Fortalecimiento de las capacidades productivas y de comercialización de los productores de Culantro Coyote (Eryngium foetidum) del grupo COMETA en Chitaría de Turrialba

Coriander coyote is an edible perennial and annual herb of the Apiaceae family, native to Tropical
America, where it grows wild, but is currently cultivated throughout the tropical world. It is used as a
spice in the preparation of food and is also attributed medicinal properties, in Costa Rica it is widely
used as a condiment of meals and salads. This product brings together about 150 small farmers
located mainly in Tres Equis, Pavones, Chitaría and Pilón de Azúcar de Turrialba, Linda Vista, 52
Millas, Santa Marta and Bajos del Tigre de Siquirres (Alvarado Sojo, Sanabria Ujueta, & Villalobos
Calderón, 1999)(Chízmar Fernández, 2009). The group with which it is expected to work is known
as: Communities Organized by Women Entrepreneurs and Agricultural Workers (COMETA) (
(Alvarado Sojo, Sanabria Ujueta, & Villalobos Calderón, 1999), which is an organization located in
the producing area of Culantro Coyote in Chitaría Pavones, Turrialba. From its beginnings it aims to
seek the development of its community. It was born being led by women entrepreneurs, initially with
about 40 people, today they have 15 associated and active producers, most of them are heads of
household. The idea of the organization, according to an interview conducted in the project
developed in 2021, is to improve its area of influence, promoting opportunities and employment,
providing options and prominence to single women heads of household, among others. Another
objective of the organization is to deal with socio-economic problems linked to unemployment. Based
on the support of the School of Agribusiness in the development of a Postharvest handling Manual in
Culantro Coyote, the organization requests to continue with the support to develop value-added
products, which is really one of its long-term goals; along with the development of a collection and
value-added center., having the option of being beneficiaries with an INDER project, for the same
reason, it is proposed to support with the basic proposal of a complete processing area. They
currently produce and market coyote and passion fruit coriander, in fresh form, either for the
companies that export these products or in the national market: however, they are responsible for
positioning and marketing almost any product of any of the affiliates required to sell. Among them is
coffee, cassava, taro, tomato, cocoa, honey, garlic paste among others. Therefore, this proposal is
based on the development of at least 3 value-added products, a survey of the products developed
and their scaling, as well as a proposal for the distribution of a production plant that serves as a
working base for the organization to complement the presentation of a project to INDER.

Escuela de Agronegocios: Producción Agroindustrial y Emprendedurismo y Gestión Agroempresarial