“Only a change in consumer demands for a more sustainably produced fruit will push the industry to end the continued devastation of the biophysical and social environments of Central America.” – Carrie McCracken
Welcome to the main office of Finca Perdiz, a Del Monte owned and run banana plantation in Limon, Costa Rica. The sign reads “Del Monte Quality,” which must be in reference to a nice-looking banana, because it cannot possibly mean quality of life, quality treatment of their workers, or a quality environment. A sign on the office door to the right says “No visitors allowed.” Today we are going to ignore that request and begin a virtual banana plantation tour.
This banana field (and many others on the property) is where the pickers spend the majority of their days. The ground is littered with discarded banana stalks that are still topped with the remnants of plastic insecticide bags. The trunks are former banana stalks that were cut down because each stalk only produces one bunch of fruit. The blue strings hold up the banana plants, because they cannot stand on their own. There are no birds, no insects, and very little sunshine. The earth smells rotten, and the soil has a washed-out tone. It is clear that the minerals in the earth and the life of the land have been stripped away by the banana monoculture.
Here we see one of thousands of blue, plastic insecticide bags that hang on the banana bunches in the field to protect them from insects. They contain chemicals that are harmful to touch. They also pollute the environment when left in the field. In previous years, this plantation used to discard all the bags in their fields. They would blow into the surrounding irrigation systems and the insecticides would pollute the local watersheds. Today, however, this plantation recycles the bags and uses them to make plastic siding to hold the banana boxes in place for shipping. Nevertheless, as we were driving to the plantation, I saw hundreds of discarded insecticide bags littering the side of the road, right next to local resident’s houses. The recycling process obviously is not mainstream.
These are the banana stalks after the banana bunches have been removed. They still have remnants of the insecticide bags. This part of the bag is not recycled. These stalks, bag and all, are disposed of by being thrown back into the fields. So much for environmental protection.
But according to the Corporate Citizenship section of the Fresh Del Monte website, “Del Monte Fresh Produce Company recognizes its obligation and responsibility to protect the environment.” They may recognize their responsibility, but they are certainly not fulfilling their obligation. Insecticide-polluted fields and watersheds and devastation caused by monoculture practices are cases in point.
Photos in this post by Rhianon Gutierrez
Bad Bananas and Monkey Business 
Have there been any studies as to what the actual health effects are to the workers in these conditions? I wonder if Del Monte could be encouraged to begine to change there ways if they begin to realize that dead, and dying workers are entirely less productive than healthy ones.
Estimados señores les escribo para ofrcerles tres fincas que tengo para vender .Estas están ubicadas en puerto Limon de Costa Rica.
Una se encuentra en el centro de limón de 105 hectareas con toda la documentación al dia , tanto escrituras como catastro.
La otra se encuentra en seis amigos de siquirres con 115 hectareas, esta cuenta con 32 hectareas escrituradas solamente ideales para bananeras.
Las dos se están dando a dos millones doscientos la hectárea.
Y la tercera es en san andres con 110 hectareas igualmente especial para la siembra de banano esta se esta dando a dos millones ochocientos mil colnes la hectárea, esta solo tiene plano catastrado.
Por las ubicaciones de las fincas son precios muy accsibles para cualquier empresa dedicada a la siembra de banano.
Mi correo es: asdrubal -1970@hotmail.com y mi teléfono es : 0050689712588.
saludos
hola.
Buen dia.
Soy Maximo de Fundacion produce Sinaloa, de mexico haremos un viaje los proximos días (16 al 23 de marzo) a costa rica y visitaremos Limón, nos interesa ver el cultivo de banana en su reconocida finca, de ser posible comuniquenozlo por este medio. la visita será jueves 19 de marzo posiblemente.
gracias. maximo Celuar. 6949513443 o 6949510239
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Thanks a lot for this article just wish somehow we could make it known to everyone. Not just this but all of the other company’s that do this i’m especially worried about the pesticides that can be very harmful not just to the bugs and environment but also to the consumer.(very very bad)
Thanks a lot for this article just wish somehow we could make it known to everyone. Not just this company but many others.
Entrez votre nip lorsqu’on vous le demande et ensuite touchez ok