“Costa Rica’s pineapple industry promises to become more responsible”, 10 Mar 2016

 ...Costa Rica’s riches from pineapple have come with a high environmental and social price tag…[E]xcessive pesticides and fertilizers used in tandem with pineapple production have wreaked havoc on soil, water, farms and, of course, the people living in and near these farms…And…the plight of Nicaraguans who have crossed the border to work within Costa Rica’s farming sector has stained its reputation…Government agencies partnered with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and stakeholders across all sectors to take action on what is billed as the National Platform for Responsible Production and Trade of Pineapple…Launched in 2011, this coalition includes retailers like Walmart and Tesco, along with NGOs, consumer groups, trade unions and the small-scale producers…Whether this “National Platform” can score the buy-in of three of Costa Rica’s biggest producers, Dole, Del Monte Foods and Chiquita, remains to be seen…