After our day off at the beach, we went back to touring and tasting all that Costa Rica has to offer. Today, we visited Sarapiquí to observe how the world’s number one country in pineapple exports harvests its plants. The pineapple growing process was massively different from that of coffee, which was much more complex. The pineapple supply chain is much shorter and more direct than the coffee supply chain. The freshness of pineapple is at a much higher priority due to its shorter shelf life before it ferments. On the other hand, coffee has a longer, more complex supply chain that includes many processing steps (harvesting, drying, roasting, packaging, etc.) and global distribution channels. It is a lot easier to sell coffee due to the fact that it doesn’t expire as fast as a pineapple would if selling overseas.
Organic pineapple farming is generally more environmentally friendly, as it avoids chemicals, protects ecosystems, and supports the soil. However, it comes with challenges like lower efficiency. These farms may also produce more waste and decrease crop yield if fruit is lost to insects or the weather. As shown today, ants will sometimes work inside the fruit’s outer part, yet you can still eat it. Conventional farming is more productive and cost-efficient. However, it can be less sustainable if not managed carefully due to the heavy use of pesticides, which can harm the environment, deplete soil nutrients, and pose health risks to farm workers and downstream communities.
Pineapple plantations face threats like pests, disease, extreme weather, soil degradation, and water runoff. Organic farms use natural pest control and plastic covering to protect against pests and the sun, while conventional farms rely on chemicals. Farmers improve drainage, rotate crops, and use compost to handle weather and soil issues. Most farms rely primarily on Nicaraguan migrant workers and attract them using social and life benefits like homes, healthcare, and other forms of social advancement and financial support.
The conditions these workers in the lowlands face are much different from those in the highlands for three main reasons: temperature, rain, and crops. Firstly, as I felt myself today, the pineapple plantation in Sarapiquí was uncomfortably hot and certainly unbearable if I were not under the shaded trailer. Secondly, the lowlands receive much more rain, meaning the weather is much more volatile here. Finally, the crops grown in each region differ, as coffee prefers higher elevation, as in Monteverde, and pineapple prefers lower, like in Sarapiquí.
If I were a plantation worker, I would much rather be picking coffee off their trees than harvesting pineapple. The weather in the lowlands would be too hot and rainy for me, with seemingly zero shade, as well as the pineapples being sharp and sometimes harsh to deal with.
