Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world, second only to saffron.

Scientists are now researching how Florida could cash in on the industry.

Could the vanilla bean turn into a potential replacement for the struggling citrus industry?

Or would consumers turn their nose up to the thought of Florida grown vanilla?

To learn more about the spices future in the Sunshine State, we are joined by Doctor Jacqueline Crop and Doctor Xing Bo Wu of the University of Florida.

Welcome Doctor Crop and Doctor Wu.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So, Doctor Crop, let's start with you.

When we think of vanilla, we think of places like Madagascar.

Tell us what in your research says that, you know, potentially Florida could be a great place for this crop.

So Florida's climate is similar to where vanilla is currently being grown.

As you mentioned, it's mostly produced in Madagascar.

And currently the US is the largest importer of vanilla grown in Madagascar.

So we're hoping to capture some of that market.

Doctor Wu, we've heard that vanilla plants can be very labor intensive.

Temperamental.

Or those problematic for our region.

Yes.

Is it Karen?

You're Karen.

It does have a challenge.

At this moment.

But we are talking it, with, new technologies that can be potential uses of that challenging, challenging issue.

The other thing is, despite the the the problems that you are mentioned, I think the, the, economics is really a great, in terms of, growing bananas compared to other crops.

So, doctor crop, we know that Florida's citrus industry has been devastated by citrus greening and obviously other issues.

Are there any similar threats to vanilla or are there things, that really make us think that this could be a big help to, to, to farmers in our region looking at potentially a new crop?

So we are currently in the early stages of exploring the viability of the market.

So most of my work is focused on the consumer perception of Florida grown vanilla and their willingness to pay, for products grown domestically.

And maybe Doctor Wu can speak more of the the pests and disease threats here in the US.

Not not as such a screening.

So banana is a new crop.

And in terms of disease, this is actually a very, resilient crop.

And as a matter of fact, many years ago, we we actually have a banana, forms in Puerto Rico.

And it was a big crop.

However, it is a, disease that we actually, that has caused the big problems and so far is the biggest issue, in farming banana.

And unfortunately, we do have, genetic resistant materials that we are currently, working on to improve the resistance so that we will be able to incorporate it into a commercial banana species that we can, resolve this issue in terms of has so far, we have not observed, any in, pressing issues with, with pests or insects.

So, really the, the unknown or the other issue, that potential, potential that we will have is actually the, the weather.

But as I mentioned, banana is really resilient and it's a, it's an orchid.

And really loves the place.

And it's has a great ability to reincorporate after damage.

So I think this is, this is a very promising crop to Florida.

So, doctor Crop, you said you are studying how the public might respond to this.

What do we know so far?

So far, we have done, couple of, sensory panels, where we've had individuals come in and sample the Florida grown product extracts alongside, commercially available products such as McCormick's, both their artificial and their extract.

And in the blind taste, we actually found that our panelists preferred the artificial vanilla.

Really.

But the ratings of the Florida grown was very similar to the McCormick's vanilla extract.

And, we repeated the analysis with, another study using two products grown in Florida and then actually providing some information about whether or not it was the natural product.

Or the artificial.

And, we found when the, the panelists had information about the products, they, they rated the Florida products again, very similar to the commercially available McCormick's.

So is it all about marketing, the fact that it is a homegrown product in the USA?

So, so from the results of the second study are very preliminary, but it does appear that consumers are interested in the product, being natural, so are willing to pay more when it is labeled as, natural vanilla extract.

Kind of regardless of where it's produced.

So the United States doesn't have a commercial vanilla production industry.

Currently, we import more than $194 million worth of vanilla.

How hard is it to to launch, an industry like this and make an impact in the world?

Great question.

So, we aim to really, jump start our, vanilla industry in Florida through genetics and breeding.

So we are looking at, you know, because given the current issues with extreme weather and instability of the market.

So we really want to make sure that we have a stable supply and we can tackle this by, breeding a new varieties that has, high quantity, of high quality beans as well as new flavor profiles.

We have a few farmers that are already, growing within a, not at a small relative small scale, and it has been proven successful.

So, we feel good about three, four years.

We have, have more results coming up very soon.

Doctor crop, I'll let you have the final word.

So if we look at the history of vanilla in Madagascar, it's actually fairly recent as well.

My understanding is that they're they're vanilla.

Industry really took off in the 90s.

So it certainly can happen here with the proper investment in the industry and the infrastructure.

All right, doctor, crop doctor Will, thank you so much for your time.

Thank you for having us.