Vanilla

I recently learned that vanilla plantations are quite common in Tonga. They grow mostly in shade houses on Vava'u. The family owned company produces vanilla that is distributed around the world. If I choose to take my project in a more agricultural direction, it might be possible to volunteer at the vanilla plantation. Vanilla beans are long and thin. They make sugar, syrup, oil, and honey butters. The plants require a lot of pruning and must have a support tree to grow on. So, the support tree must also be grown on the plantation.

They do what is called "looping," which is a process where new roots are planted in the ground to help the currently growing plants develop better. The plants have to be induced to flowering, ie: the pollination is done by hand. They only flower once a day, so the pollination has to be done once a day. Once the seeds are harvested, the beans are sweated and dried periodically. They are then scalded, wrapped in towels, and placed in a box. The beans dry over a period of 2 months and the entire process takes 5 to 6 months.

<http://tongavanilla.com/growing_vanilla.html>

Although I don't know or understand much about the vanilla process, I look forward to the opportunity to maybe work at a plantation or to at least talk to those that are in charge. I think that this would be a great path to knowing the ins and outs of the agriculture in the kingdom of Tonga.