The union of pineapple growers in Puerto Rico is demanding a ban on imports of pineapple seed from Costa Rica, arguing that it could be affected by fungus.
According to pineapple producers in Puerto Rico, pineapple seeds from Costa Rica could have fungi which could affect plantations locally."...If one or more of these pests arrive in Puerto Rico it would involve significant economic damage to pineapples producers, since there are no products to combat it registered on the island."
From 2008 to 2015 an increase of 23% was recorded in the number of hundredweight of pineapples harvested in the country.
The Guild of pineapple producers attributes the growth in production to the implementation of better agricultural practices and better use of greenhouses.
Rudy Santos, from the Pineapple Cooperative located in Villa Canales, told Prensalibre.com that "...
In the first half of the year interceptions of goods in the US suspected of being contaminated with insects rose by 32% compared to the same period in 2015.
Data provided by the health authorities of the United States to Costa Rica indicates that most of the detained shipments were stopped on suspicion of the presence of the cochineal bug.
The Farmers' Association is calling for "the breaks to be put on" food imports on the island, especially eggs from the US and pineapples from Costa Rica.
From a statement issued by Procomer of Costa Rica:
The Farmers Association of Puerto Rico is calling for local authorities to curb imports of food on the island, particularly pineapples from Costa Rica and eggs from the US.
Companies exporting conventional pineapples labeled as organic to the United States have been denounced.
Companies who want to keep selling organic pineapples in Costa Rica's main market for agricultural exports say the act of sending conventional fruit labeled as "organic" threatens "... the prestige of Costa Rica in that nation."A group of member companies of the National Chamber of Organic Agriculture (Canagro) has filed a complaint against a pineapple company in San Carlos.
The Municipality of Los Chiles, in Alajuela, has suspended for five years the granting of permits for the expansion of pineapple crops.
The City Council agreed to stop issuing permits for the cultivation of pineapple in the canton with the aim of carrying out hydrogeological studies to assess the degree of soil erosion and"...
Pineapple exporters claim to have lost $2.3 million since the authorities started making additional inspections of containers at ports of departure.
Arguing that in April an increased presence of insects was detected in containers of pineapples exported to the United States, the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) has tightened control measures, which are no longer limited to inspections on farms and packing plants, but also include an extra inspection at ports of departure.
In 2012/2013 1,751 hectares were planted but in 2014/2015 the figure was only 1,504, due to the incidence of drought, high production costs and falling international prices.
An article on Prensa.com reports that "... Diomedes Carrasco, producer in the area of La Chorrera, says a lot of farmers have stopped harvesting and exporting due to high production costs and low international prices"...
Opportunities in the Arab country have been announced for chutneys, organic coffee, pastries, organic tuna, dried fruits, plants, flowers and foliage.
The Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) has opened a trade promotion office in Qatar. Alvaro Stone, director of Exports at the office, informed Nacion.com that an official has been based in the premises of the Embassy of Costa Rica in that country since late last year.
In the last ten years, exports of bananas, concentrated fruit juices and coffee and seen a reduction in their share of the world market.
From the executive summary of the report entitled "Analysis of the dynamism of goods exported from Costa Rica: Evolution over the last decade" by State of the Nation:
"...In recent years, Costa Rica has experienced a slowdown in export growth and it is important to know the reasons for this slower growth, in order to take measures to reverse some weaknesses, in order for foreign sales to continue boosting the country's growth . In the analysis the following factors have been identified as explanations for the slowdown in exports:
Panama Fruit has announced the beginning of operations of its new storage and processing plant for pineapple and orange juice, located in the province of Cocle.
Panama Fruit explained that in the plant they will be processing pineapples and fruit that farmers can not sell in the local or international market. The president of the Panamanian company, Pedro Fabrega said that fruit which is not sold on the market due to "lack of color or size", will be used to make juices.
US phytosanitary authorities have warned of an increase in the presence of pests in pineapple and chayote containers entering the country and may decide to limit their entry.
Any restriction on the import of pineapples and grapefruits could have significant effects on the agricultural export sector of Costa Rica, as the US currently buys half of its pineapple export production, whereas in the case of chayote, dependence is greater, and the North American country is the destination for almost all exports of this vegetable.
High production costs and lack of labor has made the crop less attractive in the agricultural area of La Chorrera, where the 2104/15 harvest fell by 13% compared to the previous harvest.
During the last three crop years the amount of cultivated hectares has been reduced. In the 2012/13 1,751 acres of the crop were planted, whereas in 2014/15 the figures fell to 1,504 hectares planted, according to the Ministry of Agricultural Development.
Malaysian producers plan to start exporting fresh pineapple to China later this year as part of an agreement signed between the two countries in 2013.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
Malaysia plans to start exporting fresh pineapples to China later this year. The first shipment of fruit was scheduled for last year but could not be performed because the Chinese authorities did not give their approval, according to a recent statement by the Malaysian Minister for Agribusiness Ismail Sabri Yaakob .
Through government incentives farmers in the State of Quintana Roo are increasing organic pineapple crops and their derivatives.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
The cultivation of organic pineapple and other fruit derivatives is starting to consolidate in the region of Quintana Roo, with support from the federal and state governments as well as the participation of a group of citizens from Manuel Ávila Camacho, in the town of Bacalar .