DOLE - Harvesting Bananas

Summary

At 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.