Agriculture

The Plant Health Department (SFE) of Costa Rica knew the levels of bromacil in the water of Río Cuarto (canton of Alajuela) since 2015. Despite having the information, the data wasn't shared with other authorities until 2016 and wasn't known publicly until 2018.

A drought affecting several countries in Central America has caused significant losses in crops, affecting more than two million people, warned the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

Ministry officials warned pineapple farmers that they must refrain from conducting any work that might have an impact on nearby wetlands, ponds, or protected lands.

A four-year project developed in Guanacaste resulted in a new product called EcoArroz (Eco Rice) that is more nutritious and has more minerals than tradional rice.

China’s ambassador to Costa Rica stopped at Manuel Antonio Friday to have lunch with local officials and tour a palm oil plantation in hopes of increasing business and tourism ties between the two countries

Consumption of vegetables grown north of Cartago province do not pose any risk to humans despite their exposure to ashes from the Turrialba Volcano, the Costa Rican government says.

Agricultural importers say contraband Mexican Hass avocados have been appearing in farmers markets around the capital lately.

Mexican and Costa Rican officials are meeting in Geneva to discuss Costa Rica's ongoing ban on avocados from Mexico and eight other countries because of the “sunblotch” virus. If Mexico is not satisfied with the criteria discussed at the WTO's Phytosanitary Committee, the dispute could move on to arbitration.

The fast food sandwich chain Subway found itself at the center of a quarrel over a ban on avocado imports in Costa Rica Thursday when the restaurant’s decision to temporarily stop offering avocado led to a stunt by Communication Minister Mauricio Herrera.

Costa Rica's third country organic accreditation with EU countries allowed local organic producers to send coffee for the first time to Estonia last year, while pineapple producers sold for the first time to France and Switzerland.

Hold the guac! That side of guacamole could get a lot more expensive now that Costa Rica has decided to temporarily ban avocado imports from nine countries, including Mexico, the world’s largest producer of avocados.

Rainfall along the Pacific coast has gradually returned to normal levels following last year's decrease in rainfall of up to 65 percent in Guanacaste and 30 percent in Puntarenas.