The president and vice president of the Cantonal de Tarrazu Agricultural Center, David Calvo Mora and Francisco Elizondo Ureña, said they hoped the Hass avocado production of their associates would conquer the European markets.
In July last year, they began the process to be certified by the Global GAP standard, which is required by the European market, and plan to formalize exports next year.
The producers received guidance from officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG). They learned about the packaging system, about the process and the details in the handling of this type of commercial relationships; they selected, washed, packed, calibrated, and palletized the fruit that left Costa Rica on Friday, February 23, and that is expected to arrive to the Netherlands in 20 days.
According to Elizondo Ureña, two people will travel to the Netherlands to participate in the control of the fruit on March 12, 2018, when the shipment arrives, and to give traceability to the product.
They said this first trial experience would help them establish export channels to Europe and that they were backed by the Exotic Fruit and Export SA companies.
According to estimates from Tarrazu's CAC, there are 2 thousand hectares planted with Hass avocado in the area that produce about 8 thousand tons. Currently they are promoting an increase in the quality of the fruit in order to be more competitive.
Source: elmundo.cr