Stephane said, "In our operations we are working with a stable and regular supply. However, I hear some producers have ceased or slowed activity. Some weeks the volume is too high and others there is nothing."
"There have been some delays, but nothing terrible. Costa Rica offers so much export potential that, usually, a solution can be found. The local logistics and organisation, such as the ports and the customs, as well as the promoters such as Procomer and Cadexo, are doing an excellent job. We are happy to be in Costa Rica."
The situation does not seem to be too much threat to the industry as Costa Rica enjoys a prominent position as compared to its main competitors, Ecuador and Panama.
Staphane said, "Really, on pineapple there is not a strong competitor. If Costa Rica continues to work seriously and to protect the workers and the environment then we can stay on top for a number of years yet. The port issue has not offered the competitors much extended opportunity - in fact, Panama ships a lot of its produce through Costa Rica."
Asked how this year's campaign compares to last Stephane says is is hard to draw comparisons.
"The pineapple business is up and down on a weekly basis, it changes from one day to another. It's complicated, making it difficult to compare, but our attention is on the present and on the future. Always we have to be better and to focus on the future."
Part of the challenge, he says, is ensuring the industry retains its popular ranking amongst consumers, lies in shifting the attitudes of some involved in the industry.
"A lot of exporters want yellow pineapples, but the ripe colour is green. Also there is a lack of control as regards quantity. Too many fruits are often stocked in cold storage facilities, for too great a period of time, which can lead to poor quality getting onto the marketplace."