Puerto Rico study finds local farmers can compete with import prices

A study published in the journal Agriculture & Food Security reveals that Puerto Rican farmers can compete with import prices on a significant number of agricultural products. Research conducted by economist Dr. Jose Caraballo-Cueto of the University of Puerto Rico indicates that local producers offer lower prices than import costs for 30 out of 74 analyzed products.

The study examined various stages of the supply chain, including importers, supermarkets, restaurants, and direct sales. While local farmers may not always undercut importers in a general comparison, they are consistently cheaper when compared to supermarket prices (averaging 32.9% lower) and direct-to-consumer sales (averaging 51.8% lower).

Key competitive products identified include bell peppers, basil, eggplant, pumpkin, cauliflower, asparagus, guava, and various types of bananas. The research suggests that increasing local production for just five specific crops could generate more than $118 million in annual economic activity, offering a pathway toward greater food self-sufficiency for the island.