Crops Grown in Puerto Rico: Tropical Fruits, Vegetables, and Export Commodities

Agricultural Bounty of the Island

Puerto Rico's tropical climate (USDA zones 11–13), volcanic soils, and year-round growing season support diverse agriculture:

Fruits (Major Commercial & Subsistence)

• Bananas/Plantains: #1 crop by volume; cooking (plátanos) and dessert varieties.
• Pineapples: Historical export; now mainly local.
• Citrus: Oranges, grapefruits, mandarins (limonada culture).
• Mangoes: Dozens of varieties; seasonal abundance (May–Sep).
• Avocados: Large, buttery "aguacate" (West Indian type).
• Papaya, Guava, Passion Fruit, Starfruit, Soursop, Acerola (high vit C).
• Coconuts: Coastal; water, flesh, oil.

Vegetables

• Tomatoes, peppers (ají dulce, cubanelle), cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, onions, garlic.
• Root crops: yuca (cassava), ñame, yautía (taro), batata (sweet potato).
• Legumes: gandules (pigeon peas), habichuelas (beans) — staple with rice.
• Calabaza (tropical pumpkin), berenjena (eggplant), okra.

Grains & Staples

• Rice: Medium-grain; ~30% local production (Lajas Valley), rest imported.
• Corn (maize): Limited; mostly for animal feed.
• Wheat: Not grown; all flour imported.

Export & Specialty Crops

• Coffee: Yauco, Adjuntas, Jayuya highlands — specialty Arabica (recovering post-Maria).
• Sugarcane: Historical monoculture; now rum distillery supply (Don Q, Bacardi).
• Tobacco: Wrapper leaf for premium cigars (reviving).

Challenges

• 85% food imported; high energy/input costs; aging farmers; land pressure (solar, housing).
• Hurricanes (Maria 2017 devastated 80% crops).
• Act 22/60 tax incentives favor non-ag investment.