Agricultural officials from Trinidad and Tobago visited Costa Rica this week to talk with their Costa Rican counterparts about importing more vegetables from Costa Rica and make sure Tico veggies are up to their standards, according to a statement from the Production Ministry (MIPRO).

They also visited the Plant Health Department and met with farmers.

Trinidad and Tobago has been importing Costa Rican carrots, onion, potatoes and cabbage for about one year, and this country's government sent an agricultural delegation to Costa Rica to check on the possibility of importing more vegetables including lettuce, cauliflower, tomatoes and broccoli.

Costa Rica signed a free-trade agreement with the 12 member nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), including Trinidad and Tobago, in September 2005 (TT, Sept. 23, 2005).

Costa Rican imports to Trinidad and Tobago have so far shown “no problems” and have strictly adhered to that country's food sanitation rules, the statement said.

“We are leaving impressed with all we have been able to observe; we hope to develop a relationship of confidence between both countries to increase the commercial exchange of fresh products,” said Joseph Seales, one of the members of the delegation from Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago imported $25 million of goods from Costa Rica in 2006, 4.8% of which were fresh vegetables, according to the wire service ACAN-EFE.

-Tico Times