In February, a delegation of businessmen from the Republic of China will be conducting a technical visit to the country, as part of the protocol for exporting pineapples.
The visit will take place from February 13 to the 17 and it will include a tour of the production areas and packing plants in Guapiles, Sarapiqui, San Carlos, and Upala.
According to data from Canapep, there are currently 38,000 hectares of land devoted to this crop in 16 cantons. The North Zone has 17,860 hectares, equivalent to 47% of the total area; the Atlantic has 11,780 hectares and accounts for 31%; the Pacific area has 8,360 hectares, which constitutes 22% of the cultivated area, in the hands of nearly 550 pineapple growers throughout the country.
Costa Rica's pineapple producer and exporter sector has been interested in exporting fruit to China since 2011, which is why both countries have been exchanging information on this crop. Currently there are 20 companies interested in exporting pineapples to China.
In 2014, after the Pest Risk Analysis was conducted, a Chinese technical committee visited the country's pineapple production areas and packing plants and met with the authorities of the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) to continue negotiations. In 2015 the protocol with the phytosanitary requirements for the entry of Costa Rican pineapples to China was signed and, next February, the Chinese will conduct the last visit required by the protocol.
According to Canapep, Costa Rica currently sends 53% of its pineapple exports to North America, 44% to the European Union, 25% to the rest of Europe, and 1% to other markets.
Source: elmundo.cr