Inclement weather continued affecting the whole territory during the week with a slight tapering off on the precipitation side of the Caribbean region. Total rainfall at 84.6 mm (3.3 in). The Chamber of Pineapple Exporters is reporting losses in the pineapple sector amounting to $2.5 million due to causes attributable to the severe weather. Severe weather continued affecting the entire country, bringing heavy rains, flooding and significant damage to infrastructure and agriculture. Despite the rain over the last two weeks, our region continuous free of the crippling effects the bad weather has brought to other regions of the Central American Isthmus.
This is no time to lessen our focus so we continue with an aggressive program of field sampling in order to avoid the deterioration of the fruit’s internal quality. High translucency, water spots and overripe fruit are usually the direct results of this type of weather. Other regions of the country are already reporting an increase in fruit waste caused by these quality parameters. Unconfirmed reports also speak about serious infrastructure damages in the Pacific South region of the country, where a large pineapple production area is located. An increased demand for fruit is being felt throughout the pineapple industry in Costa Rica.