A recent English-language article in Spain’s El País covers Guatemalans working on banana plantations in the Mexican state of Chiapas.
From the article: “…hundreds of Guatemalans work every day on the banana plantations of Chiapas. Many of them are Indigenous, mostly from the Q’eqchi’ Maya region that encompasses the Guatemalan departments (states) of Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Petén and Izabal. Most don’t speak a word of Spanish, or they speak very little: it’s difficult for them to understand the tasks assigned to them. Sometimes, they don’t even know exactly where they are, or how much they’re going to earn.”
About the banana business: “Mexico is one of the leading banana producers and exporters in Latin America. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), the country produces around 2.5 million tons annually, primarily in the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz and Colima, which together account for more than 80% of the national total. Chiapas alone contributes nearly 30% of that production, with municipalities like Tapachula, Mazatán and Suchiate being veritable banana-growing enclaves. The fruit produced in Chiapas not only supplies a large part of the domestic market, but also supports a significant export network to the United States, Europe and Asia.”
What company is the main buyer of Chiapas bananas?
“The main buyer of bananas produced in Chiapas is Chiquita Brands International, formerly known as the United Fruit Company. The firm is responsible for some of the darkest chapters in Latin American agricultural history. Under its corporate umbrella, dozens of farms along Mexico’s southern border operate with strict quality standards. However, according to workers and organizations, it has an exploitative model and offers meager wages. The farm owners have opted to hire cheap labor, mostly from Guatemala.”
Sometimes this cheap labor is legal, sometimes it’s illegal.
Read the rest of this article at Mexico News Report
