In the midst of my idyllic Costa Rican getaway, the last thing I expected was a jolting revelation about the pineapples I’d planned to casually devour. Courtesy of my immersion into the agricultural community of Juanilama, the narrative of those golden fruits took a sinister turn.
Venturing into the tropical hinterlands of northern Costa Rica with Intrepid Travel, a sustainable tourism-focused company, led me to the humble abode of a village woman. Far from a superficial encounter, this experience delved deep into the harsh realities of pineapple production in Costa Rica.
As we explored her small-scale, sustainable farm, she recounted the perils of large-scale pineapple cultivation in the country. Massive companies, in their pursuit of mass production, douse the crops with toxic pesticides, leading to the hospitalization of workers, poisoning of locals, and environmental devastation. Even black howler monkeys are not spared, their fur turning yellow from consuming polluted leaves. The stark truth she shared was undeniable – “Pineapples in Costa Rica are killing people.”
Costa Rica stands as the powerhouse in the global pineapple market, dominating with a staggering two-thirds of pineapples sold worldwide, boasting an export value of $1.7 billion in 2022, according to official stats. However, this success story has a dark underbelly.
Despite being renowned for its biodiversity and commitment to ecotourism, Costa Rica paradoxically ranks among the highest users of harsh chemical pesticides per hectare globally. The accelerated expansion of pineapple plantations, replacing diverse ecosystems with monoculture crops, led to rampant pesticide use and severe environmental consequences.
A 2022 UNDP report highlighted that Costa Rica deploys approximately 34.45 kg of pesticides per hectare per year – a stark contrast to the U.S. and Europe, which use 1.75 kg per hectare in 2021. These pesticides, recognized by UN and WHO criteria as acutely toxic and causing long-term health hazards, are wreaking havoc on both human health and the environment.
Communities adjacent to pineapple plantations suffer from contaminated water sources, leading to ulcers, allergies, respiratory problems, and various cancers. Workers, predominantly illegal immigrants from Nicaragua, endure brutal labor conditions, with reports of amputations, union-busting, and exposure to hazardous working conditions.
The impact isn’t confined to Costa Rica; it extends to consumers worldwide. The UK, a major importer of Costa Rican pineapples, lacks robust testing and reporting on pesticide residues in imports. The last pesticide residue test for pineapples was conducted in 2018, and concerns linger about the potential health risks posed by consuming conventionally grown pineapples.
While the Costa Rican government has made promises to address the issue, tangible actions remain elusive. The current administration’s reform, more focused on protecting pesticide recipes as intellectual property, doesn’t signal a substantial shift toward regulating the pesticide problem.
A future without harmful agrochemicals is the ultimate goal, but a sudden abandonment of pesticides would result in crop loss and economic hardship for farmers. Natural alternatives exist, as demonstrated by pioneering pineapple farms in Costa Rica that are gradually phasing out highly hazardous pesticides.
Consumers hold the power to drive change. Opting for certified organic pineapples ensures no synthetic pesticides are used. Additionally, certifications like Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade provide assurance regarding workers’ rights and environmentally friendly practices.
As consumers, our choices reverberate globally. The next time you reach for a pineapple, consider the true cost behind its sweetness and make a conscious decision to support sustainable and ethical practices.
