TECHNOSERVE HONDURAS:
Growing Premium, Naturally Sweet Cocoa Beans
In addition to meeting with the Honduras TechnoServe's
delightful senior staff in San Pedro Sula, we visited Apatch cooperative farmers
in Chocoloma Basin who are growing
"common" cocoa beans at a higher profit thanks to TNS technical and business
training. More importantly,
TNS is helping them experiment to grow an older "Indian" cocoa bean species--which is naturally sweet--for the gourmet dark
chocolate industry,
as well as improving
overall quality of the crop and beans, market access, and processing.
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Our view of the perfect setting for growing premium cocoa was offset
by the (Above L) steep, very rocky road we had to drive then the hill
(Above R) we climbed to approach the cocoa bean plant nursery and (Above Far R) classroom for technical and business training. |
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(Above Far L) A
self-proclaimed greeter welcomes us to the Apatch Cooperative's
nursery (Above L & R) whose seedlings will grow up to bear the |
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Families of farmers in the cooperative work at the nursery to grow
better plants from seeds (Above Far L). The daughter of the Co-op
President demonstrates how premium cocoa is grafted carefully (Above L) onto common cocoa plants. As the grafted branches become fully stable on the grown bushes, (Above & Far R) the caretaker determines when to prune lower quality branches so the plant's nutrient focus is on the premium pods. |
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The colorful seed pods (Above & Far L) look very healthy and almost
ready for harvest. After touring the shade-grown crop, we walk
to the co-op president's farmhouse (Above R) where the family treats us and our TechnoServe staff (Above Far R) to fresh pineapple. |
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