US And Canadian Demand Creates Costa Rica Export Surge

Increasing interest in and demand for produce from Costa Rica is yielding a sizeable delegation of exporters attending the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit Expo in October. “Though Costa Rica has long been a reliable exporter of many products we see expanding interest in sourcing higher volumes and wider variety from our diverse country,” says Pedro Beirute, CEO of Procomer (Costa Rica’s trade promotion entity).

This year’s Costa Rica Pavilion (booth #4581) at the PMA Fresh Summit in Orlando, FL, will feature 11 exporters showcasing a variety of exportable products. Specifically attending will be: Coprimex with carrot, pineapple, cabbage, broccoli, melon and watermelon; COMIVA with pineapple and yucca; Chayotes de Altura with chayote, pumpkin and yucca; Upala Agricola with pineapple; Manga Rica with mango; Asofrubrunca with rambutan; Sura Green with banana; Jalaram Fruit with pineapple for processing; Veg and Fruit with banana, yucca and malanga; Rebeca Cordero with cabbage, beet and carrots; and Yuca de CRSA with yucca, yam and pumpkin.

Furthermore, Costa Rica will host approximately 30 U.S. and Canadian buyers during its Annual Buyers Trade Mission from September 27-30, 2016. “We are pleased to welcome major produce and food industry players to Costa Rica and show them first-hand the quality, reliability and charm of our country and companies,” says Beirute. “Building on our reputation as a top pineapple and banana supplier, we offer an array of produce items from yucca to mango to rambutan. We encourage more industry members to visit us at our Fresh Summit booth or get involved with a future trade mission and find out how Costa Rica can compliment your business.”

Costa Rica’s principal produce exports in 2015, according to Procomer, included US$827 million in bananas and $804 million in pineapple, followed by yucca at $69 million, melon at $67 million and watermelon at $14 million. “Costa Rica is the largest exporter in the world of pineapple and the second largest in banana,” recounts Beirute. “Yet our opportunities don’t end there. We are the second largest exporter of Hearts of Palm, the third largest in yams and other root crops and the fourth largest of yucca. And, we’re the number one supplier of chayote and root crops to the U.S.”

Beirute asserts there is even more to Costa Rica’s bounty. “Beyond these more well-known exports, Costa Rica also offers many specialty items such as rambutan, peppers, pumpkins and other tropical products,” he explains. “Our innovative exporters are also adapting to market needs by offering different packaging presentations as well as semi-processed or processed products. Any importer who hasn’t explored what Costa Rica can offer is missing certain opportunity.”

Source: Procomer