piña part 1: pineapple express

Our last field trip stop was to Corsicana Pineapple Farm also in Sarapiqui; by far my favorite trip!! We got to ride the pineapple express out to the field, quite similar to pumpkin picking in the states where you ride out in cars pulled by a tractor.

In 1996 the farm did not produce any organic pineapples but in 2000 noticed the consumer demand and began to produce some organically. By 2006 they were completely organic but then 2 years later with the fiscal crisis the demand for organic fell and they were selling their premiums organic pineapples in the conventional market. Today 60% of their production is organic.

First drainage ditches are dug and soil beds are covered in black plastic to prevent weeds since they cannot use pesticides (this is more expensive than conventional). Even so, they must weed by hand every 6 weeks. Additions to the soil are calcium, phosporous rock, and cow blood (most surprising fact of the trip!!) for nitrogen since they cannot use other conventional methods.

Conventional pineapples are sprayed with ethylene gas which makes them yellow on the outside. Organic pineapples are not sprayed so they have a darker green tint to them. Because conventional pineapples can look mature on the outside before they are on the inside but organics are easy to gauge on appearance, you are more likely to get a really delicious pineapple every time with organics.

The pineapples grows from the top of the old crown or seed of another pinapple plant. The plant with produce twice then the plants are uprooted and new seeds or crowns are planted. The field are allowed to lay fallow 6 months before re-planting. Each flower on the pineapple represents a fruit: for this reason, the pineapple is a "complex fruit".