On May 28, farming communities north of Cartago were visited by Costa Rican officials to assess the effects of volcanic ash from the Turrialba Volcano on the crops.
According to the Costa Rican government, consumption of vegetables grown north of Cartago province do not pose any risk to humans despite their exposure to ashes.
Ash from Turrialba’s eruptions in the past weeks fell on several communities north of Cartago, and estimates from the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry (MAG) said that since the volcano resumed activity earlier this month ash has fallen on some 55 percent of the crops in the region.
But despite the large amount of ash expelled during recent explosions, crops from the area are totally safe to eat as long as they are properly washed with clean water, according to a written statement from two government ministries.
Agriculture Vice Minister Felipe Arguedas Gamboa said experts from the University of Costa Rica have been analyzing samples from farms in the region and all results so far ruled out the presence of toxic heavy metals in the ash.
Farmers north of Cartago are the country’s top potato producers, supplying 80 percent of all potatoes consumed in Costa Rica, according to MAG. The region also is the largest producer of onions, while hundreds of other farmers also grow carrots, beets, cabbages, yucca, flowers and other crops.
Current activity at the volcano, located 60 kilometers northeast of San José, consists mostly of moderate intensity tremors and a plume of vapor and gases, visible above the crater, the RSN reported.
Source: ticotimes.net