This Week at the Farm

· A few scattered showers barely accumulated 8 mm (1/3”)
· Slight harvest age increase – more fruit harvested at 22 weeks after forcing (WAF) than prior week
· Harvest volumes are back to normal
· Public employee strike ending third week. Talks between union representatives and government officials is stalled.
· Roadblocks may cause delays in transit to port but loading operations are back to normal

More Here. Click here to receive this week’s full industry report.

· The dry spell continues with less than one tenth of an inch ( 2.3 mm) of precipitation recorded.
· All agricultural practices now on schedule
· Harvest age was increased slightly seeking improved internal conditions but careful not to overcompensate given changes in climatic conditions.
· Overall quality remains very acceptable.
· Nationwide strikes moves into the second week –
· Meetings between government officials and union representatives started Monday
· Talks are deadlocked with parties at odds over:
· Government officials demand strike to be lifted in order for talks to continue
· Union officials demand grievances addressed before the stroke is lifted
· Port operations have resumed although at a slower pace than normal

More Here. Click here to receive this week’s full industry report.

· Scattered light drizzles brought only 27.5 mm (just over 1 inch) of rainfall
· Improved climatic conditions enabled farms to prepare land, plant and carry out good husbandry practices
· We expect this drier weather to last a couple of months
· But now a country wide strike called by unions of public employees is paralyzing the country.
· Imports and exports are trickling in and out. Fuel shortages expected. Vessels cancelled.

More Here. Click here to receive this week’s full industry report.

· A second consecutive week with improved climatic conditions.
· Well distributed light showers brought 45.1 mm (1.8 inches) of precipitation.
· Air and soil temperatures increased to normal levels.
· Most of our fruit is harvested at 21 weeks after forcing (WAF).
· Pineapple volumes out of Costa Rica are very low.

More Here. Click here to receive this week’s full industry report.

· A return to lighter precipitation with 43.1 mm (1.7 inches of rainfall
· We continue to adjust harvest age to fit changing climatic conditions
· 76% harvested at 21 weeks after forcing (WAF)
· Only 5%harvested at 20 WAF
· Sugar content improved as average rose to 14.3 degrees brix and percentage below 13.5 dropped to 30%
· External color mostly 0.5
· Taste, aroma and sweetness much improved
· September and October are usually drier months and we experience some of the best growing conditions of the year.
· Please contact your sales manager for “October – Pineapple Month” marketing opportunities

· Week 31 at the farms brought a welcomed respite in our weather:
· Only 85.6 mm (3.3 inches) of rainfall were recorded.
· A few days of sunshine is allowing us to catch up in soil preparation and new plantings.
· Harvest age again was reduced with 58% harvested at 21 WAF; 20% at 20 WAF and only 20% harvested at 22 WAF.
· Internal quality has been impacted by climatic conditions and age at harvest reduction.
· We expect that the anticipated improvement in climatic conditions will allow us to pack our usual quality fruit.
· Volumes arriving in the marketplace are on the decline.

More Here. Click here to receive this week’s full industry report.

· A second consecutive week of excessive precipitation
· 314.3 mm (12.4 inches) of rainfall reported
· Farms aggressively pursue age reduction at harvest to avoid quality issues –
· 39 % harvested at 21 WAF; 60% at 22 WAF and even 1% at 20 WAF
· Soil preparation is paralyzed due waterlogged fields
· Road closures, flooding and damage to infrastructure is reported
· Harvest and planting of new fields being carried out in difficult conditions (see picture attached)
· Other than waterlogged fields we have been spared flooding and damage to infrastructure

More Here. Click here to receive this week’s full industry report.

· A record breaking week with accumulated precipitation of 313 mm (12.3 inches)!
· This is almost equal to the average monthly precipitation during the rainy season
· Some flooding and damage to infrastructure is being reported on the Atlantic coast
· Our farms have been spared flooding or damage thus far
· We are intensifying fruit sampling to export only fruit with proper quality parameters
· Quality parameters are holding and good

More Here. Click here to receive this week’s full industry report.