Government, Farmers and CPBL Collaborate to Revive Citrus Sector

On Monday, August 12, 2024, a meeting was held at the Citrus Products of Belize Limited (CPBL) Conference Room to address the future of Belize’s citrus industry. The meeting had the participation of the Minister of Agriculture, the CEO of the Ministry of Agriculture, technical personnel, representatives from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), and CPBL staff.

The discussions centred on collaborative efforts between the government, farmers, and CPBL to revive and enhance the citrus sector.

Following the meeting, attendees toured CPBL’s facilities. They visited the nursery facility, which can produce 130,000 plants and has already facilitated the planting of 177 acres of oranges. The tour also included the new coconut water processing plant, capable of processing 10,000 to 14,000 coconuts per hour. 

Additionally, the group inspected the new pasteurising plant, which extends the shelf life of products, including Tetrapak Caribbean Pride juices. CPBL produces about half of these juices for export and the other half for the local market.