From Seed to Barn

The Duration: The duration from seed planting to harvesting is 17 weeks for shade grown or wrapper leaf plants and 16 weeks for sun-grown or filler and binder leaves. Fields are planted at different times to spread the burden of crop caring.

The Animal Traction: Animal traction is still carefully used for field ploughing so as to properly loosen and aerate the soil.

The Shade Grown: Shade grown, or wrapper leaf plants, demand extra- ordinary labor as these are entirely covered by muslin cloth canopies and individually strung to the frame.

The Harvesting: The plants are ready for harvesting 40 days into the process and one plant can take up to 30 days to harvest, as only 2 to 3 leaves can be picked at one time.