History of Dominica Vanilla and Markets outlook

"Prices of vanilla beans today: US $120 per pound"

History

Vanilla: (E) (Vanilla fragrans) A climbing orchid native to Mexico, but cultivated in the Caribbean, Java, Mauritius and other tropical regions for the seed pod, the vanilla bean, which yields vanilla extract. The green stem climbs by aerial rootlets and bears thick oblong leaves and clusters of large yellow-white flowers in February – March.

The flowers have to be pollinated by hand because the insect that performs this naturally does not exist here. The pods are about 8 inches long with an aromatic pulp and small black seeds. They are picked green and then dried to prepare the extract.

Dominica produced small quantities of vanilla from the 18th century, but the industry grew after the collapse of the lime boom in the 1920s, reaching its peak towards the end of World War II when shipments from Madagascar and the Far East to the US were disrupted.

A Dominica Vanilla Growers Association (DVGA) was formed in the 1940s, but local setbacks, including a disastrous fire in which a whole season's crop was lost, and international changes such as post-war shifts in trade and the invention of artificial vanilla essence, vanillin, killed the market. But by then farmers were shifting to their new hope: bananas! (The Chronicle)

A 30 page, 1967 report by the DVGA, which one would like to think is in the Ministry, can give us pertinent information on the history, conditions of production and marketing of vanilla on the island.

Market Conditions

Dominica vanilla production has dwindled but there are a few devoted farmers on the island. The effort to revive the association is owed to the rise in prices and the need for Dominica to find a sustainable alternative to bananas.

With the rise in vanilla usage (#1 spice in the world) particularly in sodas such as vanilla Coke and vanilla Pepsi, coupled with the low production in Madagascar, the largest producer of vanilla beans, prices have rocketed. Still more, with consumer bending towards natural or organic food, real vanilla is taking precedence over artificial flavors.

That's not all, the Food and Drug Administration makes it difficult for companies to shift from pure vanilla extract to cheaper alternatives. The agency has strict guidelines on what can be sold as vanilla extract, vanilla flavoring, vanilla powder and other concentrated forms.

It takes one gallon of pure vanilla extract to flavor 100 gallons of ice cream

According to Laurie Harrsen, spokeswoman for the U.S. consumer division of McCormick & Co. Inc, the world Largest spice marketer, prices of vanilla beans is over $120 a pound. It is note worthy to point of that McCormick has spent more than $25 million on a "strategic" supply of vanilla beans in its past quarter to ensure it has access to the basic flavor.

Prices of vanilla extract is now over $275. a gallon." Prices doubled two or three years ago, and I see them doubling again this year," said Lynda Utterback, executive director of the National Ice Cream Retailers Association (Sunspot.net)

Join the movement to revive the association. contact us: market@buydominica.com

For more info please see article on vanilla by the director of Buydominica

Links

The Vanilla Report
The Vanilla Report/La Lettre de la Vanille is a bi-lingual publication which provides the vanilla commodity market with the technical and objective information it needs

Vanilla Growing and Cultivating

Vanilla Prices Soar

National Ice cream Retailers Association

Vanilla sweetens Indian Lives

Dominica Vanilla Growers Association

Article on Reviving the Vanilla Association

Vanilla Prices as high as $500.00 per Kilo

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