A UVM blog Costa Rica

Cacao

When researching cacao on the Osa Peninsula, multiple plantations came up. Cacao is an important community in the local agriculture economy of the Osa Peninsula. It is the main economic crop of Finca Kobo. Once grown and harvested, cacao fruit has to be fermented, dried, and then the beans are roasted before being turned into pure chocolate. This process adds significant value to the plant. At small farms like Finca Kobo cacao is grown and processed to be sold locally to visitors and residents of the plantation. The plantation offers more than just the product but also tours and lodging, however the members of said tours and residents of said lodgings are who the cacao is sold to.

Mena, A. R. (n.d.). Agriculture at Finca Köbö. Finca Kobo. Retrieved January 22, 2022, from http://www.fincakobo.com/finca_agri.html 

Vanilla

Vanilla planifolia is the species of vanilla grown across Costa Rica and on the Osa Peninsula. It grows as a vine, needing a tree to act as a host and provide support for the plant. When in bloom, the vanilla flower is only open fro 24 hours and needs to be manually pollinated or the plant will die and the plant will be unusable. Once pollinated and harvested vanilla can go through a few steps of processing to be a more valuable product on the market. The steps are known as dipping; dipping bean pods in hot water, sweating, drying, and conditioning. Being such a labor intensive and high demand crop, Vanilla farming provides a huge economic opportunity for the Osa. Organizations like Osa Conservation are working to establish vanilla farms on the southern part of the peninsula which would provide stable jobs for many Costa Rica citizens. Growing vanilla is both and economic and conservation opportunity for the Osa.

Mould, L. (2017, June 14). The unexpected values of vanilla. Osa Conservation. Retrieved January 22, 2022, from https://osaconservation.org/unexpected-values-vanilla/ 

Holmes, C. | Published Oct 3. (2016, October 3). This Costa Rican family farm is working to save vanilla from its own success. Saveur. Retrieved January 22, 2022, from https://www.saveur.com/how-vanilla-is-grown/ 

Gold

The Osa peninsula has a historic economy in gold mining. Gold was found along the peninsula in the 1930s causing a huge migration of people into the area and industry to form. The industry began to slow in the 1980s but provided a significant amount of jobs and was culturally significant. The gold was found in both sedimentary and nugget forms. To add value to the sedimentary forms is had to be separated from sand and gravel in a laborious process known as gold panning. Gold can then be refined in an intensive process involving crushing and leaching the ore. The Tigre River was the most intensive spot to mine for gold, and both artesian locals and large mining companies flocked to it. Today the country has moved away from gold mining, so you cannot find places where it is sold. However, there is still illegal mining that takes place on the peninsula and, once laundered, both smaller and commercial gold companies buy the gold as well as it being imported into neighboring countries like Venezuela.

Corcovado El Tigre dos Brazos de Rio Tigre Gold Mining Hitory. Corcovado El Tigre. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2022, from https://www.corcovadoeltigre.com/gold-mining-history  

Palm oil

For the entire country of Costa Rica, palm oil is a large factor of their export economy accounting for over $125 million. The majority of palm farming in the Osa Peninsula is done on land that has previously been cleared for farm land and often difficult to cultivate other crops due to damage in soil from banana agriculture. Once palm trees produce fruit it is harvested and transported to be processed. They just go through a refining, bleaching and deodorizing process until they become valuable marketable palm oil. Palm oil is not really a domestic product, but instead exported and sold to countries abroad. Palma Tica is the company responsible for buying palm oil from farms in Costa Rica and in return provides farmers with stable contracted work.

NeJame, J. (2019, September 24). Redefining an industry: Costa Rica’s alternative model for Palm Production. HEADWATERS MAGAZINE. Retrieved January 22, 2022, from https://uvmheadwaters.org/redefining-an-industry-costa-ricas-alternative-model-for-palm-production/ 

Ecotourism

The largest and perhaps most popular commodity of the Osa Peninsula is the ecotourism industry. Because the peninsula alone holds 2.5% of all biodiversity, conservation has been prioritized but the Costa Rican government and heavily funded after the damage caused by gold mining and logging. Natural areas like the Corcovado National Park and the Tigre River attract people for their raw beauty and immense abundance of species. Ecotourism has created significant stable and developing jobs for local people on the Osa peninsula in industry like eco-lodging and tours. There isn’t much value to add to the actual natural areas, besides jobs in upkeep and protection, but the value comes in those jobs like leading tours and helping to cultivate appreciation for tourists. Companies like Caminos De Osa are the leading sustainable tourism organizations in the area and help provide information and opportunities for those looking to visit the Osa Peninsula.

Rahim, S. (2018, July 23). Ecotourism in the Osa Peninsula: A catalyst for social, economic, & Environmental Development. Medium. Retrieved January 22, 2022, from https://medium.com/@rahimsa/ecotourism-in-the-osa-peninsula-a-catalyst-for-social-economic-environmental-development-e29e5f3ebf4b