There is a “race to the bottom” being pursued in the banana industry as companies relocate from country to country in search of ever cheaper bananas. But somebody has to pay a cost for food to be ‘cheap’ and in the case of bananas this cost is being paid by hundreds of thousands of workers, small farmers and their communities.

The impacts of this race to the bottom are devastating: migration, gender discrimination, cancer and even death caused by unprotected agrochemical use, environmental damage and a widespread failure to respect internationally agreed labour standards including, increasingly, the right to join an independent trade union.

Just five companies (Dole, Del Monte, Chiquita, Fyffes and Noboa) control 80% of the international banana trade. However, the race to the bottom in the industry is now being led by European supermarkets (link to supermarkets section) which have become the most powerful players along the international banana supply chain. Over the last few years British supermarkets have engaged in ‘banana price wars’ matching each other’s price cuts to such an low level that it is now impossible for many plantation workers to earn a living – or even a legal minimum - wage.

Many banana companies and supermarkets fail to accept responsibility for the social and environmental impacts of their behaviour in producer countries.

Available from Banana Link Resources

Race To The Bottom: Banana Workers’ Rights In Ecuador

24 page A4 booklet describing the conditions that Ecuador’s 250,000 banana workers face. It describes how companies are relocating production and sourcing in a quest to supply the rich consumer markets with the ‘cheapest’ possible bananas. As the publication uncovers, ‘cheap’ comes at a high price for the workers.
Available from Banana Link (£3 plus p&p).

Bananas Unpeeled 

A 26 minute video introduced by Mark Thomas, investigating the social and environmental conditions facing banana plantation workers and farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean. 'Bananas Unpeeled' also examines Fairtrade as a positive alternative for the future. Includes action ideas and teaching notes for Geography, Business Studies and Art.
Available on video and DVD from Banana Link (£10 plus p&p).