A female Mediterranean fruit fly pumps eggs through her ovipositor into the soft outer layers of a ripe coffee berry. Coffee is one of Costa Rica's prime exports
In 2011 National Geographic had a photo contest and ironically one of the winners in the nature category was a picture of a fruit fly resting on a green coffee bean in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Obviously unknown to the photographer, it implicated one of Costa Rica’s worst nightmares is alive, well, and continues to threaten Costa Rica’s multimillion dollar agriculture business.
The Mediterranean fruit fly, is one of the world’s most destructive fruit pests. This pest attacks more than 260 different fruits, flowers, vegetables and nuts and causes billions of dollars in damages.
It was in 1955 the Mediterranean fruit fly first invaded Costa Rica and did over $2 million in damages, or in today’s dollar, around $20 million. And back in 1955, the agriculture business was only a fraction of what it is today. With said, Costa Rica has taken massive steps to combat any infestation and has established detection procedures so that the pest does not make Costa Rica its home. Read more... (519 words, 1 image, estimated 2:05 mins reading time)
Up until quite recently in Costa Rica, the proposition of saving both money and the Earth with photovoltaic solar systems has stood on some pretty shaky ground. But that is changing. Nowadays, more and more Costa Ricans and expats are installing stand-alone or autonomous photovoltaic systems in the country’s remotest regions and have made it possible for people to live well where ordinarily they could not. Also, although stand-alone solar systems are worth their investment versus a generator, with their large battery banks they do constitute a hefty initial outlay – but it is worth it? Yes it is!
Imagine investing in a product that builds the most home equity, requires no maintenance, comes with a factory warranty of 25 years, begins paying for itself the month after it’s installed and diminishes your home or business’ carbon footprint. A photovoltaic grid-tie system reduces or eliminates electricity bills through solar panels that generate energy for the grid, which is obliged to deduct the energy’s cost from the owner’s monthly bills. In other words, the electricity bill is either reduced substantially or eliminated. The system is essentially solar panels and an inverter. Read more... (740 words, 2 images, estimated 2:58 mins reading time)
Chipkos announced their latest pair of flip-flops. They will be the world’s most expensive, a jaw-dropping $18,000 for the pair.
No doubt ecology is a big issue, and no doubt businesses will hype their ecology concern in an effort to increase sales. However, one company takes it to the extreme and hopefully it will benefit Costa Rica.
Last week, designer sandal’s guru, Chipkos announced their latest pair of flip-flops. They will be the world’s most expensive, jaw-dropping $18,000 for a pair.
WOW!!! - H.Stern’s $17,000 diamond-flecked sandals previously held that title.
Hand-painted by Los Angeles contemporary artist David Palmer, the one-of-a-kind, ashram-inspired sandals features the Chipkos emblem gilded in six grams of 18-carat recycled gold by Readers Fine Jewelers in Santa Monica. Although they are pretty funky, the pair is not emblazoned with diamonds, or even Swarovski crystals or any other precious jewels for that matter.
So how can they justify the price?
Here is the “justify price” or eco-hype: For each pair sold, Chipkos will adopt 100,000 square feet of endangered rainforest in Costa Rica and guarantees, the protection and preservation of land, species and natural resources. But it’s all for a good cause or least that’s what we’ll be telling our accountant, but the IRS may be a different story, unless this is a certified “donation.” But if you are a billionaire, $18,000 is a drop in a 50 gallon drum. Read more... (519 words, 1 image, estimated 2:05 mins reading time)
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. USA. – Costa Rican government officials released information to The Billfish Foundation (TBF) of the seizure from a seafood exporter, of over 7,000 kilos of sailfish meat bound for Peru. Sailfish are protected species in the popular Costa Rican fishery.
Tico Times Editor Note: Costa Rica’s ban of exporting billfish meat was established in Jan 2009.
Investigators from two agencies — SENASA (National Animal Health Service) and INCOPESCA (Costa Rican Fisheries and Aquaculture Institute) — seized 7012 kilos of whole sailfish carcasses. The company had falsified documents declaring the shipment as striped marlin which is presently a legal billfish for exporting.
The Billfish Foundation’s (TBF) Chief Scientist Dr. Russell Nelson and TBF Central American Conservation Director Herbert Nanne received word of the seizure from Dr. Rolando Ramirez of INCOPESCA.
Tropical Seafood Export SA - Producto Marlin Rosado Congelado
Costa Rica Sport Fishing Federation (FECOPT) Executive Director Enrique Ramirez said in newspaper reports that illegal commercial fishing and the exporting of sailfish meat had been reported for months as FECOPT tried to get the authorities to take action. FECOPT was formed to represent the interests of its anglers and the sport fishing tourism industry. Read more... (521 words, 3 images, estimated 2:05 mins reading time)
Local products like these hand painted bowls, not only helps the community but are eco-friendly
Everyone comes to Costa Rica with a dream. The dream can be the lazy, sand swept beach life with a margarita in hand, or a jungle getaway, a pair of rockers on a balcony with views of the Central Valley. My dream was to have both, and truly enjoy this Costa Rica paradise and to discover what living in Costa Rica was all about. Having 16 years experience in residential Historic Restorations, the itch soon began to do something fresh and new. With a country as lush and green as Costa Rica, you cannot help but be enveloped and caught up in the idea of how to preserve such natural beauty and at the same time live in it and with it, leaving as little impact on it as possible. Eco Construction was my new passion! Read more... (1728 words, 4 images, estimated 6:55 mins reading time)
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