Today we visited both a Banana and Pineapple plantations. The experience was really cool as we got to tour the plantation and see how each of the fruits grow. We learned about the transportation process for both products as they are being sent to different places for consumption. It was interesting to notice the differences and similarities between these two industries and coffee. A main similarity is that all three are fresh products and they are working on a tight schedule in order to ensure top quality. The banana plantation is in a unique situation where they use their bananas to make flour and then sell that around the world. This allows the product to last longer. It also makes it easier for the company to compete in the banana market as Chiquita is the largest producer and since all bananas are genetically the same, they knew they needed a way to stand out. The bananas are reaching just as many people as coffee.However, Costa Rica is the largest producer of Pineapples and has a greater reach.

Just like the coffee plantation visit we got to try amazing fruit. The workers of the banana plantation were kind enough to make us lunch and we assisted in making the pantacones from the plantains that we harvested. The banana farm does not let any part of the plant go to waste. Once the bananas are harvested they chop down the plant and they break it apart to use the scraps for compost. Pineapple serves as an important factor in the Costa Rican economy as Costa Rica produces the most amount of Pineapples than any other country. However, their job can be very sternous as the harvest is done my hand and the crowns are spiky. The company provides the workers with protection. Also a lot of these workers are coming down from Nicaragua and helping with the harvest.

Some of the threats that these plantations are facing is the increasing heat levels during both the dry and wet seasons. Some of the plantations are looking into setting up an irrigation system so that they have water running to the plants even when there is no rain. The rain is lacking due to climate change and the company’s still need their fruit to grow in order to make money. If I had to work on a plantation I would want to work on a banana plantation. I would enjoy seeing my work become a product, especially at the plantation we toured today. I could see the growth of the banana tree, then the harvest and finally the making of the flour and then the packing and being sent off to the consumer. You also get to see the plant be taken down and turned into compost to help the next plant. You don’t get this with coffee as you are just apart of one step of the coffee process and don’t see the others. You also don’t get this with pineapples and the process can be more painful.

Today was very informative and fruitful(get it).We got to try fresh pineapple that was out of this world good and the plantains were delish. I even got to try a new food called cassava, Muy Bien. I’m excited for what tomorrow brings as we start to wrap up our trip.