News Costa Rica: Costa Rican Fresh Peppers and Ripe Tomatoes Can Now Be Exported to the U.S.

Exports Costa Rica

San Jose, Friday, January 30, 2009
U.S. Ambassador Peter Cianchette and Costa Rican Minister of Agriculture Javier Flores signed a protocol to allow Costa Rican exports of fresh peppers and ripe tomatoes to the U.S.

This process began during the negotiation of the Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Central America and the Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR), when the signatory countries expressed their interest in accessing this market in the U.S.

The signing of this protocol opens an initial market estimated at $3 million dollars in the export of tomatoes and peppers for fifteen families in the Zarcero area. Overall the U.S. annually imports over $450 million dollars in these two products.

“What pleases me most is that the first ones that will enjoy this benefit are those fifteen small producers, who exerted an enormous economic effort to build the greenhouses required under the protocol. This demonstrates clearly that under CAFTA all producers, big and small, stand to benefit from the enhanced market access,” said Ambassador Cianchette.