Dominican Republic: After overcoming the veto, the market is promising

Exports have long been affected by pesticide and health issues. Greenhouses have helped improve these problems. This was the case of the Mediterranean fly, which caused production problems that, thankfully, have already been solved. Currently, the veto has been abolished. As a result it's been possible to resume exports, except in the eastern part of the country, which still has problems.

"Now that the veto is gone, the market is promising. As a company we are developing our own export structure, with our own packaging plants that allow us to integrate the whole process so we can work directly with the supermarket chains, both nationally and internationally," said Wagner Mendez, the executive vice president of Invernaderos El Pinar de Ocoa. "Our goal is to establish one of the country's main export structures and become an integrated platform for the production and export of agricultural products in the Dominican Republic."

Many producers in the Dominican Republic have difficulties accessing and dealing with the market. Due to a lack of information about the market, these producers are the weakest links in the value chain. As a result, traders benefit the most. Invernaderos El Pinar wants to support producers to contribute to the strengthening of the horticultural sector and of the country's economy.

Their crops are focused on peppers and tomatoes of different varieties, depending on the demand, always taking into account that the greenhouses adapt to supply the demand.

Their main markets are the United States, Canada, and Caribbean countries. "In winter months the trend is to plant more peppers for the cold months in the US and Canada," Wagner said.

For more information:
Wagner A. Méndez -Vicepresidente Ejecutivo
Invernaderos El Pinar de Ocoa
Tel. (809) 481-5834
Cel. (809) 899-9379
E-mail: wagnermgt@gmail.com