It has become a bit of a joke that Rupert, Finca Chocolat’s Farm Manager, has a “favorite tree”. This is a Cordia Alliodora (locally known as Salmwood) and is one of the first batch of Salmwood trees that we planted in 2022. Belize it or not this tree is not quite 3 years old and is a testament to the speed at which Salmwood grows in the right environment with proper care. (click the picture to see it properly)
When we purchased the farm in 2015 much of it had been previously cleared for cattle. We are working diligently to return the land to a more natural state with a canopy of hardwood trees under which we will plant cacao when the time is right. This canopy will provided needed shade for the cacao and help create an environment favorable to the midges that pollinate cacao trees.
Salmwood is an ideal species to intercrop with cacao as it provides just the right amount of shade when planted at the right density for cacao to prosper. As of July 2024 we have approximately 7,000 Salmwood already in the ground we have another 9,000+ in the nursery to plant out later this year!