My tour to the "Puerto Viejo Dole Banana Plantation"(called the "Peace", Zurqui farm...subsidiary of Dole company) located about 20 miles south of Puerto Limon, Panama was very interesting, the fact that I went (initially undecided due to lack of interest but later glad that I went).
The lesson in agriculture growth of bananas from cultivation, irrigation, packing, worker roles to local/global markets, etc. Upon arrival we were greeted by the onsite director who had us walk on a iodine-laced mesh sponge..done to disinfect our shoes ...which helps to prevent diseases from entering the processing plant . This also included individual recycled hairnets and an inoculation form verbal agreements from tourists. The Banana Packing plant is an opened extended roof attached overhead to protect workers from rain.
He talked briefly about a "new fungus mutation disease" that has infected bananas growth in Asia, Middle East & Africa called the "TR-4 or Tropical Raise-4. Per guide, if this fungus isn't annihilated within the next five (5) years it may look dim for banana growers/consumer... to extinct around the world!
Not many bananas are seen visibility as we drove along the landscape, most are covered in blue plastic bags to create micro-climate conditions for them to grow more quickly, protection from insects, bruising during strong winds, and other environmental conditions.
Bananas are transported to the processing plant by monorail tracks, trolleys & drawbridges.
The company hires about 150,000 males/female workers. Many of them migrate from Nicaragua, Honduras & other Latin American cities. They live on the plantation in small clean houses, community of commerce ( grocery stores),education, etc. Families were out walking,.. children riding bikes.
Workers salary: $700.00 month, cell phone cost $20.00/month, lots of anchored satellite dishes. Workers were very friendly, even stopped work to pose for pictures with us.
*Costa Rica is the second largest banana grower...Ecuador is the first largest. Other banana growing/exporting companies in Latin America include Chiquita, Dole, & Del Monte.
*Bananas, one of the most important food staples in tropical areas and worldwide...the single largest agricultural export followed by pineapples & coffee ( I love Costa Rica coffee)
* Above facts taken directly from the mouth of the Dole Plantation guide added with my own experience during the actual tour
REVISIT: COSTA RICA-2016
This is my 2nd travel to Costa Rica... my first was northern, capital San Jose in 2011, we started with a local driver who gave us a wonderful exploration through local towns, volcanoes, parks, shops, & coffee plantations. I zip through 12 lines in arenal/waterfall town of La Fortuna, Arenal Volcanic National Park, Monteverde Costal Town &Cloud Forest, Sarchi (Joaquinn Chaverri Oxcart Factory), town of Zarecero in San Jose Highlands showcases a beautiful church (San Rafael) with religious painting and stencil work. This area is mostly known for the beautiful, whimsical shrubs created by a mild mannered topiary sculptor: Parque Francisco Alvarado (who had been doing this for more than 25 years when I was there). His artistic work include, but not limited to animals, planes, oxcarts, and even "Jesus carrying the cross"
And now for my featured presentation: PHOTO SLIDESHOW BELOW! ENJOY!
Now lets talk about that beautiful banana flower which to me resembles the " female womb" Wait.. hear me out first!
The deep purple red flower appears in an upright spike position, the purple flowers hold buds tapered as as they open, the narrow white tubular clustered rows of flowers are revealed (pictured here). The guide shown here stopped in a field and cut this one right off the banana tree to demonstrate the growth process.
the clusters are covered by thick purple bracts grows from the end of the bunch of bananas. The flower stalk hang down and droops under its own weight. The fruit comes after about 90-120 days...(incubation period). When opened it reveals about 20 plants called "hands" each hand contains about 200 plants....as they grow, the flower droops downward then reverses itself upward against gravity! WOW!
Bananas are covered in blue plastic bags to create micro-climate conditions for them to grow more quickly, protect them from insects, bruising during strong winds, and other environmental conditions.
Interesting Facts: Listen up Ladies!
Banana plants are both male & female. The bracts/leaves that hid the actual flower blooms... the male flower encases the buds ....describes as "sweetly scented...and sterile. The female flower needs NO fertilization to grow and become a fruit. SHE grows up the stem pass the male! Once against gravity!
Once fruiting occurs, the tree trunk dies and you guess it ladies!...It's Rebirth!
Some Asian, Italian & tropical areas use the flowers in vegetable cuisines.
Human Rights Concerns- Peeling Back The Facts:
Pardon the pon but to quote an old adage "all that glitter is not gold! in other words, global concerns for workers on banana plantations over Latin America regarding poor working conditions, lack of quality healthcare, safety violations resulting in injuries, low pay & long work hours, poor union organizing or trade union freedom, environmental disposal of the blue plastic bags that helps to cover mature banana plants, etc.
GlobaSista-"Uncaged Traveler" (c)
The deep purple red flower appears in an upright spike position, the purple flowers hold buds tapered as as they open, the narrow white tubular clustered rows of flowers are revealed (pictured here). The guide shown here stopped in a field and cut this one right off the banana tree to demonstrate the growth process.
the clusters are covered by thick purple bracts grows from the end of the bunch of bananas. The flower stalk hang down and droops under its own weight. The fruit comes after about 90-120 days...(incubation period). When opened it reveals about 20 plants called "hands" each hand contains about 200 plants....as they grow, the flower droops downward then reverses itself upward against gravity! WOW!
Bananas are covered in blue plastic bags to create micro-climate conditions for them to grow more quickly, protect them from insects, bruising during strong winds, and other environmental conditions.
Interesting Facts: Listen up Ladies!
Banana plants are both male & female. The bracts/leaves that hid the actual flower blooms... the male flower encases the buds ....describes as "sweetly scented...and sterile. The female flower needs NO fertilization to grow and become a fruit. SHE grows up the stem pass the male! Once against gravity!
Once fruiting occurs, the tree trunk dies and you guess it ladies!...It's Rebirth!
Some Asian, Italian & tropical areas use the flowers in vegetable cuisines.
Human Rights Concerns- Peeling Back The Facts:
Pardon the pon but to quote an old adage "all that glitter is not gold! in other words, global concerns for workers on banana plantations over Latin America regarding poor working conditions, lack of quality healthcare, safety violations resulting in injuries, low pay & long work hours, poor union organizing or trade union freedom, environmental disposal of the blue plastic bags that helps to cover mature banana plants, etc.
GlobaSista-"Uncaged Traveler" (c)
http://www.members.tripod.com/foro_emaus/BanPlantsCA.(The Impact of Banana Population in Central America)
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/22/africa/banana-panama-disease/index.html 9Extinct Bananas)
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/fungus-threatens-banana-supply-n85971 (Fungus Threatens Bananas Supply