Costa Rica Cultivates Dazzling Rubyglow Pineapple
Costa Rica is poised to bolster agricultural exports through an eye-catching red pineapple dubbed “Rubyglow”, the latest in a series of flashy pineapple innovations by fruit giant Fresh Del Monte. By cross-breeding conventional and purple pineapples, scientists developed Rubyglow’s vibrant colors and ultra-sweet taste exclusively near Fresh Del Monte’s Puntarenas operations. The scarce specialty pineapple will launch in China’s enormous fruit markets to leverage demand for exotic Lunar New Year gifts, with exclusive global waiting lists also driving its status as a hot luxury item.
Regional VP Jorge Pelaez stated Rubyglow cements Costa Rica as Fresh Del Monte’s innovation hub for launching globally desired fruits, with only 5,000 reaching consumers in 2024 before scaling up. The vibrant pineapple represents advancing innovations in breeding technology and branding allowing native crops to command surging premiums abroad. Between aesthetics earning curiosity and unmatched taste cementing loyalty, products like Rubyglow showcase opportunities in specialized agriculture for Costa Rica.
Atlas Highlights Hazards Along Costa Rica’s Beaches
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute and the National University have collaborated to create an Atlas of Costa Rica’s beaches to provide crucial safety information for visitors. The atlas identifies beaches with strong undertow currents, which often draw many tourists unaware of the hazards. It includes data on beach access, conditions, and features to help travelers select appropriate destinations. Recommendations advise beachgoers to heed signage, avoid swimming after eating, steer clear of sinkholes and river mouths, and check with surfers on safe spots to swim.
Officials emphasize that understanding beach dynamics before visiting, especially for water sports, prevents accidents. Since 1989, the National University has studied dangerous rip currents on Costa Rica’s 300+ beaches, with drowning deaths peaking around vacations and holidays…
Costa Rica Warn Jobs at Risk Over Currency Woes
The Costa Rican tourism industry continues voicing alarm over the appreciating colon’s severe impacts, warning that inaction on stabilizing currency exchange rates risks thousands of job losses. Chamber of Tourism president Rubén Acón criticized the Central Bank’s refusal to intervene in foreign exchange markets, causing unsustainable losses for companies still recovering from the pandemic. Despite the sector’s pleas for policy changes to ease economic instability, the bank and government have responded with silence.
With November bookings hitting record highs, President Chaves defends the exchange rate as a loss only for banks. However, the tourism industry emphasizes it faces a growing crisis jeopardizing competitiveness and livelihoods if officials fail to act decisively. The crucial sector seeks the Tourism Minister’s intervention on monetary decisions to alleviate conditions pushing operators towards financial ruin.
