Original Source: Checkout
Irish fruit grower, importer and distributor Keelings has acquired a pineapple farm in Costa Rica.
The farm boasts 900 hectares of land, 460 employees and a modern pack-house which produces over 24 million pineapples each year.
In a statement Keelings said that Las Brisas is the only pineapple farm in the world to be accredited with Rainforest Alliance.
“This acquisition further demonstrates our commitment at Keelings to both growing and sourcing quality fruit in the best way possible,” said Caroline Keeling, CEO of Keelings Fruits.
The ‘pesticide-free’ pineapples from Las Brisas will be sold into all major European markets and the United States, the company said.
Product Range
The family-owned business also has a 50:50 joint venture in a Costa Rican melon farm Pura Vida, which is based in Nicoya.
The groups fruit range includes strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and apples.
More recently Keelings added peppers and salads to the range, as well as flowers such as lillies.
Headquartered in Dublin, Keelings employs approximately 2,000 people across its operations in the UK, Europe and is currently expanding into France.