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The North American Market for organic and fairetrade pineapple (only spanish version is available)


GRATUITOUS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

United States, in the 2004, reached 520 thousand tons of pineapple. The high cost of the labor and the turn of the economic to the tourist sector reduce the local offering. It importing increase by 80% in the last six years, which places it as the first importer of the world. Supplies itself mainly of Costa Rica (78%), Honduras, Equator (7% c/u) and Mexico (5%) (USDA, 2005). It is considered that in the last five years the total consumption of the fruit, fresh or processed, was of 5,60 kg. /persona/annual.
In the United States pineapple has been sold since the 90', but the market has not developed considerably due to the lack of consistent offering. According to the report of CIMS, in the 2004 it recovered 3000 tons that were provided by Hawaii (33%), Dominican Republic (35%) and Costa Rica (31%). Also they registered more than 4000 hectares in process of transition to organic, which is a hope for the offering.
The fairtrade pineapple enters to United States in 2004, year in which 230 tons were sold (Transfair, USA, 2004); since then it has increased its growth. At present its prices are high, even more compared with the other tropical fruits; between the organic pineapple and the conventional one, the costs are very significant.
The prices of the pineapple descended due to the increase of the offering from the Central American countries, but the restriction of certified fruit gave place to overpricing, which represents a rise in a medium term (time).

Central America presents a series of advantages to enter to this market (geographical, climatic and the presence of transnational). It is expected that the region in relation to the commerce of tropical fruits be benefited with the Free Treaty of Commerce with United States.

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