1125: Bananas | Skeptical Sunday

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Mar 9, 2025

Join Jessica Wynn, a writer and researcher dedicated to uncovering hidden truths, as she reveals the shocking story behind bananas. Discover how the United Fruit Company manipulated geopolitics and shaped U.S. foreign policy through power plays in Latin America. Learn about the dark history of banana worker exploitation and environmental destruction, including the tragic Banana Massacre. Uncover the inhumane conditions still faced by workers today, and rethink your next banana snack with insights into ethical consumption and the industry’s lasting impact.

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ANECDOTE

Banana Empire Begins

Captain Lorenzo Baker shipped the first bananas from Jamaica to Philadelphia in 1870, starting the banana empire.
He showcased a banana tree at the 1876 World's Fair, creating buzz and leading to the first commercial banana farm in Florida.

INSIGHT

UFC Monopoly and Keith's Rise

Three men monopolized the banana trade through the United Fruit Company (UFC), controlling railroads, steamships, and plantations.
Minor Cooper Keith built railroads in Central America after his initial venture resulted in the death of his uncle, brothers, and 5,000 workers.

ANECDOTE

The Banana Massacre

The 1928 Banana Massacre in Colombia saw protesting workers demanding fair wages, sanitary conditions, and an end to exploitation.
The Colombian military, funded by the UFC, opened fire on the protestors, resulting in thousands of deaths.

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Bananas: nutritious treat or geopolitical nightmare? Jessica Wynn unpeels the shocking truth behind our favorite fruit on this week's Skeptical Sunday!

Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by Jessica Wynn!

On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:

The United Fruit Company (later Chiquita) wielded extraordinary power in the early and mid-20th century, orchestrating military coups in Honduras and Guatemala, and influencing US foreign policy to protect its interests. This corporate empire even played a role in events leading to the Bay of Pigs invasion and Cuban Missile Crisis.
In 1928, Colombian banana workers protesting for basic rights like real currency payment and decent housing were surrounded by military forces and massacred. While the government claimed 47 deaths, other accounts put the toll at around 3,000 — a stark example of the violence underpinning the industry.
Even today, banana workers face inhumane conditions including chemical exposure, poverty-level wages, and suppression of union activities. The industry has been linked to child labor, sexual exploitation, and human rights abuses across Latin America.
The banana industry uses more agrochemicals than almost any other crop sector, with about 85% missing their target and contaminating workers, communities, and ecosystems. Monoculture farming depletes soil, threatens biodiversity, and pollutes water systems, even damaging coral reefs.
Despite this troubling history, consumers can make positive choices by seeking out bananas from ethical producers like Equal Exchange, Coliman, Earth University, and Organics Unlimited/GROW. These brands prioritize sustainable practices and fair treatment of workers, allowing us to enjoy this nutritious fruit while supporting systems that benefit both people and our planet.
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Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1125

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