According to Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, a Japanese specialist in agriculture, Costa Rica is a role model for Latin America, due to its progress on organic farming, as there are groups who participate in the entire commercial process.
Yamaguchi came to Costa Rica to give lectures in a Latin American workshop on agricultural practices.
The expert from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) added that a really good example of organic farming is Alfaro Ruíz, in Alajuela.
However, Mayra López, president of the Costa Rican Organic Producers and Consumers Association ( APROCO) believes that in Costa Rica, the sector faces a problem with the increasing unfair competition, as “organic” products are sold without certification in garages in different places.
The organic crops with the biggest production are pineapple, banana and sugar, particularly intended for foreign markets. Papaya, noni, coffee and cocoa, as well as vegetables are also grown for the domestic market.