Black Gold Rising: 11,000 Antigua Black Pineapples Now Planted at Cades Bay by Brent Simon

Cades Bay, Antigua – July 10, 2025

The revival of Antigua’s national fruit has hit another milestone: Eleven thousand (11,000) disease-free Antigua Black pineapple clones are now planted in the soil at Cades Bay Agricultural Station.

The final thousand (1,000) plantlets were planted today, completing the propagation phase under the Ministry of Agriculture’s rehabilitation project is  an IICA initiative, supported by CARDI, regional plant labs and other partners.

Mr. Craig Thomas, IICA’s Representative, stated that he was pleased with the progress made. “It’s good to see this phase completed. But we’re not out of the woods—literally. Weed growth has been a persistent challenge,” he said.

Thomas wasn’t alone in his concern. Mr. Bradbury Browne, a senior technician attached to the project, also raised red flags. “Weeds are one issue, but just as urgent is the need for tighter control of nutrient feeding. These plants won’t reach full potential unless we’re precise with how they’re fed.”

Jahmal Ralph, Station Manager at Cades Bay, is now tasked with leading the team through the critical maintenance phase—managing growth, monitoring plant health, and addressing field-level issues before distribution to farmers can begin later this year.

Both Thomas and Browne agreed that field management needs tightening to protect the investment. The next few months will determine whether the groundwork laid so far translates into healthy crops and eventual island-wide planting.

This effort to restore the Antigua Black pineapple—renowned globally for its sweetness and cultural symbolism—is the most comprehensive since its decline began decades ago. If successful, it will not only revive a heritage crop but reinvigorate local agriculture with export potential.