Pineapples, machetes and the unknown

April 24, 2015

A random sampling of the pineapple plants in Bauya, Sierra Leone, shows that the forcing process started by local workers in early March was successful. Five plants were uprooted and with a machete, bisected straight down the middle to reveal a clean cross-section of the plant’s interior. Four out of the five plants look exactly as they should. We anticipate a July harvest for the pineapples and are actively seeking a backup buyer for the crop in case the initial buyer is unable to accept the harvest.

Regardless, we know that one return on our investment is the knowledge gained by the local workers. They have learned additional pineapple farming techniques in field preparation, sucker planting and fruit forcing. Soon they will experience pineapple harvesting on a large scale in a country with an ideal climate for growing pineapples. Also, there will be tens of thousands of suckers following harvest, which can grow into new pineapple plants. We expect the workers to start new pineapple plots with these suckers and continue using their experience to grow food to eat and to generate income.