A group of pineapple producers emphasised the risk to the sector of losing jobs and foreign exchange after the rules for the inspection of the fruit that is ready for export were changed.
According to Abel Chaves, president of Canapep, changing the process will cause delays in logistics, for which the shipping vessels won't wait, which will generate huge losses for domestic producers.
The decline in income for producers would jeopardize the jobs of thousands of workers who depend on the activity, he added.
Previously, the fruit for export was inspected at the farms; however, Francisco Dall'Anese, director of the National Phytosanitary System, announced that the review would start taking place at the national ports.
According to producers, they have asked the Ministry of Agriculture and the Government to investigate the new procedure because of the delays it has caused due to a lack of conditions and personnel to implement it.
Costa Rica annually exports more than 160 million boxes of fresh pineapple and by-products to different international markets generating nearly 1 billion dollars in foreign exchange for the country.
Source: larepublica.net