Dear banana company,I am writing this letter on behalf of what I have learned about the production of bananas. Many things are overlooked that you should take notice to, including the working conditions and the environment. For example, many use synthetic fertilizers to keep their crops healthy, to maintain high production levels, and to ensure that the bananas appeal to their customers. Many banana plantations also use a large amount of synthetic pesticides which kill bad bugs, and synthetic herbicides, which kill plants that may interfere. Many of the ÃÂworkersÃÂ are not trained to safely handle the chemicals in which you provide them. Workers are required to continue working as the planes, which dump the chemicals, fly overhead. As a result, many workers will suffer long-term health problems. In addition, restrooms are not provided for the workers so, to relieve themselves, they will go on the plants. In ssome countries, the workers who try to do something about the conditions may face firing and blacklisting.
Cavendish bananas are the main commercial banana c...
Green Banana Trees at Banana Leaf Farm
Loading bananas in a Nicaragua banana plantationOn occasion, they may be attacked by armed thugs.
The need for large areas of land to create banana plantations also means that indigenous people are often forced off their land. Unable to carry on their traditional way of life, some went on the plantations, while others move to large cities and eventually live in poverty. Even after some manage to stay on their land, the environmental damage caused by the widespread us eof chemicals may sometimes affect their lives. For example, ones who relied on fishing found that the chemical runoff killed the fish in rivers and lakes. When the fish disappeared, so did their ability to feed themselves and earn a living.
During the 1900ÃÂs, European governments helped many former colonies by giving preferred treatment to bananas imported from them. No taxes...