Yellow Coconuts

Wish I could remember the details......

In the 1970's and 80's a planthopper carried bacteria wiped out virtually all of the coconut palms in Southern Florida and the east coast of Mexico. In 1985 in Playa del Carmen, all that was left were the trunks without their tops. We were shown pictures from before of the gorgeous trees, and saw the aftermath ourselves. While traveling south along the east coast there were a number of check points specifically looking and asking for coconuts and their products in an attempt to keep the problem from crossing to the West coast.

At the same little beach at Playa del Carmen a year later there were baby cocos planted everywhere. One of the universities had worked on and found a variety that was not affected by the virus. The trees were being produced literally by the millions and being spread everywhere at no cost. They were very easy to spot-yellow coconuts and quite yellow foliage.

All over the coastlines, people were encouraged to plant the new cocos.

So, the coconut trees that are in front of The Thompson/Viceroy/Villa del Sol are the "new" disease resistant ones, they aren't sick or neglected.