DOLE - Harvesting Bananas
Summary
TLDRAt Dole's Bananito Farm in Costa Rica, sustainable farming techniques and ideal conditions allow year-round harvesting of premium bananas. The process, which spans 12-13 weeks from fruit stem emergence to harvest, involves meticulous care to ensure quality. Bananas are harvested green, protected from damage, and transported via an 80-mile cableway to the packing plant. After washing, inspection, and packaging, they are prepared for long-distance shipping. Throughout the process, Dole emphasizes sustainability, recycling materials, and maintaining quality control, ensuring fresh, high-quality bananas reach consumers.
Takeaways
- 🌱 Dole's Bananito Farm in Costa Rica is renowned for its perfect growing conditions and sustainable farming techniques, enabling year-round premium banana production.
- 📏 It takes 12 to 13 weeks for banana plants to reach harvest maturity from the appearance of the fruit stem.
- 👨🌾 Dole's harvesters, known as 'bananeros', assess the readiness of bananas by measuring the fingers on each plant.
- 🗓️ Harvesting is a six-day-a-week operation, with a team of three bananeros responsible for specific sections of the farm.
- 🟢 Bananas are harvested green to allow for controlled ripening, ensuring they reach consumers in perfect condition.
- 🛡️ Protective foam padding is used to prevent damage to the banana hands during the harvesting process.
- 🔪 Harvested bananas are cut from the plant using a machete and carried to a cableway system for transport.
- 🚂 The cableway system, approximately 80 miles long, connects all fields to the central packing plant.
- 🧼 At the packing station, bananas are washed with chlorinated water and undergo strict quality control inspections.
- ♻️ Leftover banana stems and protective materials are recycled, contributing to Dole's commitment to sustainability.
- 📦 Bananas are packed into specially designed boxes for long-distance transport, ensuring minimal damage during shipment.
Q & A
Where is Dole's Bananito Farm located?
-Dole's Bananito Farm is located in Costa Rica.
What is unique about the growing conditions at Dole's Bananito Farm?
-The farm has perfect growing conditions and uses sustainable farming techniques, which allow for the year-round harvest of premium bananas.
How long does it take for banana plants to be ready for harvest?
-It takes 12 to 13 weeks from the time the banana plants' fruit stem first appears until they are harvested.
How are the bananas determined to be ready for harvest?
-Dole bananeros measure the banana fingers on each plant to determine if the fruit is ready to harvest.
How often does harvesting take place at the farm?
-Harvesting takes place six days a week.
What is the average weight of a banana bunch carried by a bananero?
-The average weight of a banana bunch carried by a bananero is about 65 pounds.
Why are bananas harvested while they are still green?
-Bananas are harvested while they are still green so they can ripen to perfection just as they reach consumers.
What is the purpose of the cableway system used on the farm?
-The cableway system is used to transport harvested banana stems from the fields to the packing plant at the center of the farm.
How long is the cableway system on Dole's Bananito Farm?
-The cableway system on Dole's Bananito Farm is about 80 miles in total length.
What is done with the protective foam padding after the bananas are harvested?
-The protective foam padding is inserted to safeguard the sensitive banana hands and is sent back to the field to be used again after the bananas are harvested.
How are banana clusters prepared for packaging?
-Banana hands are cut into clusters of five to seven fingers, which are then placed on trays and weighed to ensure the correct amount of bananas per shipping carton.
What is the purpose of the specially perforated material used to wrap the bananas?
-The specially perforated material allows the fruit to ripen while in the boxes, meeting each customer's specific needs.
Outlines
🌱 Sustainable Banana Harvesting at Dole's Farm
This paragraph describes the sustainable farming practices at Dole's Bananito Farm in Costa Rica, where premium bananas are harvested year-round. The process begins with the maturation of the banana plants, which takes 12 to 13 weeks. Dole workers, known as 'bananeros', assess the ripeness of the bananas and harvest them while still green to allow for optimal ripening by the time they reach consumers. Harvesting is a six-day-a-week operation, with a team of three workers responsible for a section of the farm. The harvested bananas are carefully protected with foam padding to prevent damage. The entire process, from harvesting to packing, is designed to be gentle on the fruit to maintain its quality. The farm's cableway system, which is about 80 miles long, transports the harvested bananas to the packing plant. Quality control measures are strictly followed, with each batch of bananas being numbered and traced back to its origin. The bananas are washed, inspected, and processed to remove excess latex before being packed into boxes designed for long-distance transport. The packing process is manual, with workers ensuring each banana cluster meets Dole's quality standards before being packaged and prepared for shipping.
🤝 Dedicated Workers Ensure Quality Bananas
The second paragraph emphasizes the role of dedicated workers in ensuring the quality of Dole bananas. It highlights the hands-on care and attention provided at every stage of the process, from harvesting to packing. The workers' expertise and commitment to quality control are crucial in maintaining the high standards of Dole bananas, making them a healthy and delicious choice for consumers worldwide.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Bananeros
💡Sustainable farming techniques
💡Harvesting
💡Protective foam padding
💡Cableway system
💡Quality control
💡Recycling
💡Post-harvest treatment
💡Packaging
💡Traceability
💡Dole sticker
Highlights
Perfect growing conditions and sustainable farming techniques are used at Dole's Bananito Farm in Costa Rica.
Premium bananas are harvested year-round at the farm.
It takes 12 to 13 weeks for banana plants to fruit from the time they first appear.
Dole bananeros measure banana fingers to determine ripeness for harvest.
Harvesting occurs six days a week by a team of three workers.
Bananas are harvested green to ripen to perfection before reaching consumers.
Protective foam padding is used to safeguard banana hands from damage.
The entire banana stem is cut with a machete and carried to a cableway system.
The cableway system is about 80 miles in total length and serves all fields on the farm.
Banana stems are transported to the packing plant with the aid of a mule.
Protective pads are removed and recycled for quality control.
Each train of bananas is numbered for traceability and quality control.
Bananas are washed with chlorinated water and inspected for quality.
Banana hands are cut and placed in water to remove excess latex.
Leftover banana stems and protective plastic bags are recycled.
Banana clusters are cut into groups of five to seven fingers.
Bananas receive a post-harvest treatment to preserve freshness.
Bananas are packed into boxes designed for long-distance transport.
Boxes are assembled on-site for quality control.
Banana clusters are carefully laid in boxes to minimize damage during shipment.
Dole bananas are packaged in various ways to meet customer needs.
A final weight check ensures each box contains the correct amount of fruit.
Pallets are given unique identification codes for traceability.
Corner boards are made from recycled materials as part of Dole's sustainability commitment.
The entire process from harvest to box takes only two to three hours.
Dedicated workers provide hands-on care at every stage of the process.
Transcripts
[Music]
at dole's bananito farm in costa rica
the combination of perfect growing
conditions and sustainable farming
techniques
allows us to harvest premium bananas
year round
it takes 12 to 13 weeks from the time
the banana plants fruit stem first
appears
to the time the bananas are harvested
dole bananeros measure the banana
fingers on each plant
to determine if the fruit is ready to
harvest
harvesting takes place six days a week a
team of three benineros will harvest the
plants in this section of the farm
bananas are harvested while they are
still green so they can ripen to
perfection
just as they reach consumers first
protective foam padding is inserted to
safeguard the sensitive banana hands
from spotting and other skin damage
the entire stem is cut off with a
machete onto the waiting shoulders of a
banana wearing a protective pad
the leaves of the harvested mother plant
are cut off and the remaining stalk
provides nutrients to the new daughter
plant
the cut leaves are left on the ground
where they will become nutrient-rich
humus for the next generation of banana
plants
the bananero carries the bunch which
weighs about 65 pounds
to the nearby cableway system
once 75 bunches are harvested and loaded
onto the cableway system
the train of banana stems is pulled back
to the packing plant at the center of
the farm
usually with the aid of a mule the
cableway system encompasses
all the fields on our farm and is about
80 miles in total length
[Music]
as the bunches arrive at the packing
station the protective pads are removed
from the hands
and sent back to the field to be used
again
for quality control each train of
bananas is numbered
and the location of the harvest as well
as the harvesting team is recorded
the fresh bananas are washed with
chlorinated water
and thoroughly inspected if the bananas
do not meet
dole's stringent quality standards
harvesting is immediately halted in the
field from which they originated
banana hands are cut from the stem and
placed in a tank of water to protect
them and to remove the excess latex
found naturally in bananas
the leftover banana stems and the
protective plastic bags are then
recycled
[Music]
[Applause]
a gentle water current in the tank moves
the banana hands to the next station
where they receive another quality
inspection and are cut into clusters of
five to seven fingers
the clusters float to the next
workstation where they are removed from
the water tank and placed on trays
scales are programmed to accept the
correct amount of bananas per shipping
carton
the trays are then transported by
conveyor to the next workstation
where they receive the worldwide symbol
of exceptional quality
the dole sticker the cut stems then
receive a post-harvest
treatment to preserve freshness the
bananas are now
ready to be packed into boxes
specifically designed for long distance
transport
these boxes are assembled right on site
for quality control packers personally
identify
each box they pack banana clusters are
carefully laid in the box using methods
that minimize
any damage during shipment each box
contains about 40 pounds of bananas
the bananas are wrapped in specially
perforated material
which allows the fruit to ripen while in
the boxes
to meet each customer's specific needs
dole bananas are packaged
several different ways loose banana
hands
single bananas and sealed in consumer
bags
a last weight check ensures that each
box contains the correct amount of fruit
the entire process from harvest to box
is only
two to three hours the boxes are then
stacked on
pallets in preparation for transport for
quality control
and traceability throughout the shipping
process
each pallet is given its own unique
pallet identification code
as part of our commitment to
sustainability the corner boards are
made from recycled materials
sometimes cardboard is used but usually
they are composed
of recycled plastic created from the
bags utilized to protect our bananas in
the field
once full the pallets are loaded into
shipping containers that will take them
to a dual
ship at a nearby port as you have seen
bananas are quite delicate so very
little of our process is automated
to bring you this healthy delicious
fruit dedicated workers provide hands-on
care and attention
at every stage
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