Costa Rica

Countdown to zero: How one grower brings carbon-neutral bananas to market

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 19:13:45 GMT

In the search for sustainable production, tropical fruit grower Kapi Kapi Growers set its sights on an audacious goal, not yet achieved by a competitor: carbon-neutral bananas .

As exciting as this aspiration is, how exactly does one measure and quantify carbon neutrality in fresh fruit?

As Kapi Kapi Growers sought answers, the International Fresh Produce Association collaborated with the grower, outlining how it charted its carbon neutral course in a recently published sustainability case study, “Becoming Carbon Neutral Through Beneficial Environmental Practices.”

“We want to thank IFPA’s sustainability group for supporting us in conducting this case study,” Sofia Acon said in a news release. Acon is president of Kapi Kapi Growers, which is headquartered in the U.S. but was founded in Costa Rica. “As many are well aware, carbon neutrality is a commitment that takes hard work and dedication. We take pride in being among the pioneering banana companies to reach this goal, while also expanding our partnerships and availability of our products in North America and Europe.”

Charting a course to carbon neutral

Having already achieved a laundry list of sustainability certifications — Rainforest Alliance, Sustainably Grown Certified and Ethical Trade Initiative — Kapi Kapi Growers sought to raise the bar once more through recognition by Costa Rica’s National Carbon Neutrality Program, a certification that allowed it to identify as a carbon-neutral company.

While the grower supplies bananas and pineapples to retailers and fruit brands in over 25 countries, it wanted to achieve carbon neutrality in 100% of its banana business. Kapi Kapi Growers achieved that goal in 2022 and is now working to expand its carbon neutral certification to include pineapples, according to the case study.

“We want to work toward change in the direction of even higher levels of sustainable production. This certification alone took [five] years of planning and long-term conviction. For us sustainability is at the core of our bigger purpose as we grow,” Acon said in the case study.

Baselining and mapping a course to carbon neutral

The first step in tackling its goal of carbon neutrality was to address carbon sources.

Excess amounts of carbon released into the atmosphere during operations is not only a problem in the produce industry, but in all industries throughout the world, the case study noted. Carbon neutrality takes not only thoughtful growing and business processes, but it also takes careful planning and analysis.

According to the study, common major carbon contributors for growers include:

Nitrogen-based fertilizers.
Improper soil-management practices.
Machinery and transportation fuels.
Deforestation.

After identifying and assessing the main carbon contributors in an operation, the goal is to track and counterbalance these sources of carbon emissions, according to the case study.

Managing emissions

One you know what you’re working with, next comes the balancing act. Carbon neutrality is achieved through compensating for known carbon emissions by way of environmentally beneficial countermeasures. This tracking is often described as carbon accounting.

According to the case study, the certification process for the banana division began in 2017 and covered 9,000 hectares.

“Main sources of carbon for the company include fertilizers, machinery and transportation. All sources of carbon emissions were identified, quantified and accounted for,” the case study said. “Once identified, the company enacted a plan that included establishing a carbon neutrality management system and implementing reduction measures, which included solar panels installation.”

Related news: How some growers are cultivating sustainability at the apple orchard

Today, Kapi Kapi Growers’ banana-growing operations is powered primarily by solar energy, with over 9,000 solar panels covering all operations, Acon said in the release.

Costa Rica’s National Carbon Neutrality Program, administered by the Climate Change Department of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, issued a carbon-neutral certification that assures the reduction and offsetting of all carbon emissions generated by Kapi Kapi’s farming operations have been validated.

Benefits of sustainable production

In addition to sharing this industry-leading sustainable agriculture story with consumers, Kapi Kapi Growers’ carbon neutral journey has resulted in cost savings because of operational changes made to achieve certification, according to the release.

As a result of the carbon neutrality initiative, Kapi Kapi Growers said it has saved approximately $400,000 in energy costs as of 2022. Over the next 10 years, the company is estimated to have reached $4 million in energy savings, said the case study.

“We started on a journey that has been integral to the DNA at Kapi Kapi,” Acon said in the release. “As our efforts towards sustainability continue to grow, we hope that we can inspire and support others to pursue a similar path.”

The case study may be accessed on the IFPA’s sustainability site.

Dole Organic Fair Trade Certified Pineapples earn Good Housekeeping sustainable innovation award

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 22:12:19 GMT

Dole Food Co. says its Dole Organic Fair Trade Certified Pineapples have been named a winner in Good Housekeeping’s 2024 Sustainable Innovation Awards.

Dole Organic Fair Trade Certified Pineapples are grown year-round in Costa Rica according to strict social, environmental and economic standards, according to a news release.

The release said growers receive a fair price for their fruit and farmworkers are granted an additional dividend with every purchase to invest back in their local communities and businesses as they see fit.

“We’re honored that our Organic Fair Trade Pineapples have been named a Good Housekeeping 2024 Sustainable Innovation Awards winner,” William Goldfield, director of corporate communications for Dole, said in the release.

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Chiquita pledges additional 10 years of protection to nature reserve

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:13:56 GMT

Chiquita says it has committed to an additional 10 years of protection to the Nogal Reserve in Costa Rica, as part of its mission to honor the communities and land from which its bananas grow.

The Nogal Reserve, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, was established as a private wildlife refuge as the result of a joint effort between Chiquita and a portion of its clients, according to a news release. To honor the reserve’s longevity and accomplishments, Chiquita said it plans to continue long-term conservation of the area, promote environmental education for local communities, improve the local communities’ quality of life and continue to be a model in the banana industry for biodiversity conservation.

Chiquita has been working for nearly two decades on forest connectivity, biodiversity conservation and scientific research, according to the release. Created in 2004 to be an alliance of biodiversity, the Nogal Reserve is located between the Sucio River and a banana plantation in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, and is comprised of three fragments of forest connected by the Nogal-La Selva Local Biological Corridor. This connectivity is essentially the “highway” between the forest and private protection areas which promotes long-term conservation and biodiversity, the release said.

“Pledging an additional 10 years of protection to the Nogal Reserve is yet another way that shows that Chiquita is truly committed to protecting biodiversity,” Peter Stedman, Chiquita’s director of sustainability, said in the release. “This decree allows Chiquita to continue making strides towards positively impacting the environment that cultivates our bananas, while simultaneously aiming to be a model of cooperation in the banana industry for biodiversity conservation.”

With support from the German Society for International Cooperation, the Costa Rican government, the Rainforest Alliance and some of its clients, Chiquita said it has implemented a variety of sustainability initiatives to support environmental conservation and education, resulting in the protection of more than 720 plant and 330 animal species within the reserve’s 257 acres.

Chiquita said this decree is the latest of many ways that it has committed to upholding its commitment to sustainability. For nearly three decades, Chiquita has put in place sustainability practices through its “Behind the Blue Sticker” approach to business, according to the release.

To learn more about Chiquita’s environmental efforts, check out the brand’s Sustainability Report , which spotlights both its initiatives that support sustainability from farm to table, including its “30BY30” carbon reduction program, according to the release.

Kapi Kapi achieves Ecologic Blue Flag certification for bananas

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 15:48:27 GMT

Kapi Kapi Growers , a Costa Rican grower-shipper of sustainably grown pineapples, bananas and plantains, says its banana farms have earned a five-star rating award with Ecologic Blue Flag (Bandera Azul Ecológica).

Ecologic Blue Flag is a Costa Rican certification that promotes sustainable development and environmental conservation, according to a news release. The highest rating — five stars — is exclusively awarded to carbon-neutral organizations that also perform well in criteria such as water management, waste management, pesticide and fertilizer use, biodiversity conservation, soil management, and community engagement.

Kapi Kapi Growers said it is one of the largest companies certified carbon neutral for bananas and has achieved multiple other global certifications and national awards for its commitment to its resources and its community.

“We are proud to add the Ecologic Blue Flag certification to our list of our collective sustainability milestones,” Kapi Kapi Growers President Sofia Acon said in the release. “We have put considerable efforts over the last 35 years to build an organization that is not only devoted to growing the very best quality tropical fruits, but also nurtures and protects our resources and community.”

The Ecologic Blue Flag program was launched in 1996 with the purpose of improving coastal water quality and promoting eco-friendly tourism. It has since expanded to include other categories, including agribusiness, where the goal is to recognize growers who demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, the release said.

Chiquita receives Blue Flag Award for 12th year

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:40:56 GMT

Chiquita has earned the Blue Flag Award again.

“Chiquita is honored to receive the Blue Flag Award for the 12th year in a row, which reinforces our overall commitment to promoting biodiversity across all operations,” Raul Gigena Pazoz, human resources and sustainability director for Chiquita, said in a news release.

The award was based upon efficient energy use, waste management, water quality and use of organic and biodegradable elements in the Nogal Nature and Community Reserve in Costa Rica. The Blue Flag Ecological Program honored Chiquita with the award in its Natural Spaces category .

“Nogal is located within the Mesoamerican Biological corridor in Central America, which is the third largest biodiversity hot spot in the world,” according to the release.

The Nogal Nature and Community Reserve program is overseen by Costa Rican authorities and encourages protection of the 720 plant and 339 vertebrae animal species, reforestation for wildlife shelter and natural disaster protection and community support through education and infrastructure.

“We recognize our responsibility to act as a ‘good neighbor’ to the farming communities in which we cultivate our bananas, and hope to act as a positive example of responsible production for others to follow,” Pazoz said in the release.

The environmental protection, development and education steps Chiquita is taking are part of its Behind the Blue Sticker approach.

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Del Monte launches Petit Pinkglow Pineapple

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:51:53 GMT

Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc . is launching its newest product, the Petit Pinkglow Pineapple, exclusively in the Dallas market.

A mini version of the Pinkglow Pineapple, which was introduced earlier in October.

The Petit Pinkglow Pineapple will be available for purchase and same-day delivery throughout the Dallas area at www.myfreshdelmonte.com, according to a news release.

“We are so excited to be officially launching our new Petit Pinkglow Pineapple in the Dallas market,” Pablo Rivero, vice president of marketing for North America, said in the news release. “After receiving such a great response with the launch of the Pinkglow Pineapple earlier this month, we know that our consumers are going to love this smaller version – which is perfect for small gatherings special date nights or even as a fun gift for the person who has everything!”

Grown in Costa Rica, the Petit Pinkglow Pineapple are harvested by hand with their crowns replanted to increase the volume of crops and reduce waste, according to the release.

Launched in 2020, www.myfreshdelmonte.com offers consumers the opportunity to place orders for Del Monte Fresh fresh and value-added produce, according to the release.

The Packer’s Pineapple Coverage

Chiquita highlights No Banana Wasted initiative for Earth Day

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:31:52 GMT

Chiquita Brands International , Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has a goal of eliminating its banana waste this year.

The company is highlighting its No Banana Wasted initiative and other sustainable programs for Earth Day, April 22.

Chiquita has implemented zero-waste practices, including updated farming methods, national banana donation initiatives and recycling programs, according to a news release.

“By finding impactful uses for the bananas that don’t make it to grocery store shelves, Chiquita is doing its part to create a solution for the global food waste epidemic,” Jamie Postell, director of North American sales, said in a news release.

Chiquita has a Tropical Ingredients Processing Plant in Costa Rica that produces puree and banana flour, cutting waste in half in two years, according to the release.

In the U.S., bananas that are bruised or exhibit premature browning are diverted to Feeding America, and Chiquita also participates in retailer Fruits for Kids program, offering free single bananas to children at stores.

The company donates bananas to community events, including the New York City Marathon, Disney Marathons and the Life Time Miami Marathon/Half Marathon. The company makes containers available so the peels are composted after the events.

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Dole wins social responsibility award for bananas

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:18:15 GMT

The Standard Fruit Co. of Costa Rica S.A., a subsidiary of Dole Food Co., received the Social Responsibility in Action award from The Costa Rican-North American Chamber of Commerce in connection to the company’s Green Star Initiative.

The Green Star Initiative program began in 2016, as an integrated approach to landscape management in Valle La Estrella, according to a news release. The program incorporates environmental education, ecological restoration, energy and agriculture, biodiversity and carbon neutrality, in a production model for the banana industry.

“Environmental sustainability is critical to our growing operations and to our business throughout the company,” Renato Acuña, president of Dole Tropical Products Latin America, said in the release.

The chamber’s award recognizes companies that have responsible and integral business management, unifying the economic, social and environmental fields for the development of the country. In 2019, 30 companies were nominated for a total of 37 programs in five categories: public-private partnerships, community, collaborators, environment and value chain.

The Green Star Initiative project was the winner among the eighteen entrants in the environment category.

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Zero emission fruit? Fresh Del Monte says yes, launching first carbon neutral pineapple

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 22:07:34 GMT

Miami-based vertically integrated producer and marketer Fresh Del Monte Produce is launching its first carbon neutral certified pineapple, Del Monte Zero.

Using a limited percentage of the company’s total pineapple volumes, the Del Monte Zero pineapple is a new product line extension from the Del Monte Gold, HoneyGlow and Del Monte original pineapple varieties. Del Monte Zero pineapple is grown in Costa Rica and certified as sustainably grown and carbon neutral certified by third-party certification body SCS Global Services, according to a news release.

“Fresh Del Monte Zero pineapples set an important new benchmark for the global fresh produce industry,” Stan Rhodes, president and CEO of SCS Global Services, said in the release. “They have not only demonstrated adherence to extremely rigorous principles of social responsibility, environmental, and governance performance but have also focused on increasing carbon storage on the lands they own and manage, while simultaneously minimizing their GHG emissions, to achieve carbon neutral certification. In doing so, they are confronting the climate crisis head-on.”

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The limited-availability, carbon neutral certified Del Monte Zero Pineapple will be available to North American consumers in early 2023. The launch was accomplished through a long-standing program of carefully curated farms that incorporate conservation and reforestation areas to sequester CO2. Creating this nature-based solution, also known as insetting, is part of a larger commitment the company has made to combating climate change, according to the release.

“Going beyond the farm to include emissions from inland and oceanic transportation, distribution, and commercialization is a major step in helping the environment,” Hans Sauter, chief sustainability officer and senior vice president of research and development and agricultural services at Fresh Del Monte, said in the release. “We hope that the Del Monte Zero pineapples not only generate awareness among our customers, current and future partners but also provide consumers with a unique opportunity to support climate-conscious produce.”

Additionally, investments in transportation fleet and reducing greenhouse gas emissions enabled Fresh Del Monte to achieve the milestone, according to the release. The company’s 8,000-plus hectare forest containing approximately five million trees neutralizes emissions — from farm to table — produced by the Del Monte Zero pineapple.

A trained group of Fresh Del Monte team members tracks and measures the company’s forests biannually to ensure the amount of certified carbon-neutral pineapple boxes equates to the carbon dioxide sequestered through such conservation activities, the release said.

SCS Global Services, a third-party environmental and sustainability veriﬁcation and certiﬁcation organization, assessed Fresh Del Monte’s Costa Rica pineapple production through shipment and sale to the North American and European markets. The organization determined that the Del Monte Zero pineapples’ greenhouse gas emissions have been negated by the reabsorption of Fresh Del Monte-owned forests, making those pineapples’ carbon footprint net zero, according to the release.

SCS certification was achieved by all eight of Fresh Del Monte’s Costa Rican pineapple farms that export to either Europe or North America. With this launch, Fresh Del Monte hopes to be able to expand its carbon neutral practices to other fruits and partner with more customers to join in on the effort to bring more certified sustainably grown products to the world, according to the release.

Costa Rica event showcases exports to potential buyers

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:15:35 GMT

Costa Rica is inviting buyers of fresh produce and other exports to the country’s 20^th Buyers Trade Mission Costa Rica.

The conference a focused business networking event designed to attract international buyers in the food and agriculture sectors, according to a news release. Procomer, Costa Rica’s trade promotion entity, will pay for hotel accommodations for one representative of a qualified company.

“The event promotes linkages between our exporters and potential buyers or business partners,” Pedro Beirute, Procomer CEO, said in the release. “We are looking for companies interested in evaluating our portfolio of products and exploring the potential Costa Rica has to offer.”

More than 300 companies from around the world are expected to attend the event, Sept. 25-27, according to the release.

For more information, contact a Procomer representative:

Maykool Lopez, New York office, Newyork@procomer.com , (212)967-0051
Zacarías Ayub, Miami office, Miami@procomer.com , (786) 477 5750
Michelle Corriols, Canada office canada@procomer.com , (416) 865 3382

Costa Rica orange output projected to rise 11% in 2024-25

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 18:37:31 GMT

Costa Rica 2024-25 marketing year orange production is forecast to rise by 11% to 250,000 metric tons, according to a new report from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

However, the increasing impact of citrus greening is clouding the long-term outlook, the report said.

The USDA said Costa Rica’s 2023-24 orange production, at 225,000 metric tons, was lower than previously expected because of erratic rainfall patterns associated with the El Niño weather phenomenon.

The report said that sources from the Costa Rican government say citrus greening is affecting most production areas of the country and has caused many small producers to abandon orange production or shift their land to other activities.

“Smaller producers have been exiting orange production altogether as citrus greening disease spreads throughout the country, resulting in higher costs of production, lower yields, and lower (or negative) profits,” the report said.

According to the report, oranges are harvested mainly from January to May, with peak production volume in March and April. Costa Rica exports about half of its frozen concentrated orange juice to the U.S., while nearly all fresh oranges are consumed in Costa Rica.

Production outlook

The report said Costa Rica’s citrus area planted should remain unchanged in the marketing year 2024-25, as the effects of citrus greening persist and major growers concentrate on improving the current area through continued replanting and irrigation investments.

Industry sources estimate the area planted in 2024-25 at 51,892 acres, including the area planted on the Nicaraguan side of the border for processing in Costa Rica. Industry sources estimate the total number of orange trees at 7.4 million, the report said.

Commercial orange production in Costa Rica is concentrated in the northern part of Alajuela province (around Los Chiles, Guatuso and Upala) and in the northern part of Guanacaste province (near the border with Nicaragua in an area known as Santa Cecilia). Two companies, TicoFrut and Del Oro, control most of the production and practically all processing of oranges in the country.

Oranges from the Nicaraguan plantations are trucked across the border in Los Chiles for processing at TicoFrut’s plant located in Muelle San Carlos, about 50 miles to the south of the border, the report said. Del Oro’s plantations are in Santa Cecilia, Guanacaste (also near the border with Nicaragua), the report said. Smaller independent growers in other regions of the country — including Acosta (near the
Central Valley) and Nandayure in Guanacaste — mostly sell to the local fresh market.

Smaller independent producers predominantly sell into the domestic fresh fruit market, diverting oranges to the processing market in response to short-term price fluctuations, the report said.

Challenges

Industry sources anticipate greater difficulty securing sufficient labor as well as higher wages for scarce pickers in 2024-25 and possibly in subsequent crops, the report said.

Citrus greening disease was first identified in Costa Rica in 2011 and remains a major concern for producers, the report said. Citrus greening is now endemic throughout the country’s growing areas, increasing costs, decreasing yields, adding uncertainty to future production plans and limiting the growth of production area.

The largest farms have been relatively successful in mitigating the effects of the disease by establishing strict controls, including constant farm surveillance and eradication of affected plants, the report said. Better-capitalized producers use agrochemicals and biological controls (a wasp, tamarixia radiata, that feeds on the Asian citrus psyllid) in their preventive measures. According to industry sources, small- or medium-sized growers whose plantations have been affected by the disease are likely to exit orange production over the medium term given the high cost of controlling the disease.

Major growers are expected to continue directing investments toward replanting existing area with new trees and new patterns, rather than increasing area planted, the report said. Industry sources expect the pattern renovation process to continue through the early 2030s, gradually driving yields higher over that time.