Bananas!

Written By: - Date published: 2:08 pm, July 31st, 2010 - 51 comments
Categories: food, workers' rights - Tags:

Kiwis are amongst the highest consumers of bananas per capita in the world but for decades the banana industry has had a record of significant exploitation of workers including slave labour practices, execution of trade union members and a homicidal disregard of basic heath and safety practices. There’s a reason for the term “banana republic”.

Which means it’s been a long time since I ate bananas (despite the fact I really, really like them). But now the local supermarket has finally started stocking fair trade bananas – they taste great, they’re only a dollar more than the bad bananas and it didn’t take systematic oppression of workers to get them there. Highly recommended.

51 comments on “Bananas! ”

  1. joe90 1

    Don’t forget pineapples.

  2. Bill 2

    “…and it didn’t take systematic oppression of workers to get them there.”

    A non capitalist and non market means of production and distribution? Tell me more!

  3. graham 3

    It must be hard be a leftie . Do you guys publish lists of evil products you cant buy
    Me on the other hand i dont give a shit about that stuff i buy on price point and taste
    no stress in my life

    • McFlock 3.1

      because it’s all about you, isn’t it. No concern with the harm you cause. And the difference between you and a street thug is …?

    • felix 3.2

      What do you mean by “evil products” graham?

    • Cnr Joe 3.3

      but you can taste the sweet sweet freedom others suffering affords you – jeez graham types – you make it so easy to despise you – which stresses me out

    • bbfloyd 3.4

      graham… so we can assume moronicy, or simply incurable sociopathy on your part? i don’t like to think of people as simply being obnoxious, thoughtless and selfish through choice.

    • loota 3.5

      I think graham enjoys living life like a self-interested 12 year old. (Apologies to all the neat 12 year olds out there).

    • Roger 3.6

      Yes, ignorance is bliss. Great motto to live by I guess. I personally value being informed and utilizing my conscience. I don’t find that overly stressful but thank you for the concern.

  4. harry 4

    And that’s why I wouldn’t piss on graham if he was on fire.

  5. graham 5

    Bananas were one of the evil products Felix.
    Come on Don’t tell me you dont actually read the posts
    After all the work that eddie put in
    shame on you

  6. toad 6

    Thanks for the tip, Eddie. Like you, I haven’t eaten a banana in years – for exactly the same reason.

    Good to see there is now a choice, just as there is a choice with pork for those of us who want to avoid meat that is produced in cruel and inhumane conditions.

    But, as with bananas, that choice comes at a cost, thanks to the WTO. It is a choice I can afford, but one that people on low incomes or benefits cannot afford.

  7. graham 7

    The fact that union members were shot,exploited,and generaly led miserable lifes makes them taste that much sweeter

  8. graham 8

    Actually i dont have pimples, I shower every day and married to a hot sexy wife unlike most left wing geeks

  9. graham 9

    o dear a spelling mistake its still 8 million
    LMAO

    • harry 9.1

      You mean “oh” and “it’s”. You’re not only too dumb to make 8 million graham, you’re even too dumb to lie about it properly.

  10. graham 10

    I own 980 x/breed cows and my own farm
    my turnover will exceed 2.8 million this year mate
    just because my spelling not as good as your mums dosent mean i dont know how to make money
    I give you a tip on life sonny boy
    Do a SWOT study of yourself then identiy where your skill of being a pompass nit picker can make you money so you can move out of mommys house.
    all my mates make a minimum of 90k a year most of them have to use spellcheck on MSword
    i will tell them that they are or dumbarse liars as well then

    • loota 10.1

      Short man, small **** syndrome

    • harry 10.2

      Here’s some advice for you graham. Stick to your wee moo cows and leave the politics to the grown ups you halfwitted bumpkin.

      • graham 10.2.1

        The left wing view on life
        Only a small group of us so called leaders are cabable of making decisions for everybody.
        Mate its failed time and time again
        Cant wait to the election and see the new election theme
        LEAVE THE POLITICS TO THE GROWN UPS
        thats a vote winner
        LMAO

    • McFlock 10.3

      great – not only does he like the taste of other people’s blood in his food, he’s probably one of *those* dairy farmers who think they have a god-given right to let their cows shit in all the local waterways.

      • graham 10.3.1

        And your proof is??????????
        considering i dont have any waterways on my farm?
        I could say you must be a leftie who dosent have a job or girlfriend

        • McFlock 10.3.1.1

          No waterways on your farm? Not one? You probably irrigate out of boreholes then – many of those are being overused as well…

      • eye saw 10.3.2

        Nah,he’s been leaning on the electric fence,seeing which way the current is going.

  11. Rosy 11

    That’s dumb arse “mate”.

  12. jbanks 12

    Boycotting banana’s! Great way to help someone on a low income get even less.

    • loota 12.1

      What do you care about their incomes anyway? I guess you liked slavery because at least the black folk were provided meals a couple of times a day?

      • jbanks 12.1.1

        Analogy fail.
        People choosing to work, for money, is not slavery.

        • loota 12.1.1.1

          Mate, you’re a slave when you get treated by your employer like a slave. Like expendable, dumb, labour.

          Given that, whether or not you are being paid your $5 a day by the plantation manager is irrelevant, isn’t it?

          • jbanks 12.1.1.1.1

            There’s a world of difference between ‘to work like a slave’ and to be the property of someone else without a choice in to leave.

            Some people are expendable dumb, labour.

            Anti-spam word: meritocracy

  13. flipside 13

    Hope you don’t mind getting back on topic, but I have heard that Banana Split is an excellent documentary about bananas. Here’s a cut and paste of some of the info I was sent about it:

    Banana Split is an award winning film about one of the most popular fruit in the world. The documentary examines the historical, social, economic, scientific and environmental aspects of banana production. Banana Split begins in a grocery store in Canada and takes viewers on a journey to Honduras to see where the fruit comes from. Along the way, Banana Split discusses the history, science and economics of the world’s favourite fruit. The film is both entertaining and educational. It was filmed in Thunder Bay, Toronto, Los Angeles, Montpelier (France) and Tela (Honduras).

    The banana is the cheapest fruit you can buy in Canada at any time of the year and Canadians eat approximately 3 billion bananas a year. In Canadian supermarkets bananas account for over 10% of total sales in the produce section and 1% of total sales. All this despite the fact that the nearest plantation is 5000 kilometres away and the banana is the most perishable fruit on our store shelves…

  14. Jan 15

    Cool bananas!
    Interesting – especially given discussion above – that no-one has ventured to turn the discussion to whether we in NZ live in a milk powder rebublic! I’d argue for that and also for a much stronger mediation policy on The Standard. Life’s too short.
    If I was interested in mysogynistic abuse I could spend my nights listening to talkback radio.
    Cheers

  15. deemac 16

    obvious point about “graham” – if his life is so freaking wonderful – why would he spend so much time on this site???
    some people have empty lives and too much time on their hands (apart from those trolls who are being paid to post here of course)

  16. Lats 17

    I don’t imagine any of us really condone the maltreatment of workers, but we do need to put these things in context. We shouldn’t be comparing the lot of banana plantation workers with that of folk here in NZ, but should instead be asking whether the work on the plantation raises the standard of living compared to other types of work available in their own back yard. It is just possible that the alternative for some of these people is to pick through rubbish dumbs, to steal, and to beg. I refer you to an analysis of sweatshops by Dr Eric Crampton at the University of Canterbury:
    http://offsettingbehaviour.blogspot.com/2009/05/sweatshops.html
    I’d argue the same principle applies for banana workers…

  17. Jenny 18

    The term banana republic is a euphemism for a corrupt, low wage, high unemployment, third world country, in which a tiny minority live well, off an an economy entirely dependent on one single agricultural product.

    Despite the fact that New Zealand is too cold to grow bananas and has had to replace bananas with grass-

    This is the ideal state envisioned and championed by Federated Farmers, put into practice by Fonterra, aided and abbetted by corrupt banksters and financiers, for their cut. And all with the blessing of a compliant right wing government.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T10:53:04+00:00