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.
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.
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.
58% of Canadian families buy organic food at least once a week, making it an attractive market for companies producing these products.
The demand for organic food has grown in recent years both in Europe and in North America, where countries such as Germany, Switzerland, the United States and Canada are buying more and more organic food which is free of pesticides, dyes and other chemicals in order to improve their health.
Between 2010 and 2011 the amount of land sown with seeds for organic products was reduced from 11,115 hectares to 7,448 hectares.
The reduction in revenues from developed markets due to the economic crisis and high production costs may be the reasons behind the reduction in the global demand for organic products, by companies in this sector.
Being more expensive than traditional products, "...
Costa Rica and Canada have recognized the equivalence of regulations governing the accreditation and certification of organic agricultural products in both countries.
This agreement "... allows free passage for Costa Rican exporters, dedicated to this subsector, to export to the U.S. market," noted an article in Elfinancierocr.com.
Rice, bananas, banana purée, cocoa, coffee, sugarcane, blackberries, oranges, noni, pineapples, aloe, legumes, vegetables, fruits and spices are some of the organic products that can enter the Canadian market.
The country currently exports coffee, cardamom, macadamia, sesame, honey, lemon and black tea, and other products such as melon, papaya, mango and pineapple are seeking access to international markets.
Producers agree that the sale of crops raised organically generates profits of up to 70% more than those from traditional planting.
"Gaspar Armando, a cooperative farmer in the Mayan Peoples Federation (Fedepma) reported that although the volume of production is less, compared to coffee produced from chemicals, sales can generate higher profits by up 70 percent", reported Prensalibre.com.
Suppliers of organic products reported a rise in sales and improved market conditions.
A statement from the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) reads:
Sales of organic products in Europe Recover
According to Organic Monitor many suppliers of organic products have reported a rise in sales and improved market conditions, however, this situation is not shared by all European countries.
The massive arrival of foreigners has driven changes in consumer habits, among which is the growth in demand for products without chemical additives or synthetic substances.
This increase in demand for organic products is reflected by the increase in space for these products on supermarket shelves and the opening of shops.
An article in Capital.com.pa reports that "in principle public acceptance was somewhat slow, but there is increasing demand for organic products, now there are all sorts of fresh products such as breads and sweets, and processed and packaged foods. "
The International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM in Spanish) has issued new rules to replace those previously established in 2005.
A statement from the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) reads:
The IFOAM has published new rules to replace those previously established in 2005 and these have been approved by electronic vote of the members of the federation, a process which ended on August 5.
The French market for organic products grew by 10% in 2011, despite the crisis.
From a press release by Procomer:
Despite the crisis the consumption of organic products in France has increased.
In ten years, the French "bio" market, despite the crisis, has maintained the interest of consumers. The market has grown ten percentage points in 2011 to reach a turnover of around 4 billion euros, while French household consumption has declined by 0.5% on average for 2011, partly due to decreased spending on food, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies in France.
With the equivalence renewal, Costa Rica remains in the EU’s list of third party nations, for an unlimited time, and on Switzerland’s list until 2013, allowing it to export organic products to the European market with a certification issued by national certification bodies under Costa Rican regulations and with the supervision of the SFE, an entity qualified at the national level.
A press release from the State Phytosanitary Service reads:
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.