PIMA CENADA

What PIMA CENADA does

PIMA (Programa Integral de Mercado Agropecuario) is a Costa Rican government institution created by Law 6142 on November 25, 1977, operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) to develop and administer national agricultural marketing infrastructure. The institution operates three core pillars: CENADA, the national wholesale distribution center for fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy and perishables; REFRINA, the national cold storage network featuring the first ammonia-CO2 cascade refrigeration system in Central America and the Caribbean with SCADA-based minute-by-minute temperature monitoring; and SIMM, a wholesale market information system maintaining price and volume data since 2000 and distributing bulletins via web, SMS (AGRO to 2476), WhatsApp chatbot, and Facebook. A fourth regional unit, Mercado Regional Chorotega (50,855 m² in Guanacaste, financed by BCIE at $52M USD), extends wholesale and cold chain coverage outside the Greater Metropolitan Area.

PIMA serves agricultural producers (small, medium and large, including cooperatives and associations), wholesale buyers (retailers, restaurants, hotels, schools, exporters), fisheries operators, and food processors. It generates revenue from market concession fees (monthly space rentals subject to 15% municipal patent and 13% VAT), usage-based cold storage charges (₡1,025 + IVA per pallet per day frozen; ₡894 + IVA refrigerated; ₡60 + IVA per kilo for quick-freeze tunnel), vehicle access fees, and direct government budget appropriations. Distribution is direct: PIMA does not intermediate commercial transactions but provides the physical and informational infrastructure for producers and buyers to transact.

The institution is ISO 9001:2015 (IQNET) and ISO 50001:2018 certified for REFRINA, holds Global Cold Chain Alliance accreditation, SENASA export authorization, and HACCP compliance, with permanent on-site SENASA inspectors at CENADA. Strategic partners include CNFL (solar plant at CENADA, 2025), INCOPESCA (Puntarenas cold chain, 2024), Mikuniya Japan Co (MK-50 organic waste processing, 2024), BCIE (Chorotega financing), MAG, CNP, INDER, SENASA, MINAE, and PROKLIMA/GIZ. A digital auction platform was approved by BCIE in December 2024 to modernize agricultural trade transparency.

Name

PIMA CENADA

Legal name

Programa Integral de Mercado Agropecuario

Website

https://pima.go.cr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PIMA is a Costa Rican government institution operating national wholesale markets (CENADA), cold storage infrastructure (REFRINA), and a market information system (SIMM) to serve agricultural producers, wholesalers, restaurants, exporters, and fisheries operators across Costa Rica.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Agricultural Markets and Cold Chain Logistics

NAICS

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (42448), Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (926140), Advertising Material Distribution Services (541870)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141), Agricultural Services (700), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Noncommercial/Institutional Broadline Distributors (K-12, Higher Ed, Healthcare, Government) (AFAIAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) & Food Safety Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAF), CEA Monitoring, Sensors & Automation Software (SCADA, IoT, Climate/Recipe Control) (AFAAAHAG)

Keywords

• Wholesale agricultural markets
• Cold chain logistics
• Market price information
• Agricultural commercialization
• Food distribution services

Headquarters

HQ city

Barreal de Heredia

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Market Concession Fees: Revenue from leasing commercial spaces, floors, and warehouses in CENADA and regional markets through auction processes. Concession holders pay monthly fees plus 15% municipal patent and 13% VAT.
2. Cold Storage Services: Revenue from providing refrigeration and freezing storage services. Fees charged per pallet per day for frozen (₡1,025 + IVA) and refrigerated (₡894 + IVA) storage, plus tunnel services at ₡60 + IVA per kilo.
3. Vehicle Access Fees: Hourly parking fees for vehicles in commercialization areas: ₡1,250/hour for heavy vehicles, ₡1,100/hour for light vehicles and automobiles.
4. Government Budget: As a public institution created by Law 6142 on November 25, 1977, PIMA operates with government funding to fulfill its mission of agricultural market development and food security.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PIMA (Programa Integral de Mercado Agropecuario) operates Costa Rica's national wholesale agricultural marketing infrastructure. It administers CENADA, the central wholesale market for fruits, vegetables, perishables, meats, and dairy; REFRINA, the national cold storage network using NH3/CO2 cascade refrigeration; SIMM, the wholesale market price information system; and the Mercado Regional Chorotega regional wholesale market in Guanacaste. Services include cold storage rental, commercial space concessions, vehicle access, and digital price bulletins distributed via web, SMS, and WhatsApp.

Product overview

PIMA (Programa Integral de Mercadeo Agropecuario) operates as a Costa Rican public institution managing agricultural marketing infrastructure and services. The core portfolio consists of three main pillars: (1) CENADA, the national wholesale distribution center handling fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy; (2) REFRINA, the national cold storage network with state-backed refrigeration facilities using natural refrigerants; and (3) SIMM, the wholesale market information system providing real-time price bulletins and seasonal indices. Supporting services include the Mercado Regional Chorotega regional wholesale market, Incopesca fisheries information, procurement, service oversight, and internal audit. The institution was created by Law 6142 on November 25, 1977.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CENADA - Centro Nacional de Abastecimiento y Distribución de Alimentos: The first Wholesale Market of Costa Rica, facilitating services and conditions for the wholesale supply of perishable products for subsequent distribution to parallel markets throughout the country.
• REFRINA - Red Frigorífica Nacional
• SIMM - Sistema de Información de Mercados Mayoristas
• Mercado Regional Chorotega

Products and services

• CENADA Central Wholesale Market The first and primary wholesale market of Costa Rica, operating Sunday through Friday to facilitate the supply and distribution of fruits, vegetables, fresh and dried foods, flowers, meats, eggs, and dairy products. Sellers include cooperatives, producer associations, and individual wholesalers; buyers include restaurants, hotels, schools, and retailers.
• REFRINA National Cold Storage Network National cold storage network providing low-temperature warehousing services at CENADA (Barreal de Heredia), Guanacaste, and Zarcero facilities. Services include refrigerated storage (₡894 + IVA per pallet per day, up to 750 kg), frozen storage (₡1,025 + IVA per pallet per day), and quick freeze tunnel (₡60 + IVA per kilo, reaching -35°C). ISO 9001:2015 certified with SENASA export authorization.
• SIMM Wholesale Market Information System Wholesale market information system providing daily, weekly, and biweekly price bulletins for agricultural and fishery products. Accessible via website, SMS (AGRO to 2476), WhatsApp chatbot (4001-5986), phone, email, and Facebook. Generates monthly reports for BCCR (Central Bank of Costa Rica) and provides seasonal indices and product guides.
• Mercado Regional Chorotega Regional wholesale market covering 50,855 square meters in the Chorotega region, with 52 commercial spaces for organized producers. Serves restaurants, hotels, schools, and commerce in northwestern Costa Rica. Includes REFRINA cold storage network facility for the region.
• Feria Minorista (Retail Fair) Saturday retail fair from 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM at CENADA for direct consumer purchases, plus retail operations at Mercado Regional Chorotega with 23+ local producers. Connects wholesale market producers directly with end consumers.
• Digital Auction Platform for Agricultural Trade Electronic auction system for agricultural products using digital platforms to ensure transparency in price formation, minimize intermediation, and modernize agricultural trade. Implemented under BCIE technical cooperation for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG).

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduction of CO2 emissions by over 25.7 tonnes per year through energy-efficient refrigeration equipment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• CNFL (Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2025PIMA and CNFL signed a contract for the development of a photovoltaic solar plant in the Gran Área Metropolitana (GAM), to be located at CENADA facilities in Barreal de Heredia. This partnership supports sustainable energy use and reduces operational costs for the agricultural market infrastructure.
• Mikuniya Japan CominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2024Agreement signed for the installation and loan of the MK-50 organic waste processing machine to produce fertilizer. The equipment will be located behind REFRINA facilities.
• INCOPESCA (Instituto Costarricense de Pesca y Acuicultura)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2024Inter-institutional agreement signed in Puntarenas for the construction of cold storage infrastructure for the fishing sector and improvements to the fishing terminal. This partnership extends cold chain services to the Pacific coastal region.
• MAG (Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAG coordinates with PIMA on agricultural marketing policy, price information (via CNP), market development, and the Mercado Regional Chorotega project. The Minister of Agriculture serves as rector of the agricultural sector.
• MINAE (Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMINAE, through the energy efficiency project, coordinated the donation and installation of efficient refrigeration equipment at REFRINA. Project funded by GEF through UNEP and U4E, executed by BCIE.
• SENASA (Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSENASA provides permanent quality inspectors at CENADA cold storage and issues export certifications for animal-origin products stored in REFRINA facilities.
• PROKLIMA/GIZ (Programa Global de la Cooperación Alemana)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGerman international cooperation program for climate and ozone layer protection. Conducted technical visits to REFRINA as part of capacity building measures for decision-makers and technicians in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.
• CNP (Consejo Nacional de Producción)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination on agricultural prices and market information between PIMA SIMM and CNP. CNP receives monthly price reports and collaborates on sector initiatives.
• INDER (Instituto de Desarrollo Rural)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINDER works with PIMA on regional market development, particularly for Mercado Regional Chorotega, supporting producer organizations and rural development initiatives.
• CCSS (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPIMA coordinates with CCSS for worker social security compliance verification for market concessionaires. Also selected alongside PIMA for energy efficiency equipment donations.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Americold: Global leader in temperature-controlled warehousing and cold chain logistics; comparable to REFRINA's national cold storage operations with similar blast freezing, pallet-based storage, and food-grade certification regimes.
• Mercasa: Spanish state-owned network coordinating a system of public wholesale markets; relevant as a parent-like entity model to PIMA, demonstrating how a coordinated national wholesale market network scales beyond individual regional markets.
• Lineage Logistics: World's largest temperature-controlled warehouse and cold chain logistics company; comparable to REFRINA's national cold storage network with operational overlap in blast freezing, frozen/refrigerated storage, and export-grade certifications.

Direct peers

• Rungis International Market: World's largest wholesale food market located near Paris; comparable to PIMA as a state-backed perishable products distribution center with specialized sectors for meat, dairy, fish, and produce, plus extensive cold storage and price information functions.
• Mercabarna: Public wholesale food market in Barcelona operated by a municipal consortium; the most direct functional analog to CENADA, with comparable concession-based commercial space rentals and integrated cold storage services serving producers and wholesalers.
• Mercavalencia: Public wholesale food market serving the Valencia region of Spain; mirrors PIMA's regional market strategy (analogous to Mercado Regional Chorotega), with comparable concessionaire-driven operations and cold storage services.
• Mercamadrid: Public wholesale food market serving the Madrid metropolitan region; parallels CENADA's role in supplying parallel markets nationwide with perishable products, operating through concession-based commercial space and integrated cold chain logistics.
• Cenabastos: Public wholesale food market in Bucaramanga, Colombia; operates a similar producer-to-buyer central wholesale platform with cold chain services and is the closest LatAm functional peer to PIMA's CENADA given shared Spanish-language LATAM regulatory and agricultural context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9CQUH9plddrjQ-vP2SQsuw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pima-cenada

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PIMA CENADA