Fairtrade Pineapple Juice Factsheet

The Producers

The Asoproagroin Association of Fairtrade Pineapple Growers was formed in 2002.

There are now 137 farms growing in Guanacaste and Alajuela, areas of northern Costa Rica with high unemployment and few opportunities.

Many Asoproagroín farmers are now EurepGAP certified and the remainder are in a programme working towards certification.

Oké pineapples from Asoproagroín were the first pineapples in the world to be awarded the FAIRTRADE Mark, and were awarded five stars out of five in a taste test by celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in an article in the Times’ Saturday magazine. The pineapples are of the supersweet Golden variety, chosen because of its popularity with the European consumer.

The Pineapples are exported all year round.

How Fairtrade benefits the Producers

Most jobs in the region are on small farms and many families survive on around £500 a year. Many farms producing the Fairtrade pineapples are around one hectare each in size.

Fairtrade has meant:

Asoproagroín Fairtrade farmers receive 20% more for their crop than they would on the conventional market.
In one of our communities the road which was the principle way of transporting fruit from the field to the port was in very bad shape and that has been repaired.
In another community computers have been donated so school children can begin to learn to use them.
In another region the growers decided to use the next premium money for a home for old people, to buy wheelchairs and baths and everything they need, plus the operational costs.
As Asoproagroín is expanding its volume, a new packing house has been opened with coolrooms and a professional packing line to help maintain quality.

How Fairtrade benefits the Environment

AgroFair continually assists all its farmers to maintain and improve their agricultural practices.

The environment is a winner as Fairtrade fruit is produced with fewer agrochemicals.

Pineapples being harvested. Photography by Simon de Trey-White