Tree selection for palm heart harvesting is based on
trunk size of the palm tree. Theoretically, older trees
(10 years or more) with a mean dbh of 50–60 cm contain
the heaviest weight of palm heart and are selected where
possible for harvesting. However, young palms have a
valuable heart, and vendors state that individual trees are
ready for harvesting at about 4–6 years of age which is
well below the known age for fruiting (15 years). Unlike
other commercial palm heart industries elsewhere that use
species which have suckers so the palm is not killed when
the main trunk is harvested (McClatchey and others 2005),
harvesting of Soga for palm heart results in the death of the
tree.