From the UF/IFAS University of Florida Blogs
by Doug Cadwell "Dr. Dougbug"
Vanilla Production.... in Florida?
Fig. 1. Dr. Elias Bassil shows Twyla Leigh the vanilla orchid’s development
Stand
down chocolate, vanilla is the most purchased flavor of American ice
cream. But where does vanilla flavoring come from? Real vanilla comes
from the bean (seed pod) of the vanilla orchid. Yes, orchid! About 80%
of the planet’s commercial vanilla is grown in Madagascar. There are
over 110 species of vanilla orchids. Some are at home, growing
naturally, in Mexico and Florida.
Dr. Alan Chambers and Dr.
Elias Bassil are University of Florida scientists at the Tropical
Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead, Florida who are
working to make growing vanilla orchid plants for commercial vanilla
bean production a reality in Florida. They are looking at flower
structure, pollination and other variables to make such a crop viable
for the small farmer. Vanilla planifolia is a flat leaf, climbing species that is traditionally known as yielding vanilla extract from its seed pods.
Fig. 2. Developing vanilla orchid fruit pods (“beans”) in the UF|IFAS TREC Bassil Lab & shadehouse.
Among
the dozens of species and cultivars of vanilla orchids that have been
collected and are being grown and studied at TREC are plants from
Southwest Florida (Vanilla pompano
‘Twyla’) donated by the UF/IFAS Extension Collier County Extension
Director, Twyla Leigh – a multi- generation orchid enthusiast.
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Bibliography
Cadwell, Doug, "Dr. Dougbug". "Vanilla Production.... in Florida?" UF/IFAS University of Florida Blogs,
blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/2019/10/25/vanilla-production-in-florida/. Accessed 12 Dec. 2019.
Photographs
Fig. 1 Edmond,Vovener de Verlands. "Dr. Elias Bassil shows Twyla Leigh the vanilla orchid’s development." UF/IFAS University of Florida Blogs,
blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/2019/10/25/vanilla-production-in-florida/. Accessed 12 Dec. 2019.
Fig. 2 Edmond,Vovener
de Verlands. "Developing vanilla orchid fruit pods (“beans”) in the
UF|IFAS TREC Bassil Lab & shadehouse." UF/IFAS University of Florida Blogs,
blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/2019/10/25/vanilla-production-in-florida/. Accessed 12 Dec. 2019.
Published 12 Dec. 2019 LR. Last update 9 Jan. 2024 LR
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