Where volcanic soil nourishes life and tradition
On the slopes of Poás volcano, more than a thousand metres above sea level, thousands of farming families cultivate the land with dedication and inherited knowledge. Poás canton is an agricultural mosaic of great richness: high-altitude coffee, fresh milk, strawberries, ferns and organic vegetables coexist beneath the cloud cover of the central volcanic range.
The canton by the numbers
The agrarian structure of Poás canton is characterised by smallholding: the vast majority of agricultural operations have fewer than 4 hectares. This reality is not a limitation, but the foundation of a careful, diversified production deeply rooted in Costa Rican identity.
The volcanic soil of the area, rich in minerals and with constant humidity guaranteed by orographic clouds, produces crops of exceptional quality. Both coffee and strawberries, ferns and organic vegetables from the canton are recognised for their flavour, freshness and the unique microclimate conditions on the volcano's slopes.
Agriculture in Poás is also synonymous with family economy: between 80 and 90% of the labour force in the main productive sectors is family-based, which ensures that the wealth generated stays within the territory and strengthens the social fabric of each district.
Roots of the canton
Three economic pillars have defined the productive identity of the canton for generations, shaping the landscape, culture and daily life of its inhabitants.
San Pedro · San Rafael · San Juan
Coffee is the canton's quintessential agricultural symbol. Grown in the upper districts at more than 1,200 metres above sea level, it develops slowly thanks to cool nights, building a concentration of sugars and aromas impossible to replicate in lower-lying areas.
The volcanic soil, rich in minerals such as phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, gives the bean a bright acidity and a robust body that sets it apart in both national and international markets.
Highlands · +1,300 masl
In the highest parts of the canton, where pasture stays green and fresh year-round, dairy farming is a long-standing tradition. Holstein breeds dominate family farms, well-adapted to the cool, humid climate of the volcano's slopes.
Production is not limited to fluid milk: the canton's dairy products enjoy national recognition. Fresh cheese, palmito cheese, artisan mozzarella and Poás sour cream are products with their own identity.
Carrillos · Lowland zone
For decades, sugarcane was the canton's most important economic driver. Community sugar mills were social gathering points and the main source of livelihood for entire families across multiple districts.
Today production is concentrated mainly in the district of Carrillos, in the canton's lowland zone, where the warmer climate favours the crop. However, urban expansion and residential development have put pressure on cultivable land, gradually reducing the area under cultivation.
Innovation and diversification
The adaptability of Poás producers is reflected in a range of innovative agricultural activities that have conquered national and international markets.
National pioneers
Poás is recognised as one of the pioneering areas in strawberry cultivation at the national level. The conditions in the upper part of the canton —cool temperatures, high relative humidity and well-drained volcanic soil— are ideal for producing strawberries of excellent quality and flavour.
The canton's strawberry production is characterised by a high level of technology: automated irrigation systems, efficient water infrastructure and greenhouses that allow controlled production throughout the year.
Sabana Redonda · Export
The cultivation of ornamental plants and ferns has become the main source of employment in Sabana Redonda, generating thousands of jobs in the district and its surroundings.
This activity has a strong gender equity component: the workforce is predominantly female, making the ornamental sector an engine of economic inclusion for women in the canton's rural communities.
San Rafael · Sabana Redonda · Northern zone
Poultry farming has experienced significant growth in the canton over recent years. The modern poultry houses of San Rafael and Sabana Redonda, and the northern zone of the canton in general, host medium-scale operations with state-of-the-art technology.
Automated ventilation systems, temperature control and strict sanitary management allow Poás producers to compete with demanding quality standards in the national market.
Upper zone · Carrillos
In the upper part of the canton, high-quality organic vegetables are produced: tomatoes, sweet peppers, celery and organic lettuce grown without agrochemicals, taking advantage of the natural fertility of the volcanic soil and the permanent humidity of the area.
In the lowland zone, the district of Carrillos stands out for the cultivation of sod (turf grass) for landscaping and gardening, with a distribution network reaching provinces as far away as Guanacaste, supplying residential, tourism and municipal projects.
The Poás Canton Farmers Market is a hygienic, safe and covered space where more than 60 local producers gather to offer their products directly to consumers, eliminating middlemen and guaranteeing fair prices for both sellers and buyers.
With an investment exceeding ₡807 millones, the market infrastructure represents the commitment of the Municipality of Poás to strengthening the local agricultural sector. The space facilitates direct marketing, shortens the value chain and stimulates the economy of the canton's agricultural districts.