Pineapple production in Costa Rica has increased by 42 per cent in the past five years, rising from 1.68m tonnes in 2009 to 2.36m tonnes in 2013, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. The product is the country’s third biggest export behind integrated circuits and bananas.
Much of the rise has come as a result of improvements in productivity, rather than increased planted area. In fact, government figures show that acreage fell from 45,000ha in 2011 to 43,000ha last year.
Figures from foreign trade promotion agency Procomer revealed that the value of pineapple exports rose from US$571m in 2009 to US$821m in 2013, an increase of 44 per cent. This places them just behind bananas, which generated an export revenue of US$828m last year.
The sector provides direct employment for 27,000 people.
Source: Fruit Net