agriculture

Pineapple exports fluctuate

Pineapple producers are struggling with rising production costs.

la prensa

tasty: According to the agriculture ministry, Panama produces less pineapples than other countries, but yields a better fruit.1121067

Guillermo Solís Castillero, a pineapple producer in Los Santos, said that, this year, exporting the fruit “has been more difficult” than last year, when he sent 16 containers to Holland, attributing these difficulties to the rising costs of fertilizer, shipping, and land transport.

However, in Macaracas, Rafael Moreno said that “the future is in the pineapple,” claiming that he has done well in the business, and that the biggest problem he encounters is that “the seed is very expensive.”

Meanwhile, government statistics show a decline in pineapple exports to 12 percent (through June), compared with the same periods in 2007.

“This fruit is one of Panama's main exports, and is in high demand,” commented Ismael Bernal, from the Ministry of Agricultural Development.

He advised agro-exporters to “work in partnership” to increase productivity, adding that they should not limit their export destinations to the United States and Europe, but should seek out “niche” markets.