The demand for whole, cured organic vanilla?

Douglas M. Hinds (dmhinds@acnet.net)
Wed, 05 May 1999 17:02:05 -0600

Both natural (not certified) and OCIA certified whole, semi (air) dried vanilla from eighteen indigenous Indian communities located deep in the mountains of Mexico's Papaloapan Basin are available, in small to moderate quantities and five grades of quality (which relates primarily to the size of the pod). Vanilla itself is native to the area and the eighteen groups of farmers are united cooperatively in a Union and have asked me to help them offer their crop to appreciative buyers.

I am uncertain if whole vanilla is ever marketed as such directly to consumers (or to ice cream makers or bakers, for that matter), since vanilla extract is the form I've seen offered. Still, coffee beans are sometimes sold whole and prepared by those who want the ultimate in a fresh beverage, but does this also apply to vanilla?

Any serious and informative response will be highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
Douglas M. Hinds, Director
Centro para el Desarrollo Comunitario y Rural, A.C.
(Center for Community and Rural Development, Non-profit Association)
Cd. Guzman, Jalisco 49000 Mexico
U.S. Voice Mailbox: 1 630 300 0550 (e-mail linked)
U.S. Fax Mailbox: 1 630 300 0555 (e-mail linked)
Tel. & Fax: 011 523 412-6308 (direct - Cd. Guzman, Jalisco)
Tel. & Fax: 011 528 922-2424 (direct - Reynosa, Tamaulipas)
e-mail: cedecor@acnet.net, cedecor@ipnet.com.mx, dmhinds@acnet.net

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