Bananas, Are They the Quintessential Health Food? A Global/Local Perspective

Bananas, Are They the Bananas, Are They the Quintessential Health Quintessential Health Food? A Global/Local Food? A Global/Local

PerspectivePerspective

By Susan L. AndreattaBy Susan L. Andreatta

““Healthy living” and “Healthy eatingHealthy living” and “Healthy eating” ”

Increasing public awareness in the 1980s Increasing public awareness in the 1980s and 1990s resulted in a reduction in the and 1990s resulted in a reduction in the amount of meat, poultry, and fish consumed amount of meat, poultry, and fish consumed and a growing interest in vegetarian diets and a growing interest in vegetarian diets that cuts across classes and ethnic groups that cuts across classes and ethnic groups

This dietary shift parallels societies’ This dietary shift parallels societies’ increasing awareness of and concern for the increasing awareness of and concern for the environment environment

““Greening” effect:Greening” effect: Demands for “free range,” “low fat,” “no Demands for “free range,” “low fat,” “no

fat,” “environmentally safe”fat,” “environmentally safe”

Bananas –Health food? Bananas –Health food? For many people bananas appear to be For many people bananas appear to be

the quintessential health food the quintessential health food Consumers throughout the world enjoy Consumers throughout the world enjoy

bananasbananas Bananas are one of the most important Bananas are one of the most important

food commodities, with world trade in food commodities, with world trade in 1993 valued at $75 billion 1993 valued at $75 billion

Andreatta draws on research in the Andreatta draws on research in the Windward Island banana growers in St. Windward Island banana growers in St. Vincent, to illustrate how pressure from Vincent, to illustrate how pressure from transnational corporations contributes to transnational corporations contributes to social injustice and environmental social injustice and environmental degradationdegradation

The Growth of an EmpireThe Growth of an Empire

Between 1980 and 1990 the Between 1980 and 1990 the international banana trade international banana trade increased 28%increased 28%

The greatest increase in The greatest increase in imports has gone to Europe imports has gone to Europe and North Americaand North America

The increase in consumption The increase in consumption in the North has provided in the North has provided regular demand for banana regular demand for banana producing countries to supplyproducing countries to supply

The perfect blemish-free yellow banana is The perfect blemish-free yellow banana is sought after so an increase in pesticides sought after so an increase in pesticides and fertilizers are used, having negative and fertilizers are used, having negative consequences for the environment and consequences for the environment and producersproducers

““Technology Packages” are designed to and Technology Packages” are designed to and distributed by the ministries of agriculture in distributed by the ministries of agriculture in banana producing countries to meet banana producing countries to meet standards imposed by the transnational standards imposed by the transnational corporations and to meet market demands corporations and to meet market demands in the Northin the North

The increased consumption, however, comes with The increased consumption, however, comes with an increase in restrictions, production guidelines, an increase in restrictions, production guidelines, and an increase in competition between producers and an increase in competition between producers and transnational corporations and transnational corporations

Crop cultivation that contributes to vegetarian Crop cultivation that contributes to vegetarian diets is not always as benign or environmentally diets is not always as benign or environmentally friendly as is often assumedfriendly as is often assumed

Avoiding the use of animals does not necessarily Avoiding the use of animals does not necessarily make agriculture, aquaculture, or vegetarian diets make agriculture, aquaculture, or vegetarian diets “green” or “safe,” “healthy” or “environmentally “green” or “safe,” “healthy” or “environmentally friendly”friendly”

Evidence indicates that international banana Evidence indicates that international banana industries are having an adverse effect on industries are having an adverse effect on economies, livelihoods and the physical economies, livelihoods and the physical environment on both a local and global scaleenvironment on both a local and global scale

We need to look beyond We need to look beyond the supermarket shelves the supermarket shelves and include those who and include those who

cultivate in our definitions cultivate in our definitions of healthy foodsof healthy foods

Political EcologyPolitical Ecology

Combines concerns of ecology & political Combines concerns of ecology & political economy to understand the dialectic economy to understand the dialectic between society, resources, and classesbetween society, resources, and classes

It incorporates concepts of It incorporates concepts of TimeTime SpaceSpace ScaleScale

And connects fields to supermarkets, And connects fields to supermarkets, growers to consumers, agronomists to growers to consumers, agronomists to policy makerspolicy makers

Transnational Banana TradeTransnational Banana Trade-The European Union’s Control-The European Union’s Control

More than 90% of world banana More than 90% of world banana exports are to the developed market exports are to the developed market economies of the Northeconomies of the North

The European Union is the single The European Union is the single largest importer of bananas in the largest importer of bananas in the world; it protected its trade with the world; it protected its trade with the Lomé Convention producers (Africa, Lomé Convention producers (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) & Windward Caribbean, Pacific) & Windward IslandsIslands

Chiquita, Del Monte, and Chiquita, Del Monte, and Dole, the three largest Dole, the three largest USA-based banana MNCs, USA-based banana MNCs, own 20% of the plantations own 20% of the plantations in Central America and in Central America and control 75% of the trade in control 75% of the trade in that regionthat region

Between them these Between them these companies control 70% of companies control 70% of the world banana tradethe world banana trade

Windward Island BananasWindward Island Bananas Made up of several Banana Made up of several Banana

Growers’ Associations (BGAs) Growers’ Associations (BGAs) 27,000 registered banana 27,000 registered banana

growers on the Windward growers on the Windward Islands are organized into Islands are organized into four BGAsfour BGAs

The international banana The international banana trade regime has had trade regime has had significant influence on significant influence on Windward Island banana Windward Island banana production production

In 1954 St. Vincent and In 1954 St. Vincent and Grenadines BGA entered into Grenadines BGA entered into a standing contract with a standing contract with Geest Industries, UK whereby Geest Industries, UK whereby all bananas of exportable all bananas of exportable quality had to be sold to quality had to be sold to GeestGeest

St. Vincent’s Banana GrowersSt. Vincent’s Banana Growers St. Vincent’s economic St. Vincent’s economic

base is agriculture, which base is agriculture, which accounts for 20% of the accounts for 20% of the GDP and 80% of the GDP and 80% of the merchandise exportedmerchandise exported

Banana plants now occupy Banana plants now occupy 41% of the 29,000 acres of 41% of the 29,000 acres of arable land on St. Vincentarable land on St. Vincent

Export banana production Export banana production more than doubled more than doubled between 1983 and 1992between 1983 and 1992

However, the 1990s began However, the 1990s began a dramatic decline in the a dramatic decline in the banana industry, which banana industry, which struggled with a relative struggled with a relative devaluation of the devaluation of the European currency and a European currency and a drop in the green drop in the green wholesale price for wholesale price for Vincentian bananasVincentian bananas

Struggling Banana Growers Struggling Banana Growers in St. Vincent in St. Vincent

Growers and the BGAs Growers and the BGAs were uncertain of the were uncertain of the future of the banana trade future of the banana trade

Transnational ControlTransnational Control Not surprisingly with the increased demand more Not surprisingly with the increased demand more

people got into banana cultivation and marginal people got into banana cultivation and marginal lands were being transformed into plantationslands were being transformed into plantations

Even with the best practices these marginal lands Even with the best practices these marginal lands were unable to produce bananas which conformed were unable to produce bananas which conformed to transnational standardsto transnational standards

This drove down the price of bananas, banana This drove down the price of bananas, banana growers were being paid EC $.21 per pound while it growers were being paid EC $.21 per pound while it was costing them EC $.35 per pound to producewas costing them EC $.35 per pound to produce

The BGA’s and banana growers’ debt have The BGA’s and banana growers’ debt have continued to grow resulting in reorganization and continued to grow resulting in reorganization and debt restructuringdebt restructuring

The price paid has since gone up yet the increases The price paid has since gone up yet the increases have not kept up with the increased price of have not kept up with the increased price of agricultural inputs demanded by productionagricultural inputs demanded by production

Contract problemsContract problems

Contractual agreements between Geest Contractual agreements between Geest and the Windward Island BGA have been and the Windward Island BGA have been strained for nearly four decades strained for nearly four decades

Farmers produce the bananas, they are Farmers produce the bananas, they are delivered to Geest, Geest transports the delivered to Geest, Geest transports the bananas on their ships to the UK, deducts bananas on their ships to the UK, deducts all agreed costs and what is left is what all agreed costs and what is left is what the farmers and associates get the farmers and associates get

Under this arrangement Geest has no real Under this arrangement Geest has no real incentive to fight for cost reduction, since incentive to fight for cost reduction, since Geest costs are deductedGeest costs are deducted

Banana Production and its Social & Banana Production and its Social & Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts

A number of agricultural chemicals have A number of agricultural chemicals have been developed to maximize yields, been developed to maximize yields, produce crops efficiently, and meet produce crops efficiently, and meet supermarkets’ and supermarkets’ and consumers’ consumers’ expectations for blemish-free produceexpectations for blemish-free produce

Ecological impacts from certain Ecological impacts from certain agrochemicals have resulted in varying agrochemicals have resulted in varying degrees of pest resistance and degrees of pest resistance and resurgence, and in persistence of resurgence, and in persistence of pesticide residues in the natural pesticide residues in the natural environment, as well as chronic health environment, as well as chronic health problems and poisonings associated with problems and poisonings associated with exposure exposure

Banana workers are exposed to dangerous Banana workers are exposed to dangerous chemicals. Frequently workers suffer from chemicals. Frequently workers suffer from dermatitis, eye problems, respiratory disorders, dermatitis, eye problems, respiratory disorders, fertility problems and many other unreported fertility problems and many other unreported problemsproblems

Bananas are susceptible to pests and disease and Bananas are susceptible to pests and disease and are more likely to be affected if grown as a are more likely to be affected if grown as a monocropmonocrop

Aerial spraying is used widely and inefficient at Aerial spraying is used widely and inefficient at targeting the plantations directly. Aerial drift affects targeting the plantations directly. Aerial drift affects the workers, and residents of nearby villages and the workers, and residents of nearby villages and pollutes water supplies.pollutes water supplies.

The use of marginal lands has led to soil loss, and The use of marginal lands has led to soil loss, and decreased productivitydecreased productivity

According to a number of growers and extension According to a number of growers and extension officers, many species have experienced lowered officers, many species have experienced lowered populations that coincides with increased inputs in populations that coincides with increased inputs in productionproduction

Environmental Impact ofEnvironmental Impact ofSt. Vincent’s Bananas St. Vincent’s Bananas

In comparison to other Global South countries, In comparison to other Global South countries, St. Vincent is more restrictive in controlling the St. Vincent is more restrictive in controlling the importation if agrochemicalsimportation if agrochemicals

However, St. Vincent at the present has no However, St. Vincent at the present has no governmental standards and no means of detecting governmental standards and no means of detecting pesticide levels in food or water on the island pesticide levels in food or water on the island

20% of aerial sprays on St. Vincent never reach 20% of aerial sprays on St. Vincent never reach their target, but are blown, settling down on their target, but are blown, settling down on houses, in streams, in water catchments, on other houses, in streams, in water catchments, on other agricultural produce, and on humans and animalsagricultural produce, and on humans and animals

Agriculturalists and others have commented upon a Agriculturalists and others have commented upon a severe reduction in wildlife species in aerial spray severe reduction in wildlife species in aerial spray areas areas

The Future of Windward Island The Future of Windward Island Banana ProducersBanana Producers

It is clear from the local level that both the It is clear from the local level that both the environment and the growers suffer from the environment and the growers suffer from the unequal balance of power, inequities of unequal balance of power, inequities of production and distribution, and an array of production and distribution, and an array of injusticesinjustices

The majority of banana growers are economically The majority of banana growers are economically worse off today than in the past as a result of the worse off today than in the past as a result of the base price reduction, rising costs of production, base price reduction, rising costs of production, deteriorating field conditions, banana expansion deteriorating field conditions, banana expansion into marginal low-yielding lands, and the into marginal low-yielding lands, and the increased time required to produce, harvest, and increased time required to produce, harvest, and package bananas to meet Geest’s criteria and EU package bananas to meet Geest’s criteria and EU standards for quality fruitstandards for quality fruit

So are Bananas the Quintessential So are Bananas the Quintessential Health Food?Health Food?

The negative consequences of banana production for The negative consequences of banana production for human health and health of the physical environment human health and health of the physical environment illustrates the needs for consumers to think beyond illustrates the needs for consumers to think beyond the perfect blemish free exterior when purchasing the perfect blemish free exterior when purchasing bananas.bananas.

Change in agrarian practices can only come about if Change in agrarian practices can only come about if there are changes in consumers’ preferences, and in there are changes in consumers’ preferences, and in the economic relationships between growers and the the economic relationships between growers and the marketmarket

As banana eaters, we are all involved; it is not just As banana eaters, we are all involved; it is not just growers who must change their production strategies growers who must change their production strategies

““The perfect, blemish free banana is the The perfect, blemish free banana is the quintessential health food only if we, the quintessential health food only if we, the consumers, are the only people whose consumers, are the only people whose health is considered important.”health is considered important.”