Conposition of Food Plants of Central America. Vi. Costa Rica

Abstract

The procedure for collection and shipment of samples has been described, Munsell e t al. (1949). Three slurries were prepared of all samples except the staple foods. The same 13 constituents were measured as noted in previous reports and no changes were made in methods of analysis beyond those noted in the second report. For each sample there was the usual data sheet and kodachromes of representative specimens, for filing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Escuela Agricola Panamericana.Of the 154 samples, 136 were purchased in markets in San Josh, 27 in markets of Alajuela, Cartago, or Heredia, and one from a street vendor in Sail Josh. The places where samples originated, with information on average altitude, prevailing soil type, and estimated annual rainfall are shown (Table 1). It will be noted that many of the samples came from Cartago and other places around and near San Josh. The outlying areas represented are few and scattered, and were mostly in the southeast coastal region or the northwest highland area. Ninety foodstuffs are represented in the 154 samples and for 48 of these there were more than one sample.'Description of some of the foods has already been given in earlier reports. This is indicated by a notation in parentheses giving the series number for the reference-1, Munsell et al. (1949); 11, Munsell et ul. (1950a); 111, Munsell et d. (1950b); IV, Munsell et ul. ( 1 9 5 0~) ; V, Munsell et ul. (1950d)-and the name of the food under which the description is given.379