Living in Costa Rica – Organic Options Enhance Palate of Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast

There’s no question that culinary options in Costa Rica’s South Pacific have become all the more delicious in recent years.

The rich variety of international influences that come together to form this cosmopolitan community is reflected in the diverse restaurants that dot the Costanera highway and surrounding hills.

With liberalization of trade relations between Costa Rica and Chile and, more recently, Argentina, and new trade agreements with the European Union, it is also possible to find a much wider range of good international wines at reasonable prices. Costa Rica even has its own, pucker, nascent wine processing effort that is sure to improve with age.

One of the most heartening recent developments has been the increased availability of locally produced organic fruits and vegetables. The Ballena coast now boasts two farmers’ markets that feature fresh organic products by local and expat growers, one in Dominical on Fridays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the other in Uvita on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nearby San Isidro also boasts a two-day feria, as these markets are called locally, that offers harvests from a growing number of organic producers on Thursdays and Fridays.

It’s no accident that organics are making significant headway in Costa Rica. Like much of North America, Costa Rica has a population that is increasingly concerned about the state of the Earth and the healthfulness of what they eat.

A study published in 2007 in the British Food Journal (archived at EmeraldInsight.com) found that Costa Rican organic produce consumers, much like their counterparts in Canada, Europe, and the U.S., tend to be well-educated, upper-income, and willing to pay up to a 20 percent premium for organically produced products.

But pro-organic Costa Ricans, such as the members of the Costa Rican Organic Agriculture Movement or MAOCO, are determined that organically grown produce should not remain a niche product.

Commercial organic production began in Costa Rica in 1984 among a few pioneers growing berries in Cerro de la Muerte, and coffee and vegetables in Belén de San Ramón and Zarcero.

Soon, other small farmers, strapped by the costs of commercial fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, began to take notice. Principal early backers included social committees of the Catholic Church, public and private universities such as the University of Costa Rica and Earth University with their important research on compost-based fertilizers and natural pesticides, and various non-governmental organizations. Then the state got on board.

In keeping with its “peace with nature” commitment to sustainable development, the Costa Rican government has long seen the advantage of the organic option, and has made a concerted effort to reach out to producers large and small, as well as to consumers from all walks of life, providing training in organic practices and promotion of organic products at home and abroad.

Costa Rica was similarly quick to recognize the benefits of conforming to international standards for organic certification. This has paid off in Costa Rica being one of only seven non-European Union countries whose organic products are recognized as meeting standards equivalent to those in the EU, which has helped make Costa Rica’s organic products all the more attractive to EU importers.

It also reminds consumers at home that if a product carries the official Costa Rican organic seal, it has met rigorous organic certification requirements.

The future of Costa Rican organic products could not be better.

Internationally, organic agriculture has been the fastest growing food sector for more than twenty years. On the export front, much is written about how the United States is struggling to keep up with the skyrocketing demand for organic food, and the market continues to grow in Europe, particularly for tropical products such as Costa Rica’s top two agricultural exports, bananas and pineapple.

Domestically, both expats and Ticos are helping to fuel a vibrant and growing market for a wide range of organic products. This has helped make Costa Rica one of the top three Latin American countries (along with Argentina and Uruguay) with the highest proportion of organic land, according to the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, a trend destined to extend throughout this lovely fertile country.

In the meantime, do your part by checking out Robert’s organic pineapples and exotic fruit at the Friday market in Dominical. And look for a range of organic food and natural personal care products by the longstanding Costa Rican company, Bio-Land.

Or if you can’t be bothered to fix it yourself, delight in the organic fare offered by one of the many area restaurants willing to oblige, such as Maracatú, Hacienda Barú, Cascadas Farallas Villas…many are the choices.

Perhaps best of all, while you enjoy your meal you can remember that the charm of Costa Rica is its ongoing emphasis on and concern for the small producer, the architect of Costa Rica’s peaceful yet proud culture, the backbone of its democracy, and the key to its economic future.

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If you have ever dreamed of living in a place that’s as close to a tropical paradise as you can find … Please contact our Recommended Costa Rica Realtors Daveed Hollander, John Wieland and James Drews in Dominical in the Southern Pacific area, by using the simple form below:

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.