From Field to Tube

Arundo donax stalks are harvested only after 2 years of growth. Harvest time is mid-December through March and is said to take place on the new moon. Some cane is cultivated on plantations and some cane is harvested in the wild. The cane is then laid in the sun to dry out for short period and is then usually stacked in a seasoning barn to cure for up to two years. At this point the cane still has it’s leaves.

After curing, the leaves are mechanically removed from the stalks and the stalks are cut into sections for sorting (only the bottom portion or the stalks are generally used for reeds). The cane is inspected for straightness and sorted by diameter. The tubes are then usually set out in the sun again for 10 days or so to develop the golden color. Some producers place the tubes in machinery that essentially polishes the bark at this point. At this point the cane is ready to ship.