According to data from Costa Rica's Foreign Trade Promotion Board (Procomer), Costa Rican exports of fresh pineapple grew by 19% between 2013 and 2017, going from $816 million to $970 million.
This means that pineapple exports now rank second, only behind banana exports.
Four years ago, the area planted with that fruit was 45,000 hectares. It fell to 40,000 hectares in the next two years, and in 2017 it recovered to 44,500 hectares, according to data from the Executive Secretary of Agricultural Sector Planning (Sepsa).
Meanwhile, the activity faces a series of complaints: presumed contamination of aquifers and their impact on aqueducts; excessive use of agrochemicals; monoculture in large areas; stubble deposits or plant waste which become a breeding ground for stable flies which attack livestock.
The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Luis Felipe Arauz, acknowledged that the activity has several problems and said that his office was working to find solutions.
Fortunately, the strength of the Global Gap certification, demanded by the European market, has maintained the prestige of the Costa Rican fruit and exports have not decreased.
Source: nacion.com