Aloe vera is a medicinal plant that has been used for centuries. However, the high demand for aloe vera products means that the plants are grown in monocultures on plantations.
Where are aloe vera plantations located and how is the plant grown?
Aloe vera plantations are located primarily in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, Macaronesia and Spain. The plants are mostly harvested by hand, and there are also organically grown aloe vera plantations that comply with EU organic regulations.
Where is aloe vera grown in plantations?
Aloe vera is grown in different parts of the world. The main growing areas are
- the South of the USA
- Mexico
- Central America
- Macaronesia
- Spain (especially the Canary Islands)
According to the producer “Forever”, the world's largest plantation is located in the Dominican Republic with over 2,600 hectares. The company operates a cultivation area of 1,000 hectares in Texas. The USA and Mexico are considered the largest exporters of aloe vera gel. The farms in Europe, on the other hand, have significantly smaller cultivated areas.
Is aloe vera grown organically on plantations?
There are aloe veraplantationsthat grow the plantsorganic. If the farms are in Europe, they must be grown and processed in accordance with the relevant EU organic regulation. You can find information about this on the websites of the various producers. Alternatively, you can also grow aloe vera plants at home and harvest them yourself.
How is aloe vera harvested on plantations?
Aloe vera leaves areharvested by hand. The frost-sensitive plants aged between four and ten years are considered to be of particularly high quality. When buying aloe vera products in Germany, you should make sure that the plants are freshly processed. You can get help with quality checks through specific certificates.
Tip
Visit an aloe vera plane tree
If you would like to visit an aloe vera plantation, you will find numerous farms online that welcome visitors. Since the visitor programs are different, you should find out in advance whether the offer meets your needs.
