The U.S.'s approval of a new farm bill may increase the competitiveness of the agricultural production in the Central American market.
The U.S. Congress has passed a farm bill that authorizes $956 billion over five years, including subsidies to domestic producers, eliminating direct farm subsidies.
"... The decision to end the system, established eighteen years ago, to make direct payments to farmers in cash , cost over $4.5 billion a year." It is estimated that "about $16 billion will be saved in government spending over the next decade ... ".
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Plans are underway in Chicago, USA to open a cargo center for perishable goods which includes flowers, one of the foremost products in the perishable goods category.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Market development of floriculture in the U.S. has shifted mainly towards determining the capacity of distribution centers.
World production of the tuber has increased by 60 percent since the year 2000.
An agricultural model which respects the environment called "Save and Grow" which is being promoted by the FAO could sustainably increase cassava yields by 400 percent and achieve its transformation from a food for poor people to a XXI century product, said the UN organization today.
The Government of El Salvador will not buy hybrid corn seed, which offers high performance and resistance to pathogens and bad weather.
"The resolution, transitory, is seen by many agricultural suppliers as a block on the free market and even violating trade agreements such as the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States or regulations dictated by the World Trade Organization (OIC)", reported Elsalvador.com.
Cucumber, zucchini and lemons have been grown inside transparent molds forming shapes such as hearts or stars.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The Spanish company Zayintec displayed cucumbers in the form of hearts and stars during a tasting, at the stand of the Diputación Provincial de Almería.
Cucumbers with heart and star shapes, grown in Almería with biological control techniques, are not only attractive because of their original appearance, but also because of their unique agronomic and organoleptic characteristics. For the development of this new line of cucurbits, Zayintec has implemented a process of innovation and improvement on a variety of the Persian cucumber, from the Middle East.
Farmers engaged in export will meet on 14 and 15 March in Antigua Guatemala where they will be on the look out for business deals estimated to reach $35 million.
From a press release issued by the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (AGEXPORT):
Entrepreneurs of agribusiness in Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Guatemala are already confirmed for the 16th edition of the most important international agricultural fair in Central America: AGRITRADE Expo & Conference, which will take place on 14 and 15 March in Santo Domingo del Cerro, La Antigua Guatemala.
A new technology delays the rapid blackening characteristic of the fruit for up to four to seven days at the end of the cold chain.
A statement from the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) reads:
Innovative technology prolongs life of Rambutan for five days
Tropical fruits like rambutan, with their attractive colors and exotic flavors and are increasingly popular in shopping lists worldwide.
Melons imported from Guatemala carry a HarvestMark seal which allows consumers to check on the web their origin and cultivation history.
A statement from the Trade Office of Costa Rica reads:
The import company SunAmerica has added a HarvestMark seal to melons supplied by Guatemalan farmers. These are the first Central American melons to use a leading global traceability system, which consist of a label on the product which has a code that the consumer can enter in the HarvestMark website and find out, through videos and photos, on which farm the melon was grown, the farmer who grew it and the whole story behind the product.
From 8 to 10 November, international executives from Walmart will analyse in Costa Rica sourcing strategies for directly purchasing fruit and vegetables from growers.
A press release from Walmart Mexico and Central America states:
From 8 to 10 November, international executives from Walmart will analyze sourcing strategies for buying direct from fruit and vegetable growers, based on the model used in the rest of Central America.
The project will support the standardization of methods to collate prices for fruits and other trading variables, with the aim of improving market intelligence in Central America.
A press release by American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture reads:
Central America, Panama, Belize and the Dominican Republic will share, on a regional platform, information emanating from the markets regarding its tropical fruits, in order to increase the competitiveness of the productive sector and identify export opportunities for agribusiness.
Lack of modernization processes and machinery accounts for the low competitiveness of agricultural production.
In order to increase production and eliminate the need to import grains when there is a shortfall in production and the needs of the local market cannot be met, industry representatives are suggesting the use of machinery that could triple crop yields.
The Salvadoran supermarket chain inked a deal with farmers from the country’s north to acquire all their production.
Carlos Calleja, president and owner of Super Selectos, explained that this alliance will allow the company to market these products directly in its 84 stores countrywide.
He told ElSalvador.com: “the objective of this agreement is to foster the development of the northern area of the country, and to sell 100% Salvadoran goods in our stores”.
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) has developed a program to assist small coffee and cacao growers.
Called CAMBio (Central American Markets for Biodiversity), the project is expected to assist over 2.000 growers of the region.
“So far, CAMBio has lent $1.9 million to 2.310 small coffee and organic cacao growers in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras, benefiting some 11.550 people”, reported newspaper La Tribuna.
President Mauricio Funes announced an investment plan for the country’s agriculture sector, which includes strong support for livestock breeding and basic grains.
Such plan includes increasing the area planted with basic grains to 20.000 squares and improving irrigation infrastructure with $41 million.
Laprensagrafica.com reported: “The plan for livestock (which includes cattle, pigs, birds and others) will require at least $22 million from the government. Reactivating breeding will consume $17.5 million, plus $8 million for a joint research project with the University of Texas”.