This post was written by students Ethan W. and Eric L.

Hi, Ethan W. here! For my independent project, I interviewed a farmer who works in the community. Going into the interview, I had no idea how the farmer would react. Just like everyone I met in Costa Rica, the farmer was kind, respectful, and welcoming. I began the interview by asking him where he learned to farm. Like many farmers in the community, he learned his skills from his father. As a child, the farmer helped his father grow many of his crops. Many of the farmers in the community obtained their skills from their parents and have used their skills to teach their own children. The farmer I interviewed grows yucca and pineapple, as well as other small roots. He sells his crops to a third-party company, which then sells the crops to other countries. The most intriguing part of the interview was when I asked about how many days the farmer has off, and he said, because he’s an independent farmer, he determines when he has days off. Through the interview, I learned that this farmer is a great example of the hardworking people in this country and the world. Many people don’t realize that all of their food comes from the ground somewhere, and this is where it comes from. I was amazed at this farmer’s work ethic and his respect for everyone.

Hi, Eric L. here! For my independent project, I studied the agriculture of pineapples. When we toured the massive pineapple plant, David, our guide, explained how they grow and harvest pineapples and told us about the export of pineapples. He said, “We plant around 10 hectares (25 acres) of pineapples a week.” After the introduction, we bused around the plant and learned about the process. First, they prepare the soil for the 8-month growing process. Pineapples take a long time to grow and a long time to fruit. The plant doesn’t require much for growth — it really only needs water and deep enough soil, and it requires very little nutrients, which means the soil doesn’t need to be replenished / the crops don’t need to be changed. Once eight months has passed and the plant is grown, the fruit takes an additional five months to grow. Each pineapple plant can be harvested from twice, meaning a plant will be in a field for a total of 18 months. Once the pineapple can’t be harvested from anymore, the farmers will take the ‘babies’ and replant them. The babies of the plant can be taken after a harvest, meaning two babies per plant. The babies of the plant are twisted out of the center of the plant and taken right to the next field to be planted. Pineapple is mainly exported to North America and Europe, and the pineapple plant we toured gives half of its exportable pineapples to North America and half to Europe. Anything that the plant decides can’t be exported is kept in the country for their own consumption. The pineapple that is exported is usually fairly non-ripe, so that it ripens on the way to its destination. I learned a lot during our tour of the plant, and I will never cut or eat a pineapple the same again!