Four Costa Rican companies successfully completed the delivery of the first 15,000 boxes of fresh pineapples to the People's Republic of China.
The fruit arrived at the port of Shanghai after about 25 days of travel and complied with the quality controls for the entrance to that country.
"The Costa Rican pineapple industry is proud to take its fruit to China. The first containers exported are part of a well coordinated process between representatives of the guild and they represent a contribution to the economic and social development of Costa Rica, as they open the doors to one of the most important markets in the world. This also means an opportunity to improve employment in the cantons where this fruit is planted," said Abel Chaves, President of the National Chamber of Pineapple Producers and Exporters (CANAPEP).
In the last four year, China's pineapple imports have increased by close to
42%, which shows that it is a potential and sustainable market. This represents an alternative for Costa Rican producers to position the Golden pineapple variety in that destination, as they have done in the United States and in Europe.
Given Costa Rica's potential as a world leader in fresh pineapple exports, producers see a huge opportunity in the Chinese market for by-products, such as frozen pineapple, dehydrated pineapple, juices, and concentrates.
This would add value to the pineapple production, and give exporters an alternative to enter more producers into China, which can be a potential market for other fruits.