Countries which Export Coconut to America

I believe you know that coconut grow well in tropical regions, hence, coconut producers come from hot temperature countries.

Coconuts with scientific name Cocos nucifera are easily to find in America groceries. Where do they come from?

Image 1- Coconut with shell sold in the USA groceries

Tropical countries known well for growing coconut trees are located in South East Asia, include:

- Thailand
- Malaysia
- Philippine
- and Indonesia.

Moreover, Brazil is the largest coconut producer from Latin America.

Image 2- A coconut tree with fruits

USA import US$ 34 million coconut per year. Most coconuts in the USA are coming from Latin America.

Image 3- Juice in the young coconut.

The countries or regions or territories which export coconuts to America:

- Cuba
- Latin America (central America countries)
- Pacific islands
- Puerto Rico

Image 4- Coconut fruit

However, coconuts are growing in the USA too. Two states have coconut trees are:

- Hawaii
- and Florida.

Hence, it is not difficult to find coconut and some of its products in the USA, include in our state, Louisiana.

I saw the biggest retail in America, Walmart has sold coconuts for sometimes, but I always buy them in ethnic groceries such as Mexico and Asian shops.

Have your countries grown coconut trees?

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- Overdosing Epidemic Caused 100,000 Died in the USA – Science 9
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Do You Know American Native Ginseng?

I thought ginseng is a Korean product only, because I guessed that the plant grows very well there.

Recently, I know the plants grows in America, include Canada too. What are different between American and Korean ginseng?

Image 1- Roots of American ginseng, sold in Amazon.

Here are some simple different between an American and a Korean ginseng:

1) The American ginseng

- Panax quinquefolius, scientific name
- it is usually used when hot temperature conditions

2) The Korean ginseng

- Panax ginseng, scientific name
- suitable during cold weather.

Image 2- A tall trees, just for illustration

Image 3- Gardenia flowers at yard

Image 4- An American ginseng plant (credit to The Spruce)

Plants of American ginseng have grown wildly in the forests. They love the areas such as rich soil and dense shade.

The plant is one of American native plants. We may find wild ginseng in several states:

- South Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Georgia
- and Canada (Quebec and Ontario)

Do You Know of American Native Ginseng? And Have you tasted it?

# Previous postings:

- Do You Know Ghost Orchids? - Part 2 – Nature 14
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- Old Car – Chevrolet Monte Carlo 1970s
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Local Property Tax for Funding Our City Transport System

We talked about transport systems in the city of Baton Rouge where funding comes from several include local property tax:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : CATS Transport System in Our City Baton Rouge, LA

Image 1- Electric bus (credit to Fuels Fix)

Local Property Tax is a tax of resident properties in the city or state. Our city property tax is quite lower, 0.61% only.

Previously, commuter in Baton Rouge was operated by private company, Railway and Lighting Company with mule-driven trolley cars, then upgraded with electric cars.

From pure private company evolved to current system. The name changes as well, namely “from the Baton Rouge Bus Company to Metro Transit to the present-day Capital Area Transit System.”

Image 2- One of streets in the morning

Image 3- No passengers yet

Since 1999, CATS served for people almost every day in a year. Available:

- seven (7) days a week
- and 363 days a year

I myself take CATS sometimes. I love to hear the conversations between passengers, topics could be anything:

- from politics to economy
- from social to current events in the city
- and to private things.

In addition, there are a lot of jokes and funny things.

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- Organic Vs Natural Foods – Part 3 – Food 9
- A Traditional Product of Louisiana – King Cake – Part 2
- Do You Know Ghost Orchids? - Part 1 – Nature 14
- Organic Vs Natural Foods – Part 4 – Food 9

GUTSY WOMEN of Hillary and Chelsea – Part 2 – Reading 10

You may read previous posting (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : GUTSY WOMEN of Hillary and Chelsea – Part 1 – Reading 10

Image 1- Women's right Champions Nadia Murad. the Noble Peace Prize 2018.

There are 103 women from the old time to the last young girl. All of 103 women divided into 11 categories (chapters).

In the first chapter, Early inspirations, started with women the most inspire them Dorothy Rodham and Virginia Kelly, both are Chelsea grandmothers.

Followed by Harriet Tubman who lived in shadow of constant violence, cruelty, and racism.

Image 2- Colorful of flowers

She was a part of Underground Railroad and she is credited with bringing hundred of slaves to freedom.

Image 3- Colorful painting

In the chapter Education Pioneers, there are many of them, the first one is Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz from Mexico (at the time Mexico was a part of Spain),

Image 4- Yellow flowers bloom

In the chapter of Earth Defenders, one the most interesting is a very young girl Greta Thunberg.

Image 5- Pride of Barbados bloom

The Healers: Besides Nightingale and Betty Ford in this interesting chapter, there are also:

- Dr. Gao Yaojie, a retired Chinese gynecologist
- obstetrician-gynecologist Dr Hawa Abdi from Somalia
- Flossie Wong-Staal, Chinese molecular biologist.

In the chapter of Storytellers, there are 7 women, e.g. Maya Angelou, Mary Beard, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi, Ali Stoker, Amani Al-Khatahbeh.

The last chapter is Women's Right Champions. The last persons wrote by Hillary, Nadia Murad. the Noble Peace Prize 2018.

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- The Disease that Kills 28.4 million People – Part 2- Cardiovascular 2
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- The Disease that Kills 28.4 million People – Part 3 - Cardiovascular 2
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Rose breasted grosbeak Comes to Our Neighborhood – Nature 23

This migration bird visit our neighborhood rarely, even some neighbors never seen it for long time.

Luckily, we have seen Rose breasted grosbeak in late spring of this year. The birds visited some neighbor’s feeders.

Image 1- Rose breasted grosbeak sitting on the feeder

The birds live and breed during spring and summer seasons in many American states and even in Canada.

In the fall and winter, then, Rose breasted grosbeak return to the south in the countries or regions such as:

- Mexico
- Central America
- South America
- and the Caribbean

Image 2- Bougainvillea flowers, illustration

Image 3- Wild yellow flowers

Image 4- Sweet bird, Rose breasted grosbeak

We believe, Rose breasted grosbeaks migrate from Mexico, then go up to the North America and Canada.

Some of them stop by in our state then breeding. This bird love to breed in areas such as:

- woodlands
- forest edges
- and in the parks

Our neighborhoods have less trees in recent years, hence its might be reason why this bird not seen quite a while.

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- What is Knockout Animals ? - Part 2- Science 8
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Summer is a Perfect Time to Ride a Motorbike

This month temperature is around 86* F (30* C) in our city, Baton Rouge, LA. The hottest day around July to August could reach 104* F (40* C), but quite rare in the middle of day.

Image 1 – Motorbike ready to run.

For some people, especially in my neighborhood in respect to motorbikes, it is a good time to:

- ride a motorbike
- buy a new motorbike
- sell a secondhand motorbike
- etc

There are 5 famous motorbike brands in my city, and neighborhood. What are they?

Image 2- Motorbike stand on the front house

Image 3- Honda motorbike from left side

Image 4- Honda shadow motorbike

Image 5- Ready to ride

Top 5 brands in my areas (neighborhood) are: Harley-Davidson, BMW, Ducati, Honda and Kawasaki

These brands come from 4 well known countries in term of automotive relate industries: USA (Harley-Davidson), Germany (BMW), Italy (Ducati) and Japan (Honda and Kawasaki)

The above 5 photos (Image 1 to Image 5) show Honda Shadow with specifications: colors of black and chrome, 750cc engine, and year 2001.

Finally, do you love to ride motorbike?

What brand you favor?

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Differences of Shale Oil, Crude Oil and Fracking – Science 12

I wonder when listening about “fracking” during US presidential campaigns in 2020.

Then, I tried to find out what fracking is.

Image 1- Location of Shale Oil and Crude Oil

(credit to Petroleum Management)

Fracking is the method to drill oil and gas by using high pressure to make fracture in the shale formations.

Shale formation is below surface, could be near to more than one thousand feet (300 meter more).

Layer thickness may from few meters to hundred meters, then, from here the shale oil is extracted.

Image 2 – Wild flowers under tree

Two effect of fracking technique, bad and good sides.

1) Bad sides if lack of safety rules:

- poison groundwater and surface water
- disturb wildlife

Image 3- Mold on the leaves

2) Good effects:

- could replace coal for energy sources, hence decrease air pollution.
- increase energy security

Moreover, as you might know that conventional or crude oil is closer to surface (please see image 1).

In term of cost production, crude oil is cheaper than shale oil. As mentioned by Investopedia (2022), the cost comparison is following:

1) crude oil cost between US$ 20 to US$ 31, and even lower US$ 10 per barrel in Saudi Arabia.

2) Shale oil cost between US$ 46 to US$ 58 per barrel.

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