Today, we took a trip to two plantations: one that grows bananas and plantains and one that cultivates pineapples. At the first one, we learned all about the history of banana farming in Costa Rica, from feeding railway workers to keeping the export train running year-round. We then walked out to the field for some hands-on experience harvesting bunches of plantains. My favorite part was getting to use the machete. At the second plantation, we took a tractor-tour around the farm as Daniel (the farmer) emphasized some of his more passionate opinions regarding pineapples, first and foremost being that everyone in the supermarket picks the wrong ones. As it turns out, the firm, green ones are the ripest. As we finished up the tour, we got to taste some of the pineapple straight off the plant. It was delicious. Juicy, sweet, and refreshing. I’m going to dream about that pineapple tonight.
On a more technical note, comparing the supply chains of bananas and pineapples against that of coffee, it’s a lot simpler for the tropical fruits. This is because they don’t require the same level of processing that coffee needs. For coffee, multiple layers need to be removed, dried, and peeled. That said, it’s important to be careful when handling bananas and pineapples because of how easily they can become bruised. Coffee beans, on the other hand, are not nearly so fragile.
Something I really enjoyed about the banana farm was getting to smell a variety of different plants they grow in addition to bananas. One is called “citronella.” Apparently, bug spray is made with this plant, as evidence by its strong aroma. I was impressed that the farm has opted for a natural method for keeping insects at bay, rather than dousing their crops in chemicals.
The pineapple plantation isn’t as fortunate when it comes to bugs. They lose a large portion of their crop every year to a butterfly that lays its eggs in the growing fruit . Although the fruit becomes ineligible for international markets, it’s still mouthwatering all the same, just as long as you cut off the bad part. This is a difficult challenge to overcome as the plantation must stay as organic as possible, so the use of pesticides is not an option. The banana farm has a similar though unique problem, with moles rather than insects. And the moles are also really difficult to combat because they operate beneath ground.
Of the choices between coffee, bananas, and pineapples, I would love most to work on a banana farm. I want to get to use the machete. But if I were to own a farm to fulfill a guilty pleasure, it would have to be pineapples. That fruit is just so damn good.