Pommecythere production increased by 150 per cent this year with an expected harvest of more than 250 tons.

Last year farmers reaped 100 tons which they sold at a guaranteed

price of $1.25 a pound to the Trinidad and Tobago Agri-Business

Association (TTABA).

Farmers anticipate a steady rise in

production during the next few years as young trees continue to

flourish and yield more abundantly.

No longer seen only on tall trees at home gardens, pommecythere in a

dwarf variety is grown commercially on 175 acres of land by 115

registered farmers throughout the country.

The green fruit when harvested is processed by the TTABA into frozen pulp and so far has been sold to a niche market here at home.

TTABA officials said the demand for pommecythere has increased in the North American and the

Caricom region in the past few years.

"The industry is young and we are unable to produce in sufficient quantities to supply the retail market," an official said.

He said efforts were being made to blend pommecythere juice with pineapple and other fruits to produce a unique beverage.

He said pommecythere juice was a number one seller in Jamaica and rated second place on the Barbadian beverage market while growing in popularity in St Lucia and other countries.

The official who has been working with the farmers and promoting the product said TTABA supplied health shops and institutional markets and did not have enough to sell to manufacturers for the popular retail markets.

The pommecythere programme started in 2007 when TTABA was mandated by the former government to develop the agricultural sector.

Under the National Agricultural Development Programme, dwarf pommecythere planting material was imported from Grenada and farmers began cultivation two years ago.

Just seven months after transplanting the seedling, the plants began bearing fruits.

Five years after planting, the harvests are expected to be at their highest.

The trees continue to bear fruit for up to 20 years.

Farmer Chaterpal Sinanan began cultivation of pommecythere a few months ago and would be harvesting his first crop around Christmas time.

He said he switched from planting watermelons, hot peppers and other short crops to 20 acres of pommecythere with two full-time workers.

At his farm located at Vega de Oropouche, Sangre Grande 11,000 dwarf pommecythere trees are on the brink of supplying a ready market with a healthy alternative to imported fruit extracts used in manufacturing soft drinks.

TTABA is expecting a further expansion of the industry in the coming years with a steady increase in production.