet irresist- tors suggesting that this might be a requires warm temperatures, a rainy ible, vanillin flavor extract from the successful venture. season and plenty of filtered sunshine “bean” of the vanilla orchid. Vanillin to produce an annual crop of seed pods has enhanced the sensory experience VANILLA SPECIES commonly called “beans.” of many foods and beverages for hun- There are approximately 110 spe- Vanilla species other than V. dreds of years, and it’s hard to imagine cies of vanilla orchids, but only a planifolia could also be relevant to a contemporary diet without it. few produce the aroma associated an industry in southern Florida. V. x Now imagine your favorite dessert with vanilla extract. Vanilla planifolia tahitensis is a chance hybrid between Citrus Industry June 2017 31 V. planifolia and V. odorata, and is also commercially important on a limited scale. V. pompona is grown on a very limited scale for pharmaceutical and perfume applications. There are also four native vanilla species growing in southern Florida’s state parks and nature preserves. These include V. barbellata, V. phaeantha, V. dilloniana and V. mexicana. These native species are certainly not an immediate solution for commercial production, but their conservation and characteriza- tion could provide useful genetics for a unique vanilla industry in southern Florida. Native species can help uncover useful genetic traits including adaptabil- Figure 1. World production of vanilla, 2004–2014 ity to local environmental conditions, disease resistance, and perhaps unique or enhanced fruit quality. Unfortunately, each native Florida orchid is currently endangered and at risk of being lost before their true value is understood.

VANILLIN Vanillin is the world’s most popular spice, and one of the most expensive. Natural vanillin extract is a premium flavoring and perfuming ingredient with a presumably insatiable global demand. Approximately 15 million kilograms of vanillin were produced in 2010, worth around $1,200 to $4,000 Figure 2. Global vanilla area harvested and world production, 2004–2014 per kilogram, with less than 1 percent coming from vanilla orchids. volume, quality and price are not also been provided by “tutor” trees, A vanilla bean contains about 2 equivalent across producing countries. including citrus trees in some coun- percent vanillin, though the natural Demand for vanillin flavoring tries. In these cases, vanilla cultivation extract contains other components from natural sources, including vanilla acts as a revenue generator while new that also contribute to its quality. orchids, is predicted to increase pri- tree plantings are getting established. Madagascar is regularly the highest marily from 1) growing consumption Otherwise, the vines require structural producer of orchid-based vanillin, fol- of vanillin products including desserts support from some other form of trel- lowed by Indonesia, China and Mexico. like ice cream and chocolate, and 2) a lising. Vanilla orchids do require an Indonesia, Papau New Guinea, China trending force from major food com- establishment period of a few years and Madagascar have the highest gross panies investing in natural ingredients. prior to flowering, and research will production of seed pods (Figure 1). This suggests that demand could be be needed to optimize this process for The United States is one of the increasing specifically for premium southern Florida. biggest importers of cured beans and vanillin flavoring from vanilla orchids. The pods require thermal treat- exporters of the finished product Vanilla cultivation could be suitable for ments, curing, sweating, drying and (vanillin extract), worth $26 mil- southern Florida based on a favorable extraction to produce the full flavor lion in 2004, according to the Food growing environment and high antici- of natural vanilla extract. Various and Agriculture Organization of pated revenue generation. postharvest practices are employed the United Nations. Supply is heav- globally and further optimization ily influenced by environmental and CULTIVATION could increase production and qual- biotic factors leading to volatility Vanilla cultivation requires specific ity of the finished products. Optimal in production and market prices, as infrastructure. First, vanilla orchids growth and plant maintenance shown for global production from require shade. Common nursery shade methods would therefore need to be 2004 to 2014 (Figure 2). Production houses would be suitable. Shade has established for southern Florida. 32 Citrus Industry June 2017 elite cultivars. suggest that demand will especially Obtaining increase for premium, natural vanillin. and increasing High prices for natural vanillin extract stock material could justify investment for domes- for a vanillery tic production. The opportunity for would be relatively vanilla production in southern Florida straightforward. might also justify conservation efforts Information for our native vanilla species that for establishing could guide future breeding work. In and maintaining summary, these challenges and oppor- vanilla plants is tunities should resonate with many in also available from our industry, and are worth further Images courtesy of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the Images courtesy of the Food United Nations multiple sources. A consideration especially when enjoying Figure 3. Manual pollination of Vanilla planifolia systematic breed- your next bowl of ice cream. ing program could CURRENT CHALLENGES additionally provide novel and useful Alan Chambers is an assistant professor V. planifolia currently requires cultivars to support a vanilla industry at the University of Florida/Institute manual pollination in order to set pods in southern Florida. The availability of of Food and Agricultural Sciences (Figure 3). Many homeowners in south- closely related species could also pro- Tropical Research and Education Center ern Florida pollinate their own vanilla vide a route to the creation of superior in Homestead. orchids. The technique is not compli- cultivars, but only sparse information cated, but labor is a major expense for exists for validating this approach. commercial production. Pollination is V. x tahitensis is one example of achieved using a small stick to circum- a chance seedling giving rise to a vent a physical barrier within the flower niche industry. The few native Florida (the rostellum) and introduce pollen orchids may prove especially interest- Visit AgNet Media’s Vegetable onto the stigmatic surface. V. planifolia ing, because they can produce seed and Specialty Crop News website flowers must be pollinated the morn- pods in their natural environments at www.vscnews.com. The site ing they open, before the flowers wither without manual pollination. The features news on big-picture agri- and drop off the vine. mechanisms for this specific trait cultural issues that affect specialty The major pathogens of vanilla are would be worth study in the future. and vegetable crop growers in the Fusarium oxysporum, Colletotrichum “deep Southeast” (Florida, Geor- gia and Alabama). It also contains vanillae and Puccinia sinamononea. CONCLUSION production-related information of Poor cultural practices can increase Vanillin is a timeless ingredient interest to regional growers. disease severity, and cultural practices with increasing demand. Market trends are therefore often the first method to reduce disease impacts. Additional control methods might be necessary Keep your investments growing for high-density production in south- ern Florida. with

GENETICS AND BREEDING There are few vanilla cultivars avail- Sprout Guards may also be custom able for commercial production. V. ordered to any size needed, planifolia is vegetatively propagated and regarding mechanical harvesting. widely distributed, resulting in a lack 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE of genetic diversity in most commercial Don’t have systems. This generally increases the time to risk of potentially devastating disease sprout trees? epidemics like growers are currently Grow them experiencing in citrus and banana. tall and Care must also be taken to obtain straight with virus-free stock material for establishing Black Sprout Guards, 8”x18” Sprout Guards. a vanillery. These risks could be reduced BEST WRAP, BEST PRICE Call today for pricing through a systematic breeding program AND BEST SERVICE Available in 8”x14” and 8”x18” focusing on yield, quality and sustain- Mike Hurst Citrus Services, Inc. (863) 443-0531, [email protected] ability with regular improvements to Citrus Industry June 2017 33