In Costa Rica’s agricultural heartland, pineapples are more than just a cash crop — they’re a pillar of the national economy. Over the past 15 years, the country has experienced a 700% increase in pineapple production, now a $1.3 billion industry, according to the UN. Almost all of it is destined for the United States or the UK. But this rapid growth comes at a cost.
The boom in pineapple cultivation has raised serious environmental and worker-health concerns, pushing into forestland and intensifying the use of chemicals. More than 5,000 hectares of forest have been cleared to make room for pineapple plantations in those 15 years.
The industry is dominated by U.S.-based fruit companies and their subsidiaries. Yet more-local and sustainably grown options are also taking root. Growth in demand for organic pineapples is opening new opportunities. While organic pineapple farms have higher production costs, those costs can sometimes be offset by rural tourism. Elian Alvarado, tourism manager for Organic Paradise Tour, showcases what’s possible when local agriculture, ecology and tourism coexist.
Alvarado calls it a model of balance: economic opportunity without environmental or cultural compromise.
