Agriculture
The principle revenue source for Harmonia will come from the sale comes from citrus from 600 seedless limes trees. These trees are the hardiest of the citrus and require less fertilizer than orange and grapefruit. A five-year-old citrus tree can produce a minimum of 1,500 to 2,000 limes annually. Seedless limes are the most commercially viable and in high demand for export. The current wholesale farm price is 4 cordobas, or 6000 ($164) per tree at the low end.
The initial planting starts with 600 3 year-old seedless lime trees that will generate fruit the first year (approximately $15 per tree). The citrus groves will be planted in rows of two along the south perimeter of Harmonia, making a natural security fence and sufficient space away from housing for privacy concerns.
We will also have a minimum of 25 Key lime trees throughout the property. Mature trees can produce 3,000 limes per tree annually and will are more that are more prolific for the personal use membership and commercial sale. The present price is 2 cordobas per lime, about $150 per tree.
We will plant sweet orange, sour orange and some grapefruit as borders between houses, but primarily for use of residents. Excess will be sold locally in Cardenas and Colon and are not included in projected revenue.
Passion fruit (calala) is the secondary source of agricultural income. Under optimal growing conditions, a single passion fruit vine can produce 30 to 50 pounds approximately 100 to 300 passion fruits annually. The present wholesale farm price is 6 cordobas, or $20 to $50 per plant. Approximately 150 calala vines will be planted as a border along roads and between houses.
Plantain plants produce multiple hands, and each hand contains several plantains. A single plant can produce 50 to up to 300 plantains. The farm wholesale price is approximatly 3 cordobas (retail is 10 cordobas), with each tree producing $5 to $10 in potential revenue. Presently we have 400 plantain plants.
Bananas have lower profit margins and are more attractive to the wildlife, so banana plantings will primarily serve members of Harmonia.
Pitaya (dragon fruit) is a valuable domestic and import crop. Plants generally start producing fruit within 1-2 years after planting, with peak production occurring around 3-5 years. One plant can produce 20 to 60 fruits per year. Wholesale farm price is 20 cordobas per fuit, generating about $15 per plant. We wil plant five sections with approximatly 100 cactus per section.
Papaya is an easy, prolific tree geneating a continuous supply of fruit throughout the year. We wil focus on papaya hawaiaana, which is smaller, sweeter and preferred by consumers and exporters. The average farm wholesale price is about $1 per papaya. We will have at least 500 trees tht will generate an estimated 60 fruits per tree after calcultaing damage from wildlife.
Ginger and Turmeric will be used as landscaping and borders along proads and in between houses. A single ginger plant can produce between 1.5 to 2 pounds ginger rhizomes annually, with eturmeric produces about 1 to 1.5 pounds annually. We will have 500 ginger plants and 1000 turmeric plants. The wholesale farm price is about US$.50 per pound.
Watermelon, cucumber and pipian will be planted seasonally for reveneue and members use. Cucumbers about $.10, while farm wholesale watermelon is appropximatly $1.50. It is difficult to estimate the yield, as bugs can be a factor. Because they take up a lot of space, these wil be smaller plantings primarily for members and sold to the local community on Cardenas, Colon and Sapoa.
Flowering Plants and Trees
In addition to agriculture, we will sell flowering plants and trees from seeds collected on our farm.
Pink orchid trees are wonderful landscape material, generating dozens of seed pods annually. They sprout quickly and can grow to one meter in a few months. These will be sold in farmers markets ($2-$3) and to comemrcial nurseries ($1).
Guanacaste, genicero, and malinche trees are in high demand. We will be bagging a thousand of each tree annualy to regenerate at Harmonia and for sale to commercial nurseries.