Pineapple producers in Costa Rica remain at odds after a group denounced an exporter in San Carlos for allegedly exporting containers of conventional pineapples labelled as organic.
The shipments of conventional fruit labeled as “organic” were made to the US market, which “threatens the prestige of Costa Rica in that nation,” according to companies that want to formalize the Cámara Nacional de Agricultura Orgánica (Canagro) – National Chamber of Organic Agriculture.
In a report by La Nacion, “… the companies concerned claimed that behind the complaints, are the economic interests of another company and they preferred not to give further details, out of respect for ongoing judicial proceedings.”
Oscar Salas, a lawyer and member of the Canagro said that an investigation by the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) found inconsistencies in the processing of organic certification in plantation management and control of suppliers of fruit. It was also established that companies exported both conventional and organic fruit, which made it harder to control each type of pineapple.
The investigation includes the companies Del Valle Verde Corp., LyL Proyecto MMV and Congelados y Jugos Valle Verde, all have the same president.
Roy Guerrero, a lawyer for the companies involved, said appeals have been made and other litigation is underway, but declined to give more details.
The lawyer said that it is Canagro which jeopardizes the prestige of Costa Rica in the world as exporter of organic products.
Source: La Nacion
