07-30-2022, 10:20 PM
OK.
Here is some basic info on the Mauna Kea orchard:
https://keolamagazine.com/food/fabled-fruit-orchard/
Somebody tried growing apples at 6000 foot elevation, the trees survived, but there is no orchard industry. Most likely because land is expensive, and fruit production is so low per tree and per acre you can’t make a living in the business. Growing an apple in your yard is far different from growing for market.
Condensation towers: have you ever seen an orchard watered by condensation towers? I haven’t. Also, condensation towers only work in low humidity, not the 70-90% humidity levels in Hawaii.
Potatoes: they will grow in Hawaii, and for a brief two years 1850-1851 there was a potato industry in the islands:
“In 1851 Irish potatoes were exported to the amount of 43,923 barrels, sweet potatoes to the amount of 56,717 barrels. Eighteen fifty-one was a year of disasters in California and of drought and depression in Hawaii.”
https://imagesofoldhawaii.com/nu-kaliponi/
Gold rush prices made it possible, a return to normal supply, demand, and pricing made it impossible to make a living selling Irish potatoes grown in the islands.
Here is some basic info on the Mauna Kea orchard:
https://keolamagazine.com/food/fabled-fruit-orchard/
Somebody tried growing apples at 6000 foot elevation, the trees survived, but there is no orchard industry. Most likely because land is expensive, and fruit production is so low per tree and per acre you can’t make a living in the business. Growing an apple in your yard is far different from growing for market.
Condensation towers: have you ever seen an orchard watered by condensation towers? I haven’t. Also, condensation towers only work in low humidity, not the 70-90% humidity levels in Hawaii.
Potatoes: they will grow in Hawaii, and for a brief two years 1850-1851 there was a potato industry in the islands:
“In 1851 Irish potatoes were exported to the amount of 43,923 barrels, sweet potatoes to the amount of 56,717 barrels. Eighteen fifty-one was a year of disasters in California and of drought and depression in Hawaii.”
https://imagesofoldhawaii.com/nu-kaliponi/
Gold rush prices made it possible, a return to normal supply, demand, and pricing made it impossible to make a living selling Irish potatoes grown in the islands.