In the tropics of Sarapiquí, Costa Rica, grower Tropical Green has been cultivating ornamental plants while nurturing a vision. Since launching in 1997 with exports of Phoenix Roebelenii foliage to the Netherlands, the company has grown from a single container per week to a capacity of ten, reaching customers across Europe, the United States, Chile, and Saudi Arabia.
Costa Rican Grower 'Tropical Green' Boosts Sustainability With Smart Farming
What began as an export initiative has evolved into one of Costa Rica’s leading producers of ornamental plants. Thanks to the foresight of founder Francisco Arce Solano, Tropical Green began producing potted plants in 2004. Today, it proudly holds the title of the largest global exporter of Phoenix Roebelenii, both in foliage and potted form. Its current catalog includes high-demand species like Sansevieria, Aglaonema, Cycas Revoluta, Monstera, and Cordyline Fruticosa (Green Tie and Black Tie).
A green, beautiful Cordyline harvest
As part of their vision, they aim to be a national and international leader in the production of foliage and tropical plants, innovating with excellence, and recognized for their environmental and social management. Their mission is to produce foliage and tropical plants with excellence to satisfy the needs of clients, generating value for business partners, collaborators, and the community, committed to environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
Partnering With Adomex
With over 250 dedicated workers, Tropical Green has a huge team that has turned into a family. One of its most valued long-term partners is Adomex, one of the largest foliage importers in the world. This strategic partnership of more than 22 years has helped secure Tropical Green’s position as a top-choice supplier across Europe.
But Tropical Green, besides producing foliage high in quality, is also about doing things the right way. Guided by a devotion to continuous innovation and sustainability, the company is an example for what are Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) across all operations. It has also introduced a smart, natural solution for weed control in high-altitude plantations: sheep. Yes, sheep.
More than 700 sheep now graze across the fields, consuming the leftover foliage from packing operations and helping reduce agrochemical usage. In return, they produce rich organic waste, which is turned into Gold Green — the company's proprietary organic fertilizer. This not only improves soil quality but also helps reduce the company’s carbon footprint and reliance on chemical fertilizers.
The company holds internationally recognized certifications, including:
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MPS ABC
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MPS GRASP
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GLOBAL G.A.P.
They are FSI Compliant, which means that this producer meets the requirements set by the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI). It’s a way of saying: we’re doing our part to make floriculture more responsible and transparent.
With over 300 hectares in active production, Tropical Green leads by example. The use of precision agriculture, digital monitoring, and crop diversification strategies helps mimic the resilience of natural ecosystems, creating more robust and sustainable growing processes.
Tropical Green Embraces GAP and Eco-Friendly Farming
Marco Herrera of Tropical Green shared:
“Our company was born from a commitment to quality, to the land, and to people. Besides growing leaves, we grow a way of seeing the future.”
Their long-term vision is clear: to become the largest exporter of ornamental plants and foliage in Costa Rica, delivering quality, sustainability, and social responsibility every step of the way. The company is focused not only on scaling efficiently but also on improving the lives of its employees, generating direct and indirect employment, and setting a positive example for the industry.
At the core of everything they do is the respect for nature. They believe that large-scale production can go hand in hand with environmental care, community wellbeing, and global impact. Through circular economies, innovation, and heart, the company continues to grow, leaf by leaf, into a greener, more sustainable future.
Photos courtesy of Tropical Green.
