Citrus production in Costa Rica to increase by 3% in the campaign 2021/22

According to a recent GAIN report from USDA, citrus production in Costa Rica is projected to increase by 3% to 300,000 tons in the campaign 2021/22. 

Most of orange production in Costa Rica is controlled by two main producing companies. Their production is exported mostly as frozen concentrated orange juice. Single strength fresh orange juice exports constitute less than 25% of total export volume. In 2021, the United States has been the main destination for Costa Rican orange juice exports.

A relatively small volume of fresh oranges is destined for local consumption.

Production levels of the largest farms have stabilized through consistent citrus greening management over the last few years, resulting in lower overall production fluctuations. 

Citrus greening is the deaseas which heavily affected citrus prouction in Costa Rica. For the first time, this disease was detected in Costa Rica in 2011 and today remains a major concern for growers. Citrus greening is considered endemic in most of the country’s producing areas, decreasing yields, increasing costs, bringing uncertainty to future production expectation, and limiting growth of production volumes and cultivated area. 

The largest farms managed to mitigate the effects of the disease by establishing strict controls, such as inspection of all farms and eradication of 100% of affected plants. Better capitalized growers utilize agrochemicals and biological controls as a preventive measure. Due to the disease, many production areas have been reduced or abandoned. Smaller producers, less capable of investing in agrochemicals and biological controls, have suffered heavier losses.

Source: fas.usda.gov