Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormFrozen
Industry PositionProcessed Fruit Product
Market
Frozen strawberry in Costa Rica is primarily an import-supplied processed fruit product used in retail frozen aisles and foodservice/ingredient applications. UN Comtrade data accessed via the World Bank WITS platform indicates Costa Rica imported HS 081110 (frozen strawberries) worth about USD 1.016 million (432,065 kg) in 2024, with Chile, Guatemala, the United States, Belgium/EU, China, and Egypt among the leading external suppliers. Costa Rica also shows small regional exports of the same HS line (notably to Nicaragua), consistent with limited redistribution or re-export activity rather than large-scale domestic processing. For regulated processed foods, Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health indicates imports are processed through PROCOMER’s VUCE single-window system and require sanitary registration prior to commercialization, with import permits (e.g., Nota Técnica 50 for food desalmacenaje) managed in VUCE.
Market RoleNet importer (imports exceed exports) with small regional exports
Domestic RoleImport-dependent consumer and ingredient market for frozen berries (retail and foodservice), with limited re-export/redistribution activity
Market GrowthNot Mentioned
SeasonalityAvailability is typically year-round due to frozen storage and diversified import origins; short-term tightness is more linked to supplier-origin seasonality and cold-chain/logistics conditions than to Costa Rica’s domestic harvest season.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Product is prepared from fresh, clean, sound, ripe, stemmed strawberries of firm texture (Codex CXS 52-1981).
- Common presentation styles referenced in Codex labeling provisions include halves, slices, or cut (Codex CXS 52-1981).
Packaging- Packaging should protect organoleptic/quality characteristics, prevent contamination, and protect from moisture loss/dehydration and leakage as far as technologically practicable (Codex CXS 52-1981).
- Labeling should include the product name (including 'quick frozen'/'frozen' as applicable), the style (e.g., halves/slices/cut), and the packing medium/sweetener when used (Codex CXS 52-1981).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Overseas processor/packer → reefer transport (sea freight typical) → Costa Rica port/entry → customs + technical controls via VUCE (FAD/Nota Técnica as applicable) → cold storage distribution → retail/foodservice/industrial users
Temperature- Codex guidance for quick frozen foods emphasizes maintaining the cold chain and references -18°C as the benchmark temperature for storage and distribution of quick-frozen foods (Codex CXC 8-1976 / CAC/RCP 8-1976).
- Temperature monitoring and minimizing temperature abuse across storage, transport, and distribution are key controls for quality and safety (Codex CXC 8-1976 / CAC/RCP 8-1976).
Shelf Life- Shelf-life and quality are highly sensitive to cold-chain breaks (temperature fluctuations) during transport, storage, and retail handling for quick frozen foods (Codex CXC 8-1976 / CAC/RCP 8-1976).
Freight IntensityHigh
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Food Safety HighFrozen strawberries have been implicated in hepatitis A outbreaks and multi-brand recalls (e.g., a CDC-investigated 2023 outbreak linked to frozen organic strawberries). A contamination event can trigger immediate import holds, product withdrawal/recall actions, and severe buyer disruption in Costa Rica’s import-dependent market.Source only from audited facilities with robust HACCP-based controls and verified hygiene for water and handlers; require strong lot-level traceability and rapid recall capability; implement receiving holds pending document and temperature verification.
Regulatory Compliance HighProcessed foods intended for commercialization require sanitary registration with Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health, and regulated food imports are processed through PROCOMER’s VUCE (including Nota Técnica 50 for desalmacenaje where applicable). Gaps or mismatches in registration/permit documentation can block or delay release and disrupt cold-chain integrity.Confirm product registration status and VUCE/Nota Técnica workflow requirements before shipment; pre-validate Spanish labeling against RTCA 67.01.07:10 and ensure documents match the exact product presentation (sweetened/unsweetened, cut style, net weight).
Logistics MediumReefer delays, port dwell time, and inland cold-chain breaks can cause temperature abuse and quality degradation in frozen strawberries, increasing shrink and claims risk.Use continuous temperature monitoring (data loggers), specify cold-chain responsibilities at transfer points, and plan clearance and inland distribution to minimize door-open time and dwell.
Phytosanitary MediumDepending on product classification/presentation, SFE phytosanitary import requirements and inspections may apply for regulated plant products; non-compliance can result in administrative measures (e.g., re-expedition, treatment, or destruction) and delays that increase cold-chain risk.Consult SFE’s official import-requirements tools for the specific product (frozen strawberries presentation) before contracting; ensure any required certificates/permits are obtained and consistent with shipment documents.
Sustainability- Cold-chain energy intensity and refrigerant management in storage/distribution for imported frozen foods
- Food loss risk from temperature excursions during import clearance and inland distribution
Labor & Social- Supplier social compliance and worker hygiene controls are relevant because viral contamination events in berries can be linked to upstream handling practices; importers commonly rely on audited food-safety systems rather than country-of-origin assertions.
Standards- GFSI-recognised schemes relevant to processing and distribution of perishable plant products (e.g., BRCGS, FSSC 22000, IFS, SQF) depending on supply-chain role
FAQ
Does Costa Rica require a sanitary registration to import frozen strawberries for sale?Yes. Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health states that processed foods require sanitary registration (registro sanitario) prior to commercialization, and that the import process is handled through PROCOMER’s VUCE single-window system.
How are Ministry of Health import permits handled in Costa Rica for regulated foods?The Ministry of Health indicates the import process is carried out through PROCOMER’s VUCE, and it provides a specific process for the food desalmacenaje import permit (Nota Técnica 50) within VUCE for foods regulated by the Ministry.
Which countries supplied most frozen strawberries to Costa Rica in 2024 (HS 081110)?UN Comtrade data accessed via the World Bank WITS platform shows leading exporters to Costa Rica in 2024 included Chile, Guatemala, the United States, Belgium/EU, China, and Egypt.
What is the most critical food-safety risk in frozen strawberries that could disrupt imports?Viral contamination is a major disruption risk. CDC reported a hepatitis A outbreak investigation linked to frozen organic strawberries (with associated recalls), illustrating how a single contamination event can trigger rapid market withdrawal and supply disruption.