“Grapes Man” tries growing another exotic: dragon fruit

After daring to do the unthinkable, Devon Gilead known as “Grapes Man” – who has already proved that grapes, a fruit many dismissed as impossible to grow in Guyana’s tropical climate, could indeed thrive here – now sets his sights on another “exotic”: dragon fruit. Gilead has now invested more than $5 million into 1,000 self-pollinating dragon fruit plants.

“Dragon fruit, unlike many traditional crops, demands painstaking care. The post – they got to strap it up to grow up and when it is done, I got to pin each and every one of the posts in there. I got to pin each and every one of them with wire. Then I have to prune it, because the vine, the plant cactus is very young still. I got to prune it according to shoot. I got to pull out grass around it. It is a lot of work.
And you know that today, you really don’t get people to work as farmers. So as a farmer, you got to do the work yourself,” Gilead explained, adding that he has been teaching himself through experience, research and experiments.

Gilead spends hours online studying farming practices from countries with climates similar to Guyana’s. As a teenager, he began a journey into farming and beekeeping; by his late thirties, he had built a reputation for innovation, earning recognition for his grape vineyard – a bold venture that captivated many.
However, through his journey, Gilead learnt that farming can be both rewarding and ruthless. More than 2,000 grape plants, along with carefully nurtured apple trees, were wiped out. Stray cows trampled his vineyard, drought dried his soil, and fires reduced years of labour to ash.

For Gilead, it is a devastation that he is still trying to overcome as his vineyard is not back to where it was, and apple cultivation is a far way from his dreams of producing apples for the local market. But now, at 45-years-old, his hard work may soon bear fruit – literally. Dragon fruit plants begin producing within five to six months, and Gilead is optimistic about the future of his labour. Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is a tropical fruit known for its vibrant pink or yellow skin and speckled, white or red flesh filled with tiny black seeds. Native to Central America but now grown widely in Southeast Asia and other warm climates, dragon fruit comes from a species of cactus.
It has a mildly sweet, refreshing taste that is often compared to a blend of kiwi and pear.
Rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, fibre, and magnesium, dragon fruit is not only visually striking but also nutritious. Its unique appearance and health benefits have made it popular in smoothies, fruit bowls, and wellness diets around the world.