VISA pineapple consumers could win a trip to Costa Rica

The Costa Rican company VISA has signed a strategic alliance with the Spanish supermarket chain DIA for the promotion of its pineapples in its 3,000 stores. Each pineapple will include a label with a code to be entered in the company's website for a chance to win an all-expense paid trip for two people to Costa Rica. The promotion is intended to give added value to the product, and thus similar draws are already being planned for other markets.

VISA owns 800 hectares for pineapple production in two plantations, one in Río Cuarto, Grecia, and the other in San Carlos, Alajuela; "two locations with different weather conditions, which allows us to cultivate the fruit all year round while maintaining the same quality standards," explains Joselyn Villalobos Salas, public relations of the company. VISA also has plantations for other crops, including 200 hectares for yucca, 100 for yam and 45 for rambutan.

In about three years, VISA plans to start producing and selling frozen and dehydrated fruit, and a processing plant with state-of-the-art technology has recently been built to this end. "This strategy will allow us to use the fruit that is not suitable for fresh consumption," explains Joselyn.

The company markets its products under two brands: VISA Pineapple and Joselyn's Pineapples, and has been an exporter since its foundation in 1989. In addition to Spain, VISA ships its pineapples to other European destinations, like the Netherlands, the UK, Italy or France, and to markets such as the United States, Canada, Russia, Chile and El Salvador, as well as to South Korea during the Christmas season. VISA has numerous certifications, including Global G.A.P., Tesco, ETI, Primus Labs and Field to Fork.

VISA always welcomes new clients and marketing agreements, especially after the construction of the new plant, which will allow it to process one container every forty minutes. What is truly essential, according to Joselyn, is "to continue working in the improvement of our pineapples' reputation and in giving value added to the product with the goal of obtaining a more prestigious brand."

For more information:
Joselyn Villalobos Salas
Public Relations
Marketing Communication
Tel.: 2473-3112 ext. 115
e-mail.: jvillalobos@visasa.com
website: www.visasa.com
Facebook: VISASACR