Growing Our Future: Salmwood Planting at Finca Chocolat
After successfully planting approximately 18,000 cacao trees from our nursery in 2024, we’re shifting our focus to another essential project: planting over 5,000 Cordia Alliodora (Salmwood) trees that we grew from seed right here at Finca Chocolat.
These trees are destined for areas of the farm that had been clear-cut by the previous owner for cattle grazing. By planting Salmwood in these open spaces, we’re taking a crucial step toward revitalizing the land. In just three to four years, these trees will create the shade needed to reintroduce cacao to these areas, further expanding our farm’s capacity.
This year marks a milestone for us, as we transitioned from purchasing Salmwood saplings in previous years to growing them entirely in-house. The results have been remarkable—our nursery-grown trees are twice the size of those we had purchased at the same age. With their strong start, these saplings are well-equipped to thrive in the fields and grow quickly into the shade-giving giants our cacao depends on.
Every tree we plant is a step toward a more sustainable and productive future, both for our farm and the ecosystem we’re working to restore. Here’s to growth—in every sense of the word!
