Banana

Banana production in Ecuador began in 1940, and grew rapidly from that point.  Bananas are grown on what is known as a high herb, that can reach up to 15m high. Men and women harvest the bananas and package them for shipment.

While banana’s are produced in over 150 countries, Canada generally receives its supply from Latin American countries including Ecuador. Plantations of bananas are tended and harvested when ready, bananas are packaged and shipped via the supplier to retailers in Canada. Once they arrive in Canada they are stocked and sold to customers. 78% of banana producers are small businesses, employing a combination of male and female employees.

The seller’s often have very high standards of the products they will be willing to receive, putting increased pressure on the producer’s to ensure they meet those standards. It is up to the producer where they sell to; a deal can be made directly with the seller or country importing the bananas, or products can be sold to a third party for redistribution.

The producers could use more power in managing their side of the distribution process; by having an advocacy company or representative, they would benefit. By having someone who can negotiate and maintain fair business transactions, the producers could regain some of the control. Unfortunately, this becomes difficult as Ecuador is still considered a third world country; paying for the luxury of an advocate would come out of the company’s profits.

Ecuador & Sinutrabe: Banana Link Partner. (2021, June 3). Banana Link.  Retrieved 2022, March 3 from https://www.bananalink.org.uk/partners/ecuador/

Vaca, E., Gaibor, N., Kovacs, K., (2020), Analysis of the chain of the banana industry in Ecuador and the European market, Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce (APSTRACT), 14(1-2), p. 57-65, DOI: 10.19041/APSTRACT/2020/1-2/7.