Organic Pineapple Working Group

[Organic Pineapple Working Group <opwg AT lists.ibiblio.org>]

> Dear Douglas:

> Thanks for your reply and for jogging the group to try to pull a manual
> together.

Let's hope something comes of it - that members respond.

> Regarding Det's original email, I did a "reply all" because Det had 
> copied to a colleague and the PWG email address was in the address list.

Usually, if someone that's not a member attempts to post, ibiblio
sends me a notice - but that didn't happen.

> The only other comment I have is in regards to the "Contamination" item
> in the list of areas to be researched. The item isn't worth researching
> because cross pollination and "contamination" would only become an issue
> if pineapple were to be propagated from seed. Given the length of time
> required to produce a new and superior pineapple cultivar, I believe
> seed propagation is an extremely remote possibility.

That is true.

> You may also know that there currently are no commercial pineapple
> cultivars that have been genetically engineered.

Good point.

> Best regards,
> Duane

I hope the group reads the entire message. I may resend an edited
version using a more appropriate subject.

Nice hearing from you, Duane.

Douglas

> On 2/25/2011 3:12 PM, Organic Pineapple Working Group wrote:
>> Dear Duane and Det:
>>
>> Friday, February 25, 2011, at 2:58:55 PM, Duane Bartholomew wrote to Det:
>>
>>> I am replying to your email because I did not see a reply from the opwg
>>> to you.
>> I never received it, and I subscribed myself via two separate
>> accounts. Neither account received mail from either det AT tipco.net or
>> from him via "Organic Pineapple Working Group"<opwg AT lists.ibiblio.org>
>>
>> Are you sure Det didn't write you directly? Do the headers of his
>> email show he subscribed to the opwg?
>>
>> The opwg archives 
>> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/opwg/2011-February/date.html#225
>> show only two messages during the month of February and both are
>> from you, Duane; this one and the Pineapple News No. 18.
>>
>> Further more, I just checked the Membership List and Det isn't
>> subscribed.  I would be glad to subscribe him, if he wishes.
>> Or he can navigate to http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/opwg
>> and subscribe himself.
>>
>>> I wonder if the group is still active.
>> The group is as active as it's 45 members want it to be.
>> Anyone that has subscribed can email a post to:
>>
>> "Organic Pineapple Working Group"<opwg AT lists.ibiblio.org>
>>
>> And the ibiblio list-servers will send his or her message to each
>> and every OPWG subscriber.
>>
>>> If you did get a reply then perhaps the group has stopped
>>> functioning because there is no one to lead it.
>> Just me Duane.  And this is what I suggest:
>>
>> Judging from your letter, Det apparently asked you for information
>> regarding organic pineapple production - a reasonable request, since
>> it was directed to the Organic Pineapple Working Group. The problem
>> is, some of the information he seeks is available and some hasn't
>> been fully defined as yet.
>>
>> You may recall that a few years back, an organization in Malaysia
>> that had been commissioned by the FAO to draft an Organic Pineapple
>> Production Manual asked us to help them do this. I suggested at that
>> time that we invite OPWG members to collaborate in joint research
>> project and tabulate the results, which would fill in the gaps and
>> demonstrate which alternatives worked best under which conditions.
>>
>> However, the group in question responded that not enough time was
>> available because they had made a commitment to have the document
>> was ready by a certain date. But as far as I know, their Organic
>> Pineapple Production Manual was never published.
>>
>> So (once again) I suggest that first of all, we (the 45 members of
>> the Organic Pineapple Working Group), determine how many of us are
>> interested in participating.
>>
>> This letter is going to all OPWG members and can serve an as
>> Official Invitation.
>>
>> Those participating must either have access to existing data or
>> access to land in an area suitable for pineapple production. (Any
>> questions regarding the suitability of the area can be answered by
>> sending them to "Organic Pineapple Working Group"<opwg AT lists.ibiblio.org>
>>
>> The OPWG information page mentions the following Areas of Research
>> that should be dealt with:
>>
>>    Pest and Disease Control (including prevention);
>>
>>    Maintaining Soil Fertility and Providing for the Plant's and
>>    Fruit's Nutritional Needs,
>>
>>    Natural (and certifiable) Means of Inducing Florescence;
>>
>>    Harvest and Postharvest Handling;
>>
>>    The Development of New Varieties;
>>
>>    Marketing:
>>
>>    Trade Barriers;
>>
>>    Organic Certification;
>>
>>    Contamination (and the loss of organic status) from external
>>    sources (including cross pollination from neighboring genetically
>>    modified pineapple crops); and
>>
>>    The Role of the OPWG in relation to these (and other relevant) issues.
>>
>>> Personally, I do not know anything about organic practices for pineapple
>>> and so far as I know there is no literature on the subject.
>> And that is exactly what I suggest we correct.
>>
>>> Lacking anything else, my recommendation would be to start with
>>> the requirements for growing crops under the organic label and
>>> develop practices from there.
>>> As far as I know there is no list of approved practices for pest
>>> and disease control so rotation would seem to be the best option
>>> for nematode control if they are present.
>> A lot of information is available but we need to determine who is
>> interested in collaborating, then elaborate protocols and design an
>> equitable way of dividing the workload.
>>
>> The OPWG is composed of Organic Pineapple Farmers, Researchers,
>> Specialists in Sustainable Development, some (but not all) of whom
>> have introduced themselves to the group in the past.
>>
>> A number of members are concerned about sharing information with
>> possible competitors, a reasonable concern that we never-the-less
>> may be able to overcome (and the ideas of all members about
>> resolving this problem are welcome).
>>
>> For example: If the pineapple crop will be directed to a market for
>> fresh pineapple, pineapple farmers in Asia have little to fear from
>> those located in the Caribbean or the Americas, so separate research
>> groups can be created to avoid conflicts of interest. (It may be
>> necessary to create additional email list-server groups to implement
>> that scheme among trusted members who have agreed to share
>> information under specific terms).
>>
>>> In the United States there are a few products, e.g.
>>> soaps, sold for pest control but I don't know how effective they
>>> are on pineapple.
>> Det is apparently in Thailand.
>>
>> Furthermore, the concept of agriculture supported by the OPGW is
>> Biologically based. This means that each aspect of the Agricultural
>> (in this case Pineapple) Production System will be based on one or
>> more naturally occurring biological processes.
>>
>> Rather than an Agriculture of bottles, it's an Agriculture based on
>> the labor of beneficial organisms, beginning with the presence
>> activity and diversity of those found in the soil environment
>> itself.
>>
>> Since these processes can (and should) be recreated on each and
>> every pineapple plantation, the end result is to free pineapple
>> growers from their present state of dependence on agrochemicals that
>> cost too much, aren't very effective, contaminate the soil, water and
>> air and perpetuate a state of farmer dependence by eliminating or
>> diminishing the presence, activity and diversity of the soil
>> microorganisms that are not only responsible for the soils
>> fertility, but also produce substances with proven antibiotic
>> activity against many of the pineapples pests and pathogens.
>>
>>> I wish you success as you explore this option for your pineapple 
>>> operation.
>>> With best regards,
>>> Duane
>> Thank you Duane for forwarding Det's letter to the OPWG.  I have
>> been meaning to send out a proposal to OPWG for a few months now,
>> so it was a timely act on your part. (Det, don't forget to subscribe
>> or alternatively, I'll be glad to do it for you if you drop me a
>> line).
>>
>> Douglas Hinds
>> OPWG Chair
>> Mexico
>>
>>> On 2/20/2011 4:35 PM, det AT tipco.net wrote:
>>>> Dear collegues
>>>> I am working in the Tipco Foods (Thailand) PCL. The company business
>>>> is mainly processed and export pineappe. We are interested in growing
>>>> organic pineapple. Could you pls share us the most effective and
>>>> practical practices of growing organic pineapple.
>>>> Look forward to hearing from you soon.
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Det Yoocha
>>>> Senior manager Agriculture
>>>> Tipco Foods (Thailand) PCL
>>>> det AT tipco.net
>>
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