Tropical Fruit

[Taylor]

I have been spending the last year and a half exploring the island in search of tropical fruit. I have read reports, been to hundreds of viveros, visited numerous orchards, spoken with big fruit companies and contacted the few collectors that are here on the island.

My conclusion is that this island is lacking in many great tropical fruits. To solve this, I have been applying for permits from the Secretary of Agriculture to import top quality fruit trees into the county (seedlings from registered viveros).

Unfortunately my initial pleasure with the organization of the Secretary of Agriculture was short lived. My application to import the trees has been met with the almost typical frustration in obtaining anything through the legitimate channels in this country.

The most recent advice I received was to just bring a few seedlings in and to bribe someone at the airport if my bags are checked.

Now, I am not into doing things illegally. Having a bigger variety of fruit trees on the island is a benefit to all. And no, I am not taking about an invasive species or anything that would affect the local environment in a detrimental way. I am only after fruits from tropical climates that have been introduced into all the surrounding islands and central America since the late 1800`s.


Can anyone advise me on how I can achieve my goal???

[Chris]

Money in the right hands will procure the permits. Otherwise, bring in a few seedlings in your luggage - much cheaper.

[Criss Colon]

Just,"What You Can Get Away With,And What You Can't"! The stuff you "Can't Get Away With" just means you haven't "Come To An Agreement" with the right person, ie."Compensation" for them!!!

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[Hillbilly]

If you want to continue busting your chops, go ahead and try and to it "right".

If you want some help, maybe one of the major fruit players here can help you, people like BON, RICA or MAU....If you don't know who they are, you probably should not be trying to do this....

Otherwise, the above two posters have given you good advice for how things are done here. Sorry....you have a good heart...don't deserve the bull sh!t they feed you at the Sec of Ag....bunch of self serving bastids..

HB

[D & D]

You know, I have always wondered why no lemons (yellow real ones) are grown here. They have a stange one that is called a "sweet lemon", but try as I might, I can't figure out what to do with them.

Anyway, what's with limes and no lemons? Like the op said, there must be others. There are several vegetables that I would like get started, but alas, I do not have the space. Danny's got bananas and peppers planted in every square inch! Got four stalks that will be ready in another few weeks. Pretty bad when even the neighbors get tired of them.

Anybody got room for some good old yellow summer squash, field peas and real yams! I'll get 'em in if someone around Santiago would plant them and share. What about Silver Queen sweet corn? Someone (can't remember who) said that honest to goodness sweet corn wouldn't grow here, but for some reason, that just doesn't track. The soil here is so rich here that I've seen rocks with roots! Any thoughts?

Dianne

[vince1956]

Who's been to Tropical Plantation? Vegetables/Fruit Gardens on North Coast

[Hillbilly]

D&D: The reason I got from some ag people is sunlight. Yup, not enough to make the sweet corn grow well. It seems to get stunted. You know in the states, they get more sunlight suring the summer months that we do in the tropics...remember reading the paper outdoors at ten at night??

Try and see.

HB

[Criss Colon]

Dominicans don't seem to take advantage of the seeds that come with every avocado and mango they eat! I do! Eat a good avocado? Plant the seed! Same for mangos! Plant those papaya seeds and "limones" too! Bananas and plantanos are easy. Get some "shoots" to get started and you will have a never ending supply!
Want "FRESH EGGS"????? Get some "Hens & a Rooster and you will soon have lots of eggs and "meat" too! The chickens keep the "Insect" population under control as a bonus!
Want "Protection",get a pair of big dogs! Soon you can supply all your friends and neighbors with "Watch Dogs"! Dominicans like to get free dogs. Just tell them that they are a "Pure Breed" Falkland Island Terriors !
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The dogs will keep "Ladrones" from stealing your fruit too! Dominicans seem to feel it's "OK" to take your fruit,but not to plant anything themselves! I think that it's their need for instant gratification!

[Don Juan]

I once had a chance to visit Bogota, Colombia. The ex-wife (maldita,azarosa), and I, used to go to the market place every so often, and was marveled at the variety of fruits available many of which I'd never seen or tasted ever! If ever had a chance to smuggle these exotic fruit seeds to DR from SA, I would do so without qualms.

[Chip00]

I'm no expert on fruits even though I studied agriculture but where I used to live in Moca in the campo it seemed like their were trees producing all types of edible things like limonsilla, naranja, mango, avocado, platano, guayaba. I do know the soil is very fertile and as long as the fruit/vegetable is from the tropical climates thare shouldn't be much of a problem. Whenever I pay off my house I'd like to buy a 1/4 acre next to my house to plant a garden to have fresh vegetables and fruits every day of the week.