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Panamanian Pineapple Farm Earns First Rainforest Alliance Certification in Latin America

The Dolce Pineapple Company's farm in David, Panama, has become the first pineapple farm in Latin America to be certified by the Rainforest Alliance for meeting the group's rigorous environmental and social standards.

Commercial pineapple farming often lead to widespread environmental problems including soil erosion -- a particular problem for the Panama Canal, which is being filled with sediment from poorly managed farms.

Studies have shown that preventing the erosion through sustainable farming techniques is cheaper than dredging the canal.

"By being the first Latin American pineapple farm to obtain Rainforest Alliance certification, the Dolce Veladero Chiriquí farm sets an excellent example for the region's entire industry," said Luis Diego Jiménez, certification unit manager for the Rainforest Alliance

Dolce achieved certification after an intense ten-month effort -- and radical changes in the company's way of working.

"Everyone, from the most humble worker to the highest levels of management, now understands the importance of caring for the land – the need to combat soil erosion and protect water sources, forests, and the banks of rivers and small streams," said Dolce president Luis Ríos. "Worker health care has also been reinforced through training on the handling of agrochemicals, among other topics."

Among other advantages, certification will help Dolce differentiate itself from other providers. This will open doors for the company in European markets such as Germany, Switzerland, Scandinavia and the Netherlands through Chiquita, which will be in charge of trading the fruit.

Eugenio Rodríguez, director of supply for Chiquita Fresh Select in the tropics, hopes that Dolce's example will be followed "by all entrepreneurs committed to the health of their workers, the well-being of the community and the protection of the environment."

At present, the Rainforest Alliance is continuing to motivate pineapple providers to implement the standards. The Grupo Acón and Agrícola Agromonte, both located in Costa Rica, are undertaking the process and hope to obtain certification by early 2008.

The pineapple project was financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
 

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