Costa Rican pineapple exports were worth $470 million (£238m) to the country’s economy in 2007, according to the Foreign Trade Promotion Office - but this figure is less than originally forecast.

At the start of last year, experts had predicted that the sector would be worth $500m in 2007. But the current figure still represents a substantial increase in sendings.

Costa Rica is the world’s leading pineapple producer and the fruit now ranks as the country’s fourth-most valuable export.

But concerns are abroad that intensive pineapple cultivation may have a negative impact on the environment, especially given the extensive use of agro-chemicals.

There are 40,000 hectares of pineapple plantations in Costa Rica, compared to 12,000ha in 2000. Some 20,000 people are directly employed by the industry.

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