Pineapples are threatening to outstrip bananas as Costa Rica’s most important fruit export.
Figures released by the Central American nation’s trade promotion body Procomer show that for the first time since 1998, bananas are being overtaken by pineapples in export value for the first four months of the year to reach $243 million.
Pineapple plantings have been rising steadily to reach 46,000 hectares, an almost 300 per cent rise over the past 11 years. Banana plantings have remained steady at 43,000ha and there are no plans for further expansion.
The UK marketplace is a big driver of the growth and export values increased by $17m on the same period in 2010.
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