Maia Farms’ Post

Another failure case of Piqaboo® pear in Australia. Zero return of 5 years of investment for this grower.  It performs better in NZ.  Like each of us, each cultivar has its own chrisma while needing the right niche (e.g., climate, soil, etc.) to perform. In the wrong niche they probably can survive while only in the right niche they can thrive. 

Celebrate food forests this #EarthMonth! Based on the science of permaculture, a food forest is a nature-inspired multifunctional agricultural system that provides fruits, vegetables, other edibles, medicines and more. Unlike a traditional farm, a food forest is self-sustaining once established. This means it can feed families for generations while helping Indigenous communities re-establish food sovereignty. CFTC supports Indigenous partners across Canada to establish and cultivate four food forests. Because of these forests: 2,440 trees have been added 🌲 1,645 shrubs have been added 🌳 More than 5,000 pounds of fruits & veggies have been harvested 🥕 28 acres are established and growing 🌱

We thoroughly enjoyed discovering the results of The Hawai'i Cacao Survey on the 2022 Harvest at the last HCCA conference 📝🌴 Conducted by the O'ahu Resource Conservation & Development Council and the Cooperative Extension of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa (CTAHR), the results of the survey are based on the answers from 54 cacao growers around all the islands, covering a total of 172 acres, about the 2022 harvest. Here are some interesting data from the survey: 🫘 91,189 lbs (dry bean) was the total production for 2022 (with an average statewide yield of 536 lbs per acre) 🍫 54% of the 2022 harvest was sold as chocolate, 32% as dry beans and 14% as pods or fresh beans 💰 Almost 30% of the Cacao Farm Sources of Revenue came from tours and on-site events We invite you to participate in the Hawaiʻi Cacao Survey for the 2023-4 Harvest, which will open for responses February 1-28, 2025. Thoughts? 👇🏼

Our new report on greenhouses is out today! Building from a strong track record of growth and innovation, Canada’s greenhouse fruit and vegetable sector has room to grow but must overcome key infrastructure challenges. Key insights: - Canada’s fruit and vegetable greenhouse sector is a hotbed for growth - more than doubling in value over the past decade. - Energy, water, and waste infrastructure limitations could stunt future growth. - Canada’s production boasts the highest yields per area of land among top greenhouse nations. - A key market for export growth is the western United States. - Greenhouses must solve their energy trilemma—of demand, emissions, and bills—to expand. RBC Climate Action Institute

SilverStreet Capital Breaks Records with Unbelievable Table Grape Harvest in Namibia SilverStreet Capital's subsidiary, Silverlands Vineyards, achieved its largest table grape harvest in Aussenkehr, Namibia, packing 2.7 million cartons, a 20% increase from last year. Over seven weeks, 870 containers were shipped, averaging 18 per day. The grapes were sent to Cape Town for export to Europe. Silverlands manages nearly 700 hectares of vineyards. Full article: https://lnkd.in/dFKCBhMX Source: The Brief Get all the latest updates on your phone 📲: https://lnkd.in/dGDrnG4B

Have you heard of the concept of seed saving? 🌱 Every November, Bon Appétit Management Company takes the time to reflect on the rich cultural heritage of Native Americans, whose deep ties to the land have cultivated traditional knowledge systems over centuries. In particular, Indigenous farming practices like seed saving not only ensure the survival of important crops but also cultivate connections to rituals, food traditions, ancestors, and the surrounding ecosystem. Learn more about seed sovereignty in our most recent blog: https://lnkd.in/gU-Z_56c

Watch the full documentary here: https://lnkd.in/eP2CVZPE Grupo Almar Ecuador is a leading Ecuadorian producer, processor, and exporter of whiteleg shrimp, committed to sustainability, innovation, and social responsibility. With a focus on antibiotic-free, traceable shrimp production, Almar produces over 150,000 MT annually while minimizing environmental impact—achieving just 4.18 kg CO2 emissions and 0.54 m2 land per kg of shrimp. Beyond its environmental efforts, Almar creates 3,000+ jobs with wages above local standards, offering quality accommodations and fostering community growth. Almar is positioned to meet the growing global demand for food, producing a nutrient-rich, low-carbon protein source to help feed the world sustainably. This documentary is part of the Ocean Titans, an official series of the World Ocean Council, brought to you by SPECIAL INTEREST FILMS. #GrupoAlmar #Almar #OceanTitans #WorldOceanCouncil #SpecialInterestFilms #Documentary #Environment #EnvironmentalSustainability #EnvironmentalProtection #EnvironmentalResponsibility #Sustainability #SustainabilityAction #SustainabilityGoals #SustainabilityDirective #SustainableDevelopment #Aquaculture #Agriculture #Innovation #SocialResponsibility #Fish #Shrimp #Fishing #ShrimpFarming #FoodSource

Bloom Growers in Kenya transformed their herb export operations by integrating InspiraFarms' energy-efficient on-farm cold room facility. This shift significantly reduced their produce rejection rates, from 40-60% to nearly zero, while drastically cutting power costs. Their herbs pre-cool in under an hour, compared to the previous 7 hours. Discover how our solutions could similarly improve your agribusiness efficiency and sustainability. https://zurl.co/6Clq

FRUTOS DEL GUACABO - SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN PUERTO RICO “Frutos Del Guacabo is a culinary agro-hub farm founded by myself and my wife in 2010 on the northern side of Puerto Rico. Initially, our main purpose was to harvest food and generate another income for our family. But very soon it became clear that we could use this project to have a positive impact on our communities by transitioning into other sectors, including food distribution, value-added products, agrotourism, workshops, and even hospitality. Since day one, food production has been one of the main goals of the farm, to provide a source of delicious and nutritious food for our visitors. This is an important segment of our business due to Puerto Rico’s dangerous food dependence on other countries. Recent history, from natural to manmade disasters, has reminded us of the importance of local food production. Alongside this, our residential and commercial distribution routes allow us to send food far and wide from the farm. Frutos del Guacabo has served as a laboratory to promote the ‘farm to table’ movement in Puerto Rico, revitalising agriculture as a source of economic development.” - Says Efrén Robles and María Del Mar Ortiz in Islands In A Common Sea by Jenny Jefferies and published by Meze Publishing Limited Islands In A Common Sea is a 288 page hardback and retails at £35 and is available from all good book shops and online via Amazon, Meze Publishing and www.jennyjefferies.co.uk #food #farming #puertorico #islandsinacommonsea

🚨 Did you know Barbados imports 95% of its honey? 🚨 Coming out of my research for my Master’s thesis in Financial and Business Economics—and my affiliation with the Barbados Apiculture Association—I’m exploring a topic that’s as sweet as it is urgent: apiculture in Barbados. 🐝 Bees are far more than honey producers; they’re the unsung heroes of our agriculture. Globally, these tiny creatures are responsible for pollinating 35% of the crops we eat. Yet here in Barbados, while the conditions for honey production are great, Barbados imported nearly 1.4 million kilograms of honey, spending almost 9.5 million Barbados dollars between the years 2012 and 2021. In the first episode of this series, we dive into the importance of bees for our food security, the challenges local beekeepers face, and the incredible untapped economic potential of the apiculture sector. This series isn’t just about beekeeping—it’s about exploring how we can: ✅ Reduce honey imports ✅ Support local entrepreneurs ✅ Strengthen our agricultural sector ✅ Protect our environment Join me as I uncover the story behind the buzz and spotlight an industry that can transform our economy and our future. 🎥 Watch Episode 1: The Buzz About Bees: A Key to Food Security in Barbados Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned for the next episode, where we’ll explore the economics of honey production. 🌟 #Barbados #Apiculture #Beekeeping #Agriculture #Sustainability #EconomicDevelopment