05-11-2007, 05:49 PM
This is a popular food and crop in Costa Rica. From what I heard there and read in some books, harvesting the terminal leaf bud (where the heart is) kills the trunk. So, as Allen notes, you may want to find a multi-trunk species. The Permacopia Book II (containing non-invasive, useful species) lists over 50(!) species of palm, about 15 of which can provide hearts of palm, half of which will kill the tree upon harvesting. There are species that provide edible fruit, like Salak (lychee- and rambutan-like flesh). You can use the inflorescence of some for food, too. There was a palm fruit grown and sold in Costa Rica that looked superficially like oranges that I believe contained a lot of protein.
Permacopia Book III (containing "weeds"
lists another 16 species of palm, some of which have edible hearts.
Permacopia Book III (containing "weeds"
lists another 16 species of palm, some of which have edible hearts.