Bananas: The Economy’s Favorite Fruit “Bananas are thought to have originated in the jungles of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines in Southeast Asia where many varieties of wild banana still grow. They were spread across Asia by travelers and brought to Africa by Arabs where they were given their present name, derived from the Arabic for finger (Fairtrade).” Bananas were first introduced to the United States in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of America where they were sold for 10 cents each (Chiquita). Since then the banana industry has continued to prosper and is now worth around 161.5 million US Dollars at the wholesale level and, is worth about 214 million US Dollars at the retail level (Ballen). Bananas are grown in
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The bananas produced on the small scale farms are generally consumed by locals rather than shipped around the world. Bananas represent the globalization of the agricultural economy because it is the worlds fourth largest staple crop and is arguably the worlds most popular fruit. It has become so popular because it is affordable, and is attainable throughout the year(Crop Trust). This crop is inexpensive because corporations like Dole and Chiquita are paying their workers close to nothing for their labor in order to keep the cost of the fruit low. Ed Hamer delineates the packaging and shipping process of the Cavendish bananas. “These are hauled, by hand, to on-site packing sheds… [following this] bananas are separated into ‘hands’, washed, wrapped and packaged, primarily by women labourers…[then] boxes are transported by road or rail to the port where they are shipped in energy-intensive refrigerated units, to prevent ripening…On arrival, bananas are artificially ripened using the chemical ethylene and a gradual rise in temperature in specialist warehouses… They are then transported, primarily by road, directly to retailers or wholesalers who then …show more content…
Bananas exhibiting the Fairtrade mark have met the social, environmental, and economic standards (Fairtrade). Although there are things being done about the farmers’ poor working conditions, there are still supermarkets that are refusing to buy Fairtrade bananas and other produce because of the
The bananas produced on the small scale farms are generally consumed by locals rather than shipped around the world. Bananas represent the globalization of the agricultural economy because it is the worlds fourth largest staple crop and is arguably the worlds most popular fruit. It has become so popular because it is affordable, and is attainable throughout the year(Crop Trust). This crop is inexpensive because corporations like Dole and Chiquita are paying their workers close to nothing for their labor in order to keep the cost of the fruit low. Ed Hamer delineates the packaging and shipping process of the Cavendish bananas. “These are hauled, by hand, to on-site packing sheds… [following this] bananas are separated into ‘hands’, washed, wrapped and packaged, primarily by women labourers…[then] boxes are transported by road or rail to the port where they are shipped in energy-intensive refrigerated units, to prevent ripening…On arrival, bananas are artificially ripened using the chemical ethylene and a gradual rise in temperature in specialist warehouses… They are then transported, primarily by road, directly to retailers or wholesalers who then …show more content…
Bananas exhibiting the Fairtrade mark have met the social, environmental, and economic standards (Fairtrade). Although there are things being done about the farmers’ poor working conditions, there are still supermarkets that are refusing to buy Fairtrade bananas and other produce because of the