The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Tania Lopez, has praised the good agricultural practices of the U.S company in the country, at a hearing on the pineapple farm El Muelle, in San Carlos.
The reason for the visit was to learn about the good production practices that the company is developing in organic and conventional pineapple production, as well as the procedures implemented to combat the so-called fly barn by applying beneficial microorganisms.
The Deputy Minister López said that this company is an example of having good farming practices and work relationships, by recognizing the efforts to promote environmentally friendly production, and extraordinary labor practices that have been recognized by various certifications attesting Dole as an example to follow.
She added that, in the framework of the National Platform for Production and Trade Responsible for Pineapple in Costa Rica, which is supported by the Agri-Food and Environment sector, the Vice President of the Republic and the United Nations Programme for Development. The company has an important shared leadership with small and medium businessman, through the transfer of knowledge and its open door policy to improve production practices according to standards that promote sustainable production systems, with special recognition regarding the soil conservation practices.
Manager Edgar Corrales, of the El Muelle farm said that 980 hectares are intended for conventional pineapple production and 159 hectares for organic pineapple, each with a distinct cycle.
In both cases, the company follows strict guidelines in the preparation of the soil in order to achieve higher productivity and sustainable production. Moreover, the areas of protected forest totals 452 hectares and has five brooks and thirteen wetlands. The company prepares its own fertilizer for organic pineapple production, a compost made of bagasse, pineapple crown, ash and cachaça.
Corrales said that training workshops and technical supervision with company engineers to small and medium producers is given, in order to ensure the quality of the fruit and to comply with the regulations of good production practices.