During our visit to the Best Pineapple Tour in Costa Rica, I learned around 20 percent of the pineapples grown in the plantation can’t be exported because of aesthetic qualifications. The pineapples must look perfect, including having the correct color and proportion between the crown and the fruit itself. I also learned how physically demanding pineapple farming is. According to our guide Daniel, each worker plants around 8,000 pineapples per day while working in hot and rainy conditions. Workers wear full overalls and boots because of snakes, bugs, and the sharp pineapple leaves, which made me realize how difficult this industry truly is behind the scenes. Daniel also explained that pineapple production and tourism are two of Costa Rica’s biggest economic drivers, making this plantation especially important because it combines both industries together.

I think younger generations in Costa Rica are becoming more interested in tourism than farming because tourism is less physically demanding and more interactive. Costa Rica’s tropical climate is good for crops, but spending entire days working in extreme heat and rain is hard. Farming also involves pressures like constantly meeting supply demands, adapting to tariffs, and maintaining industry standards like the strict export requirements for pineapples. Another reason tourism may seem more attractive is because it allows people to interact with visitors from around the world. On the way to the fútbol game, our Uber driver explained that he enjoys driving tourists because he gets to practice English, learn about different cultures, and hear about people’s lives from all over the world. I think this idea carries over into tourism jobs overall because the interpersonal aspect can make the work feel more enjoyable and less repetitive than agriculture.

But there are risks with younger generations moving away from farming and toward tourism-based careers. If fewer Costa Ricans choose agricultural work, the farming industry could weaken or become dependent on immigrant labor. While immigrant workers already play a major role in industries such as pineapple farming from Nicaraguans, a complete shift away from agriculture could create long-term problems. Agriculture is important to Costa Rica’s economy through exports such as pineapple and coffee, so a decline in the industry could negatively affect economic stability. Additionally, if the industry becomes disconnected from Costa Rican workers and traditions, some of the cultural identity and practices associated with these products could eventually be lost. So I believe maintaining a balance between tourism and agriculture is extremely important for Costa Rica’s future.