By the end of 2016 pineapple exports could amount to nearly 9,000 tons of fruit which would be worth 7 million dollars.
Fabio Gumtolli, adviser to the Federation of Producers of pineapple from Cevicos, in the Sanchez Ramirez province, stated at the press conference (where the celebration of the Cevicos Pineapple Fair, to be held from 7-9 October, was also announced), that export figures from the first four months had allowed them to project an export volume of 9,000 tons of fruit for this year.
Gumtolli noted that, before 2012, the sector was totally depressed and was not productive. Production costs were high and the product had a poor quality. As a result, the sector wasn't competitive locally or in the international markets.
He said that, thanks to the surprise visit of President Medina and the financing of tillers brought from Costa Rica, the sector had been revitalised and went from exporting nearly 3 million dollars to about 7 million dollars.
He added that the sector had the capacity to double the current production and that producers were being trained so that they could continue to increase the quality of the pineapple production.
Source: listindiario.com