Rice Farms

 In Costa Rica, no meal is complete without rice. Thus it was only right that our group tour several rice farms and processing plants. Rice production in Costa Rica ranges from small family owned farms to large corporate farms. Producers take their rice to cooperatives to be sold for fair prices. Each cooperative member has a crop quota to meet. During some harvests farmers find themselves exceeding the minimum rice production. In these cases cooperatives cannot always take all of the rice being produced. Costa Rica has an exponential rice business and it shows in the country's fields and on your dinner plate.

Rice fields are alive with vibrant colors and wildlife. Many species of birds coexist on the rice farms with the crop. They do not harm the rice but eat insects and pests that would harm the rice. 

River canals run miles along the boarders of the production fields. They provide natural irrigation systems. 

There were many new sights in Costa Rica including spotting alligators on farms. These gators are no laughing matter. Farm workers have to watch out for them and there have been several past deaths from rice field alligators. The alligators prey on rice field birds and other animals that live in the river. This alligator was difficult to first spot, but once I did it did not leave my sight!