Jose Manuel Gonzalez del Castillo, a producer of pineapple in Tecoman, said that despite the many problems they face due to fungi, they have had good seasons. "Last season was good. The surface has increased a lot. Many people from Veracruz have arrived with good technology and they have increased yields," he said.
He also said that the State of Colima would have around 300 hectares devoted to this crop in 2017. Additionally, he said, prices had been good in the national and in international markets.
He also stated that Colima had the advantage, in the national market, that it's pineapple production came out when Veracruz had no pineapple production. "We take advantage of this window that generates good prices for our MD2 pineapple, or as its commonly known, the honey pineapple," he added.
Currently, he said, producers were achieving an 80-tons per hectare yield and have had no problems exporting their fruits. "The only product that has a problem here is the papaya because it is yellow, like it has salmonella. However, the pineapple doesn't have any problems; In addition, the workforce is skilled, people come from Veracruz to harvest it."
Gonzalez del Castillo said that producing pineapples was expensive, "it costs us approximately 250 thousand per hectare, more or less the same price as growing papayas." We have many fungal problems. We have problems each year during rainy season, just like so many crops do," he stated.
Gonzalez del Castillo also said that all the growers were lacking personnel, "people say there is no work, but that's not true; we are looking to hire."
When asked about the producers' efforts to get certified, he said: "There are a few people in the pineapple sector who want to get certified, as few producers have been certified. So yes, we are working on that," he stated.
Source: colimanoticias.com