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Bananas
Without a doubt, the banana is the world’s most popular fruit, and with a market of nearly $5 billion a year, it is the most important food crop after rice, wheat and maize. In collaboration with our nine partner organizations in the Sustainable Agriculture Network, the Rainforest Alliance has demonstrated that the banana industry can be steered toward sustainability, constructively addressing environmental and social issues while increasing farm efficiency and maintaining high production levels. Although the industry is an economic pillar in many tropical countries, providing millions of jobs for rural residents, for much of its history the banana business was notorious for destructive production practices that resulted in widespread deforestation, poor waste disposal, the pollution of coral reefs and nearby watersheds and the excessive use of toxic agrochemicals.
The Rainforest Alliance has helped change the way bananas are farmed. In 1991 along with our partner groups and participation from agronomists, banana growers, community leaders, scientists, environmentalists, government agencies and others interested in improving tropical agriculture, we established the first standards for responsible banana production. Today, more than 15% of all the bananas in international trade come from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. These farms have improved water quality, instituted programs for recycling and safe waste disposal, dramatically decreased agrochemical use and improved the quality of life for farmer workers and their families. Chiquita and the Favorita Fruit Company, two leading banana companies, have reached 100% certification of all company-owned plantations. Certification has also been granted to farms managed by small-grower cooperatives and independent farmers. The environment and the communities surrounding certified banana plantations benefit from both on-farm improvements and off-farm recognition, setting the pace for the rest of the banana sector.
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