Bananas are by far the most popular fruit in the United States, yet consumers know little about the conditions under which they were produced. Banana Land offers an engrossing and surprising behind-the-scenes look at an underworld plagued by great upheaval and sacrifice.
Besides its delicious taste, the universal popularity of bananas lies in its low cost to consumers; it is much cheaper than other fruits in supermarkets, such as apples or pears. Banana Land exposes these low bottom lines in the form of cheap pesticides, abusive labor practices, and comprehensive environmental standards.
As the film highlights, the effects of the crisis in the banana industry are more serious than those already mentioned. The banana business model began in 1899 with the formation of the United Fruit Company (UFC). The company has monopolized the industry and attracted investment from wealthy and powerful players around the world, which in turn has the protection and support of the Washington legislature. To ensure that bananas remain the cheapest fruit on the market, the UFC works with authoritarian regimes in Central America. These regimes worked hard to suppress any dissent from the industry’s exploited workers, even in the form of mass bloodshed.
As the film’s esteemed interviewees say, these practices set a precedent that remains intact today. This is evidenced by the Chiquita Corporation’s acknowledgment of financial support to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, a paramilitary group dedicated to defending economic interests in the region by violently attacking the opposition.
Beautifully produced, Banana Land features a series of intense interviews with experts working on the front lines of the conflict, revealing the inner workings of an industry little known to the average consumer. Behind the seductive halo of garish marketing campaigns lurks a world of unspeakable violence, corporate and political greed and gross violations of the most basic human rights. With insight and clarity, and unwavering footage of harsh working conditions and violent upheavals, the film vividly portrays a turbulent industry.
Directed by: Jason Glaser, Diego Lopez
