Nanners Tres

Conventional banana production in Central America is not sustainable. It depends on frequent and heavy chemical applications to reduce pest damage, increase yields, and comply with the quality standards of importing countries. This has resulted in the contamination of soil, water, and food and the poisoning of workers and local communities. Employees of banana plantations work long hours under harsh and dangerous conditions usually without a contract or adequate compensation, and are often prohibited from organizing to improve their condtition. Housing in plantation towns is often run down and overcrowded, with a high incidence of social problems such as alcoholism, child abandonment, and physical abuse. The multinational banana corporations control all aspects of production, transportation, and marketing, limiting the control of and economic benefits provided to local people.

However, more sustainable forms of production do exist. Small scale producers, operating independently of transnational corporations, are able to grow bananas without heavy agrochemical inputs, often organically. These locally controlled agricultural systems are supportive of local people, economies, and cultures. The major obstacle to the success and increased implementation of small scale systems is the lack of market demand in importing countries, primarily the United States. The only way to insure the sustainability of banana production in Central America is to increase awareness amongst consumers in the U.S. about the problems associated with conventional banana production and the benefits of supporting small scale banana growers.