production french production contributes local economy french major export crop introduction french longer significant export product introduced french french export crop later important cash crop development island economy early 20th century production greater today tons produced annually plantations employing sizable percentage population years production influenced factors declined high tons yield tons largest concentration variety situated island known island produces french background cross strain mexican produced french especially hawaii pods fewer seeds direct competitor mexican exclusively base extract higher levels primarily like scent products include green tea oil powder based history originally crop endemic south_america introduced french french commander pacific admiral delivered dozen specimens plant governor garden new variety subsequently developed area came popularly known special characteristics compared varieties grown parts world particularly respect taste scent resulted greater demand variety introduction occurred year france french years major export united_states france britain initially plantations owned french mainland later local learned processes major producers crop native families involved growth seed pod 20th century chinese came initially labor plantations primary actors processing crop marketing making crop available international market farms owned people french native origins production grown small patches land single crop inter crop needs lot water growth largely grown island initially planted small trees grow height point cut closer soil spreads ground starts flower years old flowering period july august production initially export reached high tons decreased tons metric onset world war exports gradually increased war tons started decline tons export ineffective produce international competition costs transportation processed exchange rates state plant varying global economics availability cheaper varieties affected economics production area centre experimentation established goal reviving economy launched overcome faced economy large production economy cornerstone time effort spark innovation new growing techniques emphasis shifted shade house cultivation intensive labour required controlled indoor climate reduction chemicals necessary outdoor farming controlled growth resulted export record tons present day production largely locally utilized view status symbol cultural identity pride promotional actions instituted government act pride boost production served airline board meal infused production records french specifically accounted total world production tons area hectares acres yield comparative tons yielded plantations madagascar tons yielded indonesia plantations open tourists instance near permits visitors view preparation drying processes island offers tour conducted private outfit takes visitors older plantations situated
Vanilla production in French Polynesia