Dominican Republic Records 30 Percent Increase in Organic Food Production

From the Fresh Plaza website:

The Dominican Republic recorded in the past six years a steady 30 percent increase in the production of organic food, with which it has established itself as one of the world leaders in the marketing of these items.

 The Ministry of Agriculture expressed in a statement today that the country is the largest exporter of organic bananas towards all international markets, especially the European Union (EU) and the United States (US), who are the main buyers of the Dominican fruit.

 The minister of agriculture, Luis Ramon Rodriguez, praised the joint effort between the government and producers to improve the organization of the banana sector, especially the access to finance and the development of better agricultural practices.

 The increased production of organic items came up in a recent monitoring by the institution of agriculture, which noted that the country has 2,368,000 certified tasks producing these crops.

 Rodriguez recalled that there are 23,360 registered producers that engage in organic production, and generate over 200 million dollars in foreign exchange.

 Another important contribution of organic farming to the national economy is reflected in the savings of more than $70 million dollars that are earmarked for the purchase of chemical fertilizers, as these crops use locally produced organic fertilizers. (my emphasis)