I am interesting in knowing what crops provide the highest profit margins. I have 100 or more tareas in DR and considering leasing out the land while I determine what crops would be best suited for the area.

The land is located in Monte Cristi where it is more arid than the eastern parts of the country. Would appreciate any response. I am looking for outside of the box ideas.

ladronaso, the area you reference would probably be suited to peppers of some sort. a high quality habanero, such as the Scotch Bonnet, would be perfect, since it has high market acceptance in the USA, and it is a major ingredient in hot pepper sauce. a small area produces prodigious amounts of peppers, and preadial larceny will be at a minimum, since the acceptance locally is very low. (Dominicans do not like hot , spicy foods, as a general rule)

Organic prickly pear fruit. Flowers for fresh or drying. Spinich - may need irrigation. Rambutan - they introduce this to other S. American countries, Dragon fruit. Baby green beans and sugar peas. Yam bean, Jicama, Goitenyo, Ahipa. Medicine herbs - healthy market. Bayho Agaricus Blazei Mushrooms.
Various fuits that can be freeze dried on farm. Vacuum packed on farm vegetables canned expensive here but Dominicans still buy..
S.

ABC and Dreads thanks very much for the ideas.

I like the idea of Habaneros as I know they are grown in DR. I know this cause I had once purchased a package at the Nacional and prepared my own hot sauce. And you are correct Dominicans are not into hot peppers so this may reduce larceny. Also I could cultivate vertically in a green house. Bell peppers are out due to a close acquaintance is already involved in this project and is doing very well, and I don’t want stir or create a bad atmosphere in addition the area is too hot. But hot peppers are a good idea as I think they are considered weeds. I will also research some of ABC ideas.

ladronaso, not to labor the subject, but the habaneros obtained locally are not premium quality stock. i have bought hot peppers here myself, and they are mediocre. do a google search on the Scotch Bonnet, which is intensely hot, and exceedingly flavorful. forget the green peppers, since they have very little promise for value addition. you can make hot sauce from habaneros. with green peppers, you make chinese stir fry.LOL

British peppers are best - long hours of sun in summer.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gXvCzJJd_go
Little Green Men.
Peter Piper can pick a peck of peppers and pickle them
http://www.pickyourown.org/pepperspickled.htm

Scotch Bonnnets, orca and pak choi. Squid with Pak Choi and peppers is excellent. Ginger and garlic with the Pak Choi.
S.

Texasshoe, you should try the yellow scotch bonnet, if you have not done so yet. i have had many really hot peppers, but the flavor of scotch bonnet yellow is unequalled. imagine discussing the flavor of a hot pepper!

I will research all the possibilities, but am mostly interested in those options that have minimal labor, investment and yield high quantities per square meter and are able to be cultivated vertically.

ladronaso, i am aware that you are taking into consideration the suitability of the area for the crops you have in mind, which is why i suggest peppers. they are well suited to arid areas, and have tremendous yield per acre. want an idea? if you have access to running water, then look into aquaculture. that is a business which has better yield per acre than illicit vegetables(you know, the m weed). look into the Australian Redclaw Crawfish. done right, you can become a millionaire in a few short years, if you aren't one already

Italy exports much cactus fruit. To the US as well.
http://www.jpacd.org/JPACD01/basillefnl.pdf
Dragon fruit grow vertically.
http://www.tve.org/earthreport/archive/doc.cfm?aid=805
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/dragon_fruit.htm
S.