Agriculture

• Sugar is Belize's largest export and is the main source of foreign exchange.
• There are 60,000 acres of sugar cane in Orange Walk, Corozal and Cayo.
• Belize's banana industry started with four farmers in the 1800
• There is 6,175 acres of banana plantations in Stann Creek and Toledo.
• Grapefruit is the first citrus to be exported.
• Grapefruit was first grown by 3 investors.
• There are now 48,000 acres of citrus(lime, grapefruit, orange).
• Belize exports fish, lobster and snapper.
• 500,000 lobsters are exported yearly.
• Aquaculture farms are in Ladyville and Corozal. These farms grow Tilapia, Cobia and Shrimp.
• Belize had a papaya farm in Corozal but a storm blew them all down.
• Belize grows their grain in Cayo, Toledo and Orange Walk using the Milpa system.
• They export grains such as beans (soy, kidney, blackeye), corn and rice.
• New grains were added recently. These are blackbeans, smallbeans and cranberry beans.
• The competitors with these recent beans are the USA and Brazil.
• Belize has been in the Cacao industry since 1950.
• We export criollo cacao and hybrid cacao.
• The recent industry of pineapple currently has 500 acres.
• Belize exports Hayden, Keith and Tommy Atkins mangoes.
• There are only a couple of acres of Guava.
• Cashews are grown in Crooked Tree. It is used for nuts, wine and stew.
• There are 8,000 acres of coconut.
• We export cohune tree oil. Cohune can also be used for wine.
• Sorell is used for drinks. The season is from December to January.
• Belize exports sheep, cattle and goat.
• Cotton has been exported to Japan and Switzerland.