It seems like there’s coconut in everything these days.  Not only can you find it in a wide array of foods and beverages, but it has also become a common sight in healthcare supplements, cosmetics, and even textiles. 

With this incredible range of usages, it’s no wonder that the coconut market is expected to exceed $38 billion by 2030.

But what makes coconut so versatile? What makes this crop the so-called ‘tree of life’? Read on to discover why coconut is one of the world’s most unique and attractive superfoods. 

The Tree Of Life

The coconut is a complex and incredibly unique species. Without getting too deep into phylogenetics or plant biology, the coconut palm, or Cocos nucifera, is considered a woody herbaceous perennial, meaning that it lacks true “wood” and is therefore not technically a “tree” in strict botanical terms. 

Although it is a bit technical, it’s worth taking the time to understand what an herbaceous perennial is, because this characteristic is key to the productivity and life cycle of the coconut. For example, the ‘perennial’ aspect means that the plant produces new herbaceous growth from one production cycle to the next. In the case of the coconut palm, new shoots develop every three weeks to a month, each with its own cluster of flowers that will ultimately develop into coconuts. 

This phenomenon grants coconut palms an amazingly long lifespan. A well-tended palm, depending on variety, can produce for upwards of 50 years, making coconut one of the longest-lasting productive crops known to man. With its year-round production and incredibly long life span, it’s no wonder that the coconut palm is widely known as the tree of life. 

Coconut Varieties 

The exact origin of the coconut is under dispute. While many scientists think Indo-Malaya or the Pacific Islands off the coast of Australia are most likely, others find early evidence in South America. To complicate matters, coconuts can self-spread by floating great distances across the ocean and then growing on whichever beach they happen to wash up on.

There are two main varieties of coconut commonly cultivated across the world: 

·  Caribbean Tall: Also called the Jamaican Tall, this is the iconic coconut tree that people think of when they imagine tropical islands. These palms begin to bear in 6 to 8 years and have a productive lifespan of as long as 50 to 60 years. 

·  Malayan Dwarf: This high-production variety is shorter and produces quickly after 3 or 4 years. Malayan Dwarf has good resistance to disease and is a very popular variety amongst growers, although its life span is shorter. 

While dwarf varieties are considerably smaller, tall varieties can grow to be 25m to 30m (80-100ft) tall. Both are topped with giant palm leaves that can be up to 5.5m (18ft) long and 1.2m (4ft) wide.

To create a reliable, productive, and healthy crop, growers create hybrids by carefully controlling pollination. By carefully cross-pollinating these two varieties, growers can create hybrid varieties that feature the best of both worlds; the higher productivity of the dwarf variety and the longer lifespan of the tall variety. 

The Coconut: Fruit Or Seed?

One question that people often ask when thinking about the coconut is: what is it, really? Is it a fruit? A seed? A nut? 

To be honest, the science is still a bit out on that one. Technically, coconuts are none of those things; they’re a one-seeded drupe, or dry drupe, which has aspects of all of them but escapes any strict classification.

Drupes, coconut included, have three distinct layers: the exocarp (the husky outer layer), the mesocarp (fleshy middle layer), and the endocarp (hard, woody layer that surrounds the seed). Within the seed itself are the delicious water and meat that are so highly sought after all over the world. 

Why is this important? Well, it’s this unique drupe characteristic that makes coconut such an amazingly versatile product. The exocarp and mesocarp, more commonly known as the husk, can be used in textiles and as fertilizer. The water can be consumed raw, but is often pasteurized for additional shelf life, and the meat can be processed into coconut milk, coconut oil, and other products. 

The harvest timing of coconuts determines the preferred usage of the crop. Traditionally, harvests are targeted for two distinct usages:

Young Coconuts: Green coconuts are typically harvested at 6 to 7 months for coconut water. At this age, the coconut water has reached a peak sweetness.

Mature Coconuts: Coconut oil and milk are made from the copra (or “meat”) that is harvested from mature coconuts. A coconut reaches maturity when it turns brown about one year after the flowers appear. Mature coconuts will eventually fall off where they can be gathered and used, although most are picked before this happens.

Growing Coconut

Coconut, while robust and highly resilient, does have certain growing requirements, and it goes without saying that the crop is best-suited to tropical regions.

·         Soil pH: Coconuts tolerate a wide range of soil pH, from 5.0 to 8.0, and does best in sandy clay and other high-drainage soil profiles.

·         Nutrient Requirements: Coconuts are subject to nutrient deficiencies, but thrive with routine applications of slow release fertilizers to provide sufficient nutrients while preventing leaching.

·         Adequate Moisture: Coconuts are drought tolerant and will survive long periods of dry soil. However, consistent moisture is provided to ensure maximum production. Most coconuts prefer 75cm to 125cm (30-50 inches) of rainfall each year, and much of this is provided by Colombia’s ideal climate.

·         Consistent Temperature: As much as we enjoy the warm weather on a tropical vacation, the coconut relishes temperatures around 22C (72F), which is another reason why Colombia is well suited to coconut production.

After reaching biological maturity, which generally occurs five to six years after planting depending on the variety, coconut palms begin to produce flower clusters (called inflorescences) that range between 60cm and 90cm (2-3ft) long. These flower clusters contain both male and female flowers, and each pollinated female flower will grow into a coconut. Each cluster will produce between 5 and 20 coconuts, with a new pod developing every month.

When carefully controlled by an experienced and dedicated farmer, coconut palms can produce up to 120 nuts per tree in a year, once fully mature. Taking into account its long life span, this makes coconut one of the single most productive crops on the planet.

Coconuts for the Past, Present, and Future

For many, the coconut has become a symbol of long-term social and economic stability. As people all over the world consume and use products from coconuts, this rising demand has created empowering opportunities for communities in Colombia and elsewhere around the world.

Wherever coconuts come from, they are one of the most sustainable crops in the world since all parts of the plant and fruits can be used for different purposes:

·         Beverages: Coconut water can be taken from young, green fruits, and the pulp can be blended with water to make coconut milk.

·         Food: The copra can be pressed into oil (and the residual pulp is used as animal feed) or dried for baking or eating.

·         Textiles: The coir, or dried husk, is turned into rope, mats, baskets, brushes, brooms, and more.

·         Horticulture: The coir is also an environmentally friendly replacement for peat moss and is widely used in hydroponic operations.

·         Cabinetry and Construction: The trunk makes exceptional fine carpentry wood called porcupine wood, while the leaves can be used for thatching or basket making.

·         Health and Beauty Products: The many health benefits of coconut oil are well known and it is used as a plant-based product in many cosmetic and natural health products.

Very few crop types, if any, can boast such versatility, making coconut highly unique within the universe of agriculture.

Coconut For The Future

The coconut palm has been ingrained in the public eye as a symbol of dreamy tropical getaways. Just looking at one conjures images of clear skies, ocean breezes, and warm, cozy spots in the sand. 

But the coconut is much more than its image. It’s a highly valued (and increasingly scarce) product that’s used in a huge variety of consumer goods and is gaining popularity as a healthy alternative all over the world. 

With coconut demand growing steadily year after year and traditional regions of production declining their harvests, coconut producers across the world will be rewarded by favorable supply/demand dynamics and changing consumption patterns in target markets. Get in touch with our team to learn how you can own coconut farmland assets today.

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