Pineapple seems not to suffer from the crisis

Between poor weather in Central America and an uncertain economic climate, the pineapple industry is preparing for a challenging year.

“It’s been a tough few months, but overall we see pineapple markets remaining steady,” said Ken Nabal, vice president of sales and logistics for Edinburg, Texas-based Frontera Produce Ltd., which sells mainly to retail and club stores.

Alan Dolezal, vice president of sales for Coral Gables, Fla.-based Turbana Corp., the North American marketer of Fyffes Gold pineapples, reports volumes for 2009 look to be relatively close to 2008.

“The market tightened dramatically right after the first of the year,” Dolezal said, “partially in response to seasonal fluctuations, but also due in large part to the exorbitant amount of rainfall Central America experienced in November and December.”

Production in Costa Rica alone is down by as much as 50% because of the weather, said Roc Baggett, senior category executive for grower-shipper Rosemont Farms, Boca Raton, Florida.

“With all the rain, the fruit didn’t size up,” Baggett said. “We now have a shortage of size 5s and 6s.”

While volumes from Costa Rica are usually lowest in January and February, Bill Sheridan, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Banacol Marketing Corp., Coral Gables, said volumes this year are down considerably because of weather.