Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is known for its versatility in cooking and healthcare containing hundreds of health benefits. There are multiple oil extraction methods, but all consist of pressing coconut meat to extract coconut milk, followed by separating the water from the milk. Its popularity emerged in the early 20th century when it was processed and sold to passing steamships. Today, one example of a coconut oil business is OsaNatural. They are located in Puerto Jimenez on the Osa and are a family business of organic cosmetic products derived from coconut oil. They make their products by hand with coconut oil in small rounds daily.
: https://www.osatourism.com/osa-natural-products/
Palm Oil
Palm oil is derived from the oil kernels of African palms, a tree native to west and southwest Africa. It was introduced to Costa Rica for many reasons, one being the high demand for palm oil in food, cosmetic, and biofuel industries. It became known to be a lucrative business opportunity for many small-scale farmers due to its crop efficiency being cheaper with a high yield compared to other oils. It is important to note that palm oil’s expansion in Costs Rica also led to displacement of indigenous populations and deprivation of ancestral lands, which in turn contributed to the marginalized status of indigenous groups as they face unequal power dynamics. After an African palm is planted, it take about three years to produce palm fruit, and bunches are transported to factories after harvesting. Oil is extracted by mechanical pressing and refined thereafter. One example of a palm oil plantation in Costs Rica is the Palma Tica plantation.
https://growjungles.com/costa-ricas-african-palm-oil-dilemma-unraveling-the-ecological-catastrophe/
Bananas
Bananas are one of the most popular fruits grown on the Osa. They are grown in bunches on trees and are harvested (usually during nighttime) by cutting fruit off of trees. Bananas are a great source of income for the Osa’s economy. This is because many grow on one bunch and have a durable peel, and do not require further processing post-harvest, which makes them easier to harvest and transport compared to other fruits. Many farms locally grow their bananas and distribute to larger fruit companies, but Finca Kobo is one example of where bananas are grown and distributed to locals and visitors. Bananas have also shown to be a great source of employment for small communities. http://www.fincakobo.com/finca_agri.html
Gold
Gold was a rich resource which European colonists found the most fascinating along the coast of the Osa peninsula upon arrival. Large-scale gold mining progressed in the early 19th century, and slowed until the Osa’s gold rush that began in the 1930s. This rush brought hundreds of people to the area in hopes of employment. Its impacts on Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity caused the government to place protection on much of their land, for example, the Corcovado national park. This elimination of gold mining caused a grand negative economic impact on local economies. Today, gold mining is illegal in most areas due to the harm it causes on the environment, but gold mining tours are still available in Dos Brazos as a rural tourism project to inform the public of mining history and impacts.https://growjungles.com/gold-mining-impacts-on-the-osa-peninsula-costa-rica/
Pineapple
Pineapple grows on shrubs and is harvested by cutting the stalks in an out and downward motion, or cutting fruit of the mass of stalk. Similar to bananas, there is no processing done before selling pineapples. They are grown on various farms on the Osa and are exported to both local and large companies. On the Osa Peninsula, pineapple is exported out of areas surrounding Finca Kobo to local kitchens and restaurants such as Blue Osa Yoga Retreat and Spa, where they make piña coladas!
wAndering through the woods
Explore our network of trails that lead through a variety of woodland habitats and observe the diverse flora that call this area home.