Fruits are essential in meals, but they also help reduce the impact of chronic diseases and boost the economy of Costa Rican families that are engaged in fruit growing, mainly in rural areas, according to the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO).
Kattia Jiménez, from the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (Incap) stressed that, due to the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the Costa Rican population, there is exposure to diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart problems.
The organization also highlighted the importance of these foods because they are of vital importance for the families’ economy.
In that sense, the fruit industry generated foreign currency for $2.18 billion dollars in fresh fruit and $403.5 million in processed fruit products for export, according to data provided by the Tropical Fruits Program of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG).
Alberto Montero, coordinator of the Ministry Program, recalled that
this country produces the best banana, pineapple and papaya in the world, as well as an extensive list of other fruits of a tropical nature.”