Ciego de Avila exported more than 1,100 tons of pineapples to Europe during 2016, i.e. more than 200 tons more than the volume exported in the previous period.
Engineer Wilver Bringas Fernandez, director of the Ceballos Agro-industrial Company, told ACN that they had exported MD-2 pineapples mainly to France, Italy, and Spain through the Citrus Caribbean entity of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Several years ago, Cuba introduced Costa Rican saplings of the MD-2 pineapple variety, which can yield up to 100 tons per hectare, into the fields. This variety has yields that are several times higher than the ones of the Spanish Red variety, the leader added.
The project to grow MD-2 in state areas and farms is advancing, as there are abundant seedlings available for the development of these plantations, which must continue to increase to reach some 2,000 hectares with the addition of the Red Spanish.
Reinaldo de Avila Guerra, an engineer who manages this fruit crop in southern Ciego de Avila, said that the MD-2 demanded very precise attention, good drainage, soil leveling, irrigation systems, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, among other requirements.
Last year the province harvested more than 7,700 tons of MD-2 and Spanish Red pineapples, a volume that is well below demand.
In the 1980s, this territory collected 31,000 tons of pineapples in a year, but its development decreased due to economic difficulties. Fortunately, it has started to increase again since 2008.
According to studies, pineapples contain cancer-fighting micronutrients, have diuretic properties, chemicals that stimulate the kidneys, help removing toxic elements from the body, and intestinal disorders, reduce bile, and are anti-inflammatory.
They also provide vitamins C, B1, B6, B9 and folic acid, as well as different minerals, such as potassium, magnesium, iodine, copper, manganese, and other components.
Source: invasor.cu