Following a period of low price stability a variety of factors are once again coalescing to drive vanilla bean prices upward. Daily reports of global fuel and food inflation, growing demand in Asia and a weak US dollar are threatening recession here at home. In Madagascar, many farmers have stopped maintaining their vanilla crop during a glut that hurt their earnings the past two years. As a consequence, a virus threatens to cripple over a third of Malagasy vanilla vines.

The bottom line: expect vanilla bean prices to increase by next year. If you have not already done so, this may an opportune time to consider our Natural Vanilla Flavor alternatives to Pure Vanilla Extract . Please see our dedicated webpage and call us for details and samples.