We often ask our farmers, "what would you do if the market price of vanilla dropped overnight from $500 per kilo to $50 per kilo?" Although it's unrealistic, it's important that they keep the reality of the market in the back of their minds during both difficult and prosperous times.
Prized for it's dominance in the industry, Madagascar vanilla continues to receive high demand throughout the world. Many vanilla farmers are now employing a 24/7 armed security guard and tattooing their vanilla crops to prevent theft.
Vanilla Orchid flowers are hermaphroditic, which means they contain both male and female parts. Because of a plant tissue in each flower called the Rostellum that covers the stem, the flower cannot self pollinate.