Landslides in the mountainous interior of the island took out many roads, a major part of the agriculture infrastructure there. The island suffered a loss of $780 million in agriculture yields, according to the department’s preliminary figures. For over 400 years, Puerto Rico’s economy was based on agriculture, historically focused on sugar cane, tobacco and citrus fruits. The island’s economy rapidly industrialized after World War II, leading to the downfall of agriculture production. Puerto Rico, Mr. Bhatia said, could service a growing demand for organic foods in the mainland United States.

Source: New York Times September 25, 2017 00:56 UTC