Introduction

Latin America, India and China together have the biggest share in the global banana production. Bananas are not only used as food. Their peels and fibers are also used for making carpets, blankets, and paper, among other things.

Production chain

Bananas grow quickly in plantations which is beneficial for the 400 to 500 million people in Africa, Asia and South America who rely on bananas as part of their consumption and income. Bananas are picked (when they are still green), transported to the packing station, cut in smaller bunches, washed, labeled and packed in boxes for export. The bunches are shipped in refrigerated chambers to prevent the bananas from ripening. After ripening in the receiving country’s facilities, the production chain of the banana ends at the shop where consumers purchase them. Bananas are available all year round.

Problems

Most of the banana sector is controlled by five major companies. A number of these large banana companies have been accused of tax avoidance, misuse of transfer-pricing and making use of tax havens. It has been estimated that Dole, Chiquita, and Del Monte paid only a little over 14% of profits in taxes between them in the past five years. Because many workers struggle with low wages, they find it nearly impossible to earn the minimum wage solely by working eight hours a day. The absence of labour rights and significant difficulties for workers to form labour unions are common problems in the banana sector. Workers who lose their jobs when joining a labour union are often refused work in other banana plantations. Plantations are usually not safe working environments and the use of chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides) often affect the health of the workers. These chemicals adversely affect the environment since they pollute soil, water and the surrounding areas. Deforestation, lowering levels of biodiversity and soil fertility are also known to occur as consequences of banana plantation expansion.

Priority issues

In the banana sector, Fairfood International has identified the following priority issues:

Priority issues	Production stage
Abuse of Dominant Position	Whole chain
Tax Avoidance	Whole chain
Insufficient Income and Income Insecurity	Production
Lack of Freedom of Association	Production
Corruption	Whole chain
Harmful Agricultural and Aquafarming Practices	Production
Unhealthy and Unsafe Working Conditions	Production

*Brand Owners are required to cover a minimum number of four out of seven of the priority issues.

Solutions

The guide below shows certification schemes whose standards indicate a match with some or all of Fairfood's priority issues for this sector. To learn more about any of the schemes, click on their logo.

Rainforest Alliance	EU Organic Labels	Naturland	Fairtrade	Global Gap	IMO Fair for Life
Production	Production	Production	Production	Production	Production

Did you know...

Why bananas are curved?

Bananas grow in bunches that hang downwards all together but each individual banana grows upwards towards the direction of the sun therefore curving its shape.
Between 400 and 500 million people in the world rely on bananas as part of their food intake and also to create an income via local markets.

Most important export countries

India
China
Brazil
Philippines
Ecuador

Most important production countries

Ecuador
Costa Rica
Philippines
Colombia
Guatemala