Today 29th April 2025, the Cades Bay Pineapple Station completed the planting of the second batch of Antigua Black Pineapple plantlets. This marks a crucial step in preserving and expanding the twin island’s most prized fruit ICON.
Agricultural team planted 5,000 suckers at the government-operated station, bringing the total number of Antigua Black plants in the ground to 10,000, for the current cultivation phase.
“This batch is showing even stronger growth potential than our previous planting six weeks ago,” said Cades Bay Station Manager Mr. Jamel Ralph, referencing the initial 5,000 plants that achieved a remarkable 99% survival rate. “We have fine-tuned our approach with better fertilizers and pest management, so we’re expecting even better results with this batch.
An additional 5,000 plants – including 1,000 already on-site and 4,000 soon to arrive – will complete the 15,000 plant first phase of the project by mid-2025.
The Antigua and Black Pineapple, celebrated for its uniquely sweet, low-acid flavor, requires careful propagation to maintain its genetic integrity. After early tissue culture efforts showed signs of unwanted variation after numerous duplications, the station sourced fresh traditional suckers from local farmers to continue the process with a clean sample.
“We noticed some off-type material when we relied too heavily on lab-propagation,” explained Mr. Bradbury Browne – Project Consultant. “Now we are working directly with Antiguan growers to collect the best specimens and ensure we’re preserving the true Black Pineapple lineage. Samples from these plants will undergo DNA characterization later this year to verify their authenticity.
The station has secured an additional 25,000 tissue culture plants, set to arrive in batches of 5,000 starting in August or September. A newly prepared acre at Cades Bay will accommodates this expansion.
“By the end of the year, we should have well over 20, 000 plants in production,” Browne confirmed. “This puts us on track to not only preserve the Antigua Black Pineapple but also increase commercial supply for local and international markets.”
With its rich history and premium taste, the Antigua Black Pineapple remains a point of national pride. The cades Bay Pineapple Station efforts ensure that this iconic fruit will continue thriving for generations – while creating new opportunities for farmers and exporters alike.