Citrus production in Costa Rica set for recovery amid challenges

Costa Rica’s citrus industry is expected to grow by 11% in the 2024/25 season, with production reaching 250,000 tons. This recovery follows a challenging 2023/24 season, where yields fell to 225,000 tons due to irregular rainfall caused by El Niño, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) report.

Despite these gains, challenges persist. Citrus greening disease continues to affect the majority of production areas, prompting small-scale farmers to abandon orange farming or switch to alternative crops. However, the total orange cultivation area remains steady at 21,000 hectares, including land on the Nicaraguan border designated for processing within Costa Rica.

The report highlights the resilience of Costa Rica’s citrus industry, which strives to overcome environmental and disease-related obstacles while maintaining its importance in the regional market.

source: apps.fas.usda.gov

photo: govisitcostarica.com