Because in this context of health crisis consumers take more care of their food, companies in the Costa Rican market dedicated to the production and marketing of organic food have managed to take advantage of the business opportunities that have arisen.
Analyses carried out at a global level, agree that driven by the search for benefits for their health and immune system, in the current context of changing habits, consumers are beginning to prefer fresh foods more than packaged or processed ones.
The lack of incentives, the disorder to apply the legislation and the complexity of producing in areas that are surrounded by traditional crops, are some of the factors that hinder the development of organic agriculture in Costa Rica.
In the last decade, the area planted to organic agriculture has fallen. Data from the program of Accreditation and Registration in Agriculture (ARAO) specify that in 2010 the area amounted to 11,115 hectares and in 2019 fell to 8,832 hectares, equivalent to a decrease of 21%.
Because Mexico is the third largest Latin American country in terms of area devoted to organic agricultural production, there are multiple opportunities to market inputs for this sector.
In terms of the number of hectares planted with organic crops, Michoacan, Chiapas and Oaxaca are the states that have 68% of the total planted nationally, according to an analysis prepared by Costa Rica's Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer).
The world market for fresh and processed organic foods is one of the most dynamic today, with coffee, vegetables and tropical fruits being some of the products with the greatest business opportunities.
According to a study prepared by the Promotora de Comercio Exterior (Procomer), Switzerland is the market where the highest expenditure on organic food per person is reported, since it is estimated that consumption amounts to $325 per capita per year.
The first foreign sale of the fruits was carried out by the company Melones de la Península, which sent 1,500 kilos to Europe by air and 10,000 kilos by sea.
After the organization Kiwa BCS Limitada granted the certification of organic product, in a first stage Melones de la Península exported 1,500 kilos during two weeks, by air, between both varieties (melon-yellow honey dew and watermelon-quetzali), as well as approximately 10 thousand kilos by sea in the same period.
Last year exports of 17 types of fruits, vegetables and organic grains may registered a 4% increase compared to 2016.
In the last ten years, the number of agricultural producers dedicated to the cultivation of fruits, vegetables and organic grains increased from 1,500 to 6,451, according to figures from the National Secretariat for Health and Food Safety (SENASA). Also in the last decade, it is estimated that the planted area grew from 4,400 hectares to 31 thousand hectares.
Operating Company dedicated to the manufacture of gluten-free and sugar-free products, OHNE brand.
The OHNE brand has 8 product lines: square bread, sweet lemon cookies with chia, chocolate with blueberries and sweet cookies with sunflower seeds, sesame sticks, empanizer, banana cake, all made without gluten, without sugar, without soy and dairy-free, ingredients that are intolerant for this market segment.
Pineapples, bananas and sugar cane represent 98% of total exports of organic products from Costa Rica to ten European Union countries.
Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Latvia, France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom are the nine European markets where Costa Rica exports its organic agricultural production, mainly made up of sugar, bananas, coffee and pineapples, cocoa, papaya, guava and carambola.
Through a new unit at the MIDA, the government will provide certification, according to international standards, for farms in the country growing organic crops.
Besides the option provided by the new Control Authority of Certification of Organic Agricultural Production, which began operating in January, farmers can also choose to opt for certifications that are provided by private companies already operating in the country.
Promotion is being given to exports to China of organic cocoa-based foods, chocolate confectionery, unsweetened cocoa powder and cocoa paste.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Office of Costa Rica:
Western foods are gaining increasing market share in South Korea, whose market depends heavily on imports, which have been boosted by growth in per capita spending on food.
When the concepts "natural, organic and integral" were not as established as they are today, the Costa Rican brand Bioland set a firm course in that direction, and thirty years later, remains a leader in this market.
An article in Elfinancierocr.com makes clear from the first paragraph what is the essence of Bioland: the nonnegotiable philosophy of its founders for "... all-natural, healthy and environmentally friendly products."
After accumulating thirty years of experience in the beauty and natural personal care products industry, Bioland Costa Rica has opened its first store devoted to high-quality organic cosmetics.
With the same concept it uses to present its high-end organic cosmetics in the international airports in Costa Rica, Bioland has opened its first Bioland Store in the Multiplaza mall in Escazú.
All of the production from 2015 produced by the union of organic banana growers will be exported to the United States.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
The Piurana Central Association of Small Producers of Organic Banana of Peru (CEPIBO) has decided to send its entire production from 2015 to US suppliers, because they offer a better price for the fruit.
Fruits and vegetables, followed by baby food, milk and soy milk are the organic products in demand.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
Given the continuing concern about food safety, consumers in Hong Kong are seeking safer and high quality options such as those that can be found in the organic sector, since they are perceived as being more natural and nutritious compared to conventional foods.
Consumers increasingly prefer healthy products such as sugar obtained from coconut, apple and agave, which are considered more natural.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Coconut sugar has increased its popularity in many countries because it is perceived as a more natural or acceptable option than regular sugar. Despite being still a niche product, sales have increased significantly.