Costa Rica: Food Processing Ingredients
Costa Rica’s food processing sector continues to grow, in response to consumers demand for ready-to-eat meals, healthy snacks and convenience foods. This sector is under modernization, as it aims to catch up with international trends. More private sector efforts to develop Costa Rica’s food and beverage manufacturing sector are underway. Local processors are trending towards natural additives, preservatives, thickeners and sweeteners. In addition, consumers are increasingly more health consciousness, influencing the development of healthier choices for packaged/prepared foods. U.S. producers and exporters of herbs, spices, superfoods, condiments, extracts, Omega-3 fatty acids, fibers and antioxidant compounds can find opportunities in the Costa Rican market, as processors are looking to add these ingredients to their recipes.