08/24/10 00:40:01 @seneca-klassen:
Vertically integrated, from establishment, through post-harvest and chocolate making.
08/23/10 02:17:49 @chad-settlemier:
Nice.. We have 8 acres too but not all of it will be cacao.Will you be processing your pods when you have them or sell them? Will you be making your own chocolate?
08/23/10 02:11:42 @seneca-klassen:
We've got about 8 acres on the north shore, and another couple on the windward side. We'll be planting more next year as well!
08/23/10 01:59:00 @chad-settlemier:
Thanks. Nice blog.. How many acres of cacao do you have planted now?
05/27/10 14:12:06 @heather-andall:
thanks Seneca and Clay...I think I must have got confused thinking that drought shocks some trees into producing more fruit.
05/26/10 10:55:12 @seneca-klassen:
Exactly...in my observations of cacao here in Hawaii, a particularly wet rainy season has two major impacts: a bloom in midge population, and especially vigorous trees that can support a heavy load of fruit.
05/26/10 08:03:39 @clay:
Heather -Water is essential to cacao in several ways. Of course, it's necessary all year round to support the growth of the tree and pods. In addition, the population of midges in the leaf litter on the ground is supported by moisture. During the rainy season the midge population thrives and explodes, pollinating the flowers. If the rainy season is dry the midge population is lower and pollination rates are correspondingly lower meaning fewer pods.There's a fascinating chapter on this topic in a book called The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao by Allen Young.
05/25/10 15:21:20 @heather-andall:
This is very interesting, I was working on the assumption that an extra dry, dry season , like the one we just had, would produce a bumper crop. We are just entering rainy season now, so I hope it's as wet as your was and gives us as many pods.
Vertically integrated, from establishment, through post-harvest and chocolate making.
Nice.. We have 8 acres too but not all of it will be cacao.Will you be processing your pods when you have them or sell them? Will you be making your own chocolate?
We've got about 8 acres on the north shore, and another couple on the windward side. We'll be planting more next year as well!
Thanks. Nice blog.. How many acres of cacao do you have planted now?
That's one of my mother trees. I'm on Oahu: http://kokachocolate.wordpress.com
Is this trinitario pure or a mix? Is this tree yours and are you somewhere in Hawaii?
Have to call it Trinitario, not that that means much.
What variety is this tree?
thanks Seneca and Clay...I think I must have got confused thinking that drought shocks some trees into producing more fruit.
Exactly...in my observations of cacao here in Hawaii, a particularly wet rainy season has two major impacts: a bloom in midge population, and especially vigorous trees that can support a heavy load of fruit.
Heather -Water is essential to cacao in several ways. Of course, it's necessary all year round to support the growth of the tree and pods. In addition, the population of midges in the leaf litter on the ground is supported by moisture. During the rainy season the midge population thrives and explodes, pollinating the flowers. If the rainy season is dry the midge population is lower and pollination rates are correspondingly lower meaning fewer pods.There's a fascinating chapter on this topic in a book called The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao by Allen Young.
This is very interesting, I was working on the assumption that an extra dry, dry season , like the one we just had, would produce a bumper crop. We are just entering rainy season now, so I hope it's as wet as your was and gives us as many pods.