Tips & Tall Tales

Our Perfect Pineapples Are Available Year-Round!

While most areas of the world are familiar with the four seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall, the Costa Rican climate typically falls into two categories: rainy season and dry season. This rainy or “green” season, typically lasts from May to November, with November being the most unpredictable month when it comes to rainfall. Here at Chestnut Hill Farms, our farms are located in the fertile valleys of the Roxana de Guapiles and Villa Franca regions of Guapiles, Costa Rica. The soil of our farms has a relatively low pH, meaning that our perfect pineapples are available year-round.

Dry Season in Costa Rica

Looking toward the fall and winter months in Costa Rica, we are leaving the rainy season behind and entering the drier months. However, don’t let the term “winter” fool you, as our average temperatures are a tropical 82°F (28°C) all year long! There is some fluctuation in this temperature from area to area, as lower lying areas such as the Pacific and Caribbean regions will be slightly warmer, and northern zones with higher elevations will experience cooler temperatures. There are also factors that can bring on the dry season earlier in some years than others, including El Niño activity. Overall, September and October are typically the rainiest months in the country, while November is the transitionary period between the rainy and dry seasons.

Luckily, even during the rainy season, most areas in Costa Rica will experience sunny mornings and days with showers in the afternoons and evenings. With our farms being located just over the hill from the Tortuguero National Park, or the “Costa Rican Amazon”, we are nestled perfectly near the port city of Limon. This is where the majority of our pineapples are exported to the United States and Europe. Year-round pineapple production is key to the Costa Rican economy, as a 2017 study conducted by the Central American Institute of Business Administration (INCAE) found that the pineapple business sector of the country employed approximately 32,000 individuals directly. Not only this, but pineapples constitute 10% of the country’s total exports, making it the main agricultural export.

As both producers and consumers, we are thankful that the Costa Rican climate provides the perfect weather for growing perfect pineapples year-round. If you’re looking for some inspiration on how to enjoy your pineapple this season, check out some of our favorite fall recipes here!