Going bananas on, er, bananas
Americans eat around 7 billion pounds of bananas a year. Most bananas are grown in Central and South America, forming an essential part of the economy in those regions, where large populations are dependent upon banana farming, not matter what the labor conditions.
| Transfair | Find fair trade certified bananas |
| Rainforest Alliance | Certified responsibly-produced bananas, including brands like Chiquita and La Favorita |
Hidden Costs
Modern times have brought changes in the way banana farming takes place. Most banana plantations are managed by large multinational companies. To meet consumer demand, bananas are grown in huge uni-crop plantations, boosting production but making the plants highly susceptible to disease. To combat this, companies dose their crops with large amounts of pesticides, applied directly by workers or sprayed by crop dusting airplanes. The chemicals endanger the health of workers, and have been linked with strerility in men and increased cancer rates in communities near the plantations.
The pesticides’ reach extends beyond the workers on the plantations. Bananas grow best in warm, wet climates with loose soil. Pesticides applied to and around the plants leak into the soil. Flushed by rainfall, the chemicals spill into the water table, polluting irrigation canals and local drinking water supplies.
Efforts to keep production costs low have also resulted in poor working conditions for the plantation workers. Because local economies have become so dependant on the plantations, workers have little else to do. The physical labor is difficult, the health risks severe, and the pay very low.
Another Way
Some companies are trying to change their practices. Dole is expanding its efforts to farm organic bananas, grown without harmful pesticides. Chiquita's Latin American plantations are now 100% certified by the Rainforest Alliance. The Rainforest Alliance inspects plantations, assuring they are using sustainable practices healthier for the environment and the workers involved. These plantations utilize recycling, composting and pollution control systems, and work to improve medical clinics and schools on plantations.
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