Magazine#32 English by Banana Export

Issue No 32 AUGUST 2010

Responsible Social Sector Information

Banana Workers are organized 多Why sit down and negotiate with Europe? Noboa fights and defends the SRI The jewel of AUGURA Cenibanano Banana exports are booming Traceability and Food Safety Advertising as a platform to relaunch for the "Banana Canario"

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CONTENT ¿Why sit down and negotiate with Europe? Ecuador referring to his very flamboyant political sovereignty and market broke the dialogue that came built the member countries of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) with the EU, which put paid to the aspirations of many sectors of the economy to be inserted as equals, as if they have, Peru and Colombia, which continued the negotiations in a separate arriving at an FTA.

Page # 5 y 6

Banana workers are organized. The appointment was in Quevedo, thriving city located in the center of the country and known formerly a producer of corn and soybeans, but since the 90 was changed to banana production. Around three hundred workers a banana in the country, parts of the provinces of El Oro, Guayas and Los Ríos, have gathered in one of the schools in the city quevedeña to treat the problem of wages, social security, employer relations, environment and health.

Page # 8 y 9

Edición No 32 AGOSTO 2010

New Fertilizer presented Fertisa Traceability and Food Safety Panamanian Banana paralyze Changuinola Joya de AUGURA CENIBANANO Information Prices EE-UU # 22 to page 32 Exports are booming Panamanian government encourages Banana planting Banana (Musa paradisiaca) Trabajadores Bananeros se Organizan ¿Porqué sentarse a negociar con Europa? Banana an ally of your health Noboa contraataca y se defiende del SRI Cenibanano la joya de AUGURA bananeras siguen viento en popa ¿Banana-Bags on your roof?Exportaciones La Trazabilidad y la Seguridad Alimentaria Publicidad como plataforma de relanzamiento para The advertising platform Lael “Plátano Canario” Relaunching Canario Información Sectorial con Responsabilidad Social

Page # 11 Page # 12 Page # 16 Pages # 19 and 20 Page 33 and 34 Page # 36 Page # 37 to 39 Page # 41 and 42 Page # 44 Page # 46 Banana

EDITORIAL DIRECTORY President Mr. Enrique G贸mez G. Manager Eco Francisco Charcopa P. Editor Kleber Exkart Rubio Director Edition Ruben Martinez Bastidas Editorial Board Capt. Aloe Giuseppe Antonio Julian Tanca C. Mr. Alfredo Saltos Guale Eco Jorge Mu帽oz Contralm. Andr茅s Meneses A. Concept Graphic Design and Layout Mr. Enrique Izquieta

This country of mosaics, patchwork green and blue, gray and shades of white and dark, is a diverse country where contradictions arise in the diction and skin color. The fish dies by its own language says a proverb, and no better than the chameleon camouflage, says another. There is nothing more contradictory than the princely palace and the hut weak fielder. Something happens with the banana sector if we compare the income of the trader and the producer. If we go beyond the contrasts, where no one wants to look and compare the income of farmer and farm worker gray is enhanced much more, letting us see the misery of the human group that is the driver and builder of the palace, but which nevertheless lies in the weak hut. The contrast between rich and poor has always existed, but it is a contrast which is emphasized increasingly in all areas. The business magazine Forbes statistics brings new rich, some are novice entrepreneurs, a few people inherit from their parents or relatives, but what if the Magazine says, is that every day someone is accumulating more wealth than others , making the unbridgeable gap for the poor of the globalized world.

Executive Secretary Ms. Lilibeth Campos Exkart

Efforts to redistribute the wealth that makes the UN so that the rate of poor is smaller, has only been in a lyrical statement of the world body and some countries by laws that seek to balance the scales, because the truth is not greed want to loosen the baton and the rich want to be richer than others and that fuck them.

"Banana Export", is published of Corpuagro.Las statistical figures are provided by the USAD.

But back to land in the banana sector. Who are the last wheel of the car?. There are over 300 000 workers, most with only basic salaries that fail to grow even the government basket, which borders the $ 370.

This bulk of workers 90% are unskilled labor in a sector that has been characterized as being highly technical and maintaining high quality standards of the fruit due to market demand. This has obviously an exploitation of that labor, not receiving remuneration for their work.

Legal Counsel Ab. Carlos Campi Guayaquil Offices Lorenzo de Garaycoa 821 9 de October 4. Floor Office # 407 Telephone: 285 6435 / 285 5056 / 230 6567 Mobile: 081-059848 Mail: bananaexport@easynet.net.ec, info@bananaexport.com Web: www.bananaexport.com

On the other hand, the swerve of the employers of their social responsibility towards these workers borders more than 70% of the sector, making it a highly sensitive group of occupational hazards, which lead to a greater future burden of care office of the government when it can be shared or triply: employer, worker and state. The social upheaval is not gestating or hatch when the stomach is full and the heart sings. Their roots are in the discontent of workers, a wife who never sees fill the basket or child dies for lack of medicine and other children who never get to finish college and a university step worse, because the salary their parents can not afford. These are the roots of social annoyances. We still have time to plug these strong reactions in one of the sectors, which only needs to comply with the LAW. The cake is too big to swallow succulent, alone, can cause embarrassment to anyone who out of greed or ill-named business efficiency dare eat it and want to stop sharing the crumbs to horneador.

Page # 5

Current Focus

多Why sit negotiate with

Europe?

cuador referring to his very flamboyant political sovereignty and market broke the dialogue that came built the member countries of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) with the EU, which put paid to the aspirations of many sectors of the economy to be inserted as equals, as if they have, Peru and Colombia, which continued the negotiations in a separate arriving at an FTA. Sectors such as bananas, may soon feel firsthand the country's negotiating negligence, which would be far from reach-tariff benefits of its immediate competitors, because soon just around the corner, Peru achieved significant levels of banana exports, through their policies of incentive that is taking place in the north of the

border and, as is well known the importance of Colombia as an exporter of bananas. Currently stands at third place and honorable fight hard the second to Costa Rica, who separates him just 20 million boxes. Ecuador seems to be very comfortable with the agreement signed in Geneva, which just gives you a discount of $ 28 per tonne in the first year, reaching $ 114 within the term of the next ten years, ie 2020, would arrive tariff that goal. The paradox is that our neighbors with a clear vision and overall did not abandon the dialogue and promote closer trade through NAFTA and the European, long before we have a tariff of $ 75 a metric ton, allowing them to comfortably be more com-

petitive in European markets. Despite all the optimism is rife in the sector. For the Executive Director of the Association of Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE), Ab. Eduardo Ledesma, the Geneva agreement, represents 0.50 cents of savings for the importer that will surely result in greater demand, which in the end will also benefit the producer. This approach is also shared by other industry leaders such as Manuel Romero, director of Agrob, who considers the reduction of $ 28 per tonne as highly positive. The two leaders also consid-ered it would be better to achieve a reduction in the same levels achieved by the signatory countries of the European Free Trade Agreement.

Page # 6

Current Focus

At the moment there is a climate of detente between exporters versus producers relations, which has been shown with a visit by the director of AEBE full meeting of the Chamber of Banana Producers, with the aim of seeking consensus and to put the state a joint position of the vision of negotiations that producers and exporters expect the government and the European Union. It must be said, our negotiators in the first instance were naive or stubborn. With the camp that we assumed that we would pray badly we return to the negotiating table. But it was not. There was not deterred and negotiations were made with those who want

to be guests at the table. Today we are forced to seek an honorable agreement, in which we are not playing the sovereignty sovereignty at stake more productive 36% of our production that goes obliquely to that market. Do not put us in clear danger as Cecilio Jalil said the analyst, who sees the picture of the banana market in 2011 is shown dark, but because we have not defined our relationship with the EU., Other factors such as increased the rates of the Panama Canal, which conspire against the competitiveness of the Ecuadorian banana. Many believe that while the

banana business at the time managed to stay on the crest of exports, this could change but adroitly handled the new challenges that require trade relations on a European level. The country is in a marked expansion of their markets, especially those in East and China, but can not neglect the traditional markets, which have meant the strength of its exports for several decades. China, Iran, Libya are excellent futures market, but Europe, U.S. and South Market countries have been our bird in the hand and as the saying goes, the better bird in hand is worth flying.

In the path of consensus Ecuador through the leadership of the banana sector, producers and exporters, is in search of consensus. The meetings in previous days AEBE Executive Director, Ab. Ledesma and Pompillo Eduardo Espinoza, representative of the Banana Producers House, is in this sense: Find consensus on the banana issue a single agenda and refer to State guidelines for dialogue to be our negotiations with the representatives of the European Union. Ledesma said that idea is to avoid serious economic and social impact for non-entry of the fruit to the European Union. "The social harm would stop producing more than 40,000 hectares banana boxes equivalent to 000 weekly 1'552 per year would translate into 80 million boxes. This would affect 800 farmers of 50,000 hectares with a total of 32,000 people and 40,000 agricultural workers, totaling 200,000 injured. " Ledesma says. The dialogue between the representative of the exporters and producers leadership, is unprecedented in a sector where even the strained relations, often with the price of a box of bananas especially in the offseason. Ecuador for about five years has been growing its exports and it shows in your area expansion of production and an improvement in their productivity performance. Negotiations on a banana agreement are crucial to the sector, because their competitors and will have greater advantages ahead and traded on that market, which could harm the country's competitiveness

Legal Controversy

Page # 7

Noboa Banana fights and defends the SRI W

h a t seems like a battle won by the SRI against Bana-nera Exportadora Noboa, for the alleged nonpayment of taxes in 2005, is becoming a tough legal battle, in which the two parties put forward reasons that go beyond the simple legal appearances which notes that both Noboa Banana Exporting and SRI have their arguments that could tip the balance of public opinion on a government's political persecution of the principal Group companies Noboa. The government has been very clear in pointing out that the action of SRI has no dedication as there are 12 processes but against other marketers of bananas. Alvaro Noboa, a television network, said recently that companies like Chiquita and Dole, who like he exporting bananas, using the methodology of OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). In Ecuador, most companies shrimp, tuna and flower export their products under this scheme. Noboa banana, based his defense on an analysis of TP Consulting, a consulting firm well known Peruvian worldwide. The analysis was presented to SRI, which states basically that the bananas were sold as all other exporters of bananas, the reference price FOB (as in spring), depending on the export document Central Bank, therefore, if all exporters of fruit in 2005 has given them the same treatment, the gloss would have been 2,000 million for the entire industry. The IRS based on the reports of the Ministry of Agriculture of the U.S., Banana Exporting glossed to Noboa, with $ 226

million and ordered the carrier to pay 82 million dollars in an integrated setting price transfer by the year 2005. The IRS, through adjustment, try to determine which children have been r e p o r t e d income. Therefore, in the case of banana expociones, use the formula of FOB, and will include freight and insurance costs, so-called CIF. The mistake made by the IRS, according to the defense of Noboa, is to have misapplied this formula, as it takes the sales prices of the database of the wholesale market of the Ministry of Agriculture of the United States. According to the defense, these prices are for yellow bananas or ripe fruit rather than green, which is what sells and importer Noboa purchase. That is, the IRS considers that CIF price equals yellow banana, when CIF is the value of green bananas, the first port of arrival in the U.S. (Which is not ripe banana in the wholesale market). The adjustment of Banana Exporting SRI Noboa represented a price per box of $ 9.32, versus the average value to which Ecuador sold, of $ 4.78 in that year. The countries with which it competes Ecuador are Colombia and Costa Rica. If the national average price of $ 4.78 per case as compared with $ 5.29 of Colombia and Costa Rica from $ 5.36 for 2005. According to these arguments of the defense of Noboa, the company had to have sold the box of bananas has U.S. $ 9.32 to have achieved these gains, when its sale price was actually lower compared even with market prices in countries like Colombia and Costa Rica, which are priced slightly higher than that of Ecuador.

Organizational Approach

Page# 8

Banana Workers Ecuador is Organized

Low agricultural wages; clearances against the workers, right to association, union, social security, occupational diseases, were among the topics addressed by these non-Veles banana leaders, seeking to change the face Ecuadorian bananas, for a best to have the seal of social responsibility so fashionable today.

Page # 9

Organizational Approach

he appointment was in Quevedo, thriving city located in the center of the country and known formerly a producer of corn and soybeans, but since the 90 was changed to banana production. Around three hundred workers a banana in the country, parts of the provinces of El Oro, Guayas and Los RĂos, have gathered in one of the schools in the city quevedeĂąa to treat the problem of wages, social security, employer relations, environment and health. They are not known in the middle. They are ordinary people, plains, with faces marked by the sun and crossed by the dew of sweat. However, all have a common complaint against their employers banana patterns. They say many of them operating in agricultural work, making them work long hours to 12 hours a pyrrhic 240.00 U.S. salary and even come up retractable social security. There are a few. The meeting included leaders of small associations, despite the boycott threat and pattern have been shaping and legal. We emphasize to employees of the Association of bana-neros of Clementina, one of the Noboa Group's estates, which has about 3,000 workers. They just are 300 who make up the Association, but highlights their courage and their faith that the organization required improvements for all the banana workers. A bird's eye view their brother workers number about 350 000 people. The percentage of women working in banana plantations is estimated at 9%. You are mainly used in the work of the tub and gasket. The women also have a voice in this meeting and are the largest denounce the abuses and injustices of the patterns. This is a different face, no makeup, a thriving business for the country that represents one of the items most

important foreign exchange earners, but all prefer to hide, that hopefully is after racks, there in the plantations, no one to see or put your voice. They are those on foot, but may become an army if they wanted. Far outweigh some activities in the country.

Their complaints each day will be more wrenching. They are hungry. Some are sick and dangerous inhumane treatment they are subjected. Each day they play in the application of pesticides to control diseases of banana. They point to fumigation as the highest incidence in the risk of contamination. They say legislation is respected for fumigation which prohibit spraying near water sources, housing, schools, etc. Nor is respected mealtimes or ban anyone can be inside the plantation in the hours that are sprayed. There have been cases, say many, who have been fired for trying to be a safe place when the jet of liquid falls fumigant of the plane. When they are caught on the run, once the managers are fired and removed her approval. Many rumors and are emboldened to tell their bitter experiences of unfair dismissal. Not allow us to partner, reveals one of them looks like a leader, but his voice is lost in the murmur of the other complaints. The meeting was sponsored by the Social Education Centre and the Corporation for the Development of Production and Working Environment. Ab. Robert Alvarado, Executive Director of the Centre, justifies the meeting. "There are so many injustices being committed against these workers, that someone must help to organize and enforce the law, only that. Do not ask for anything more. They do not want to hurt the banana industry nationally. "

Blacklist

One of the complaints that draws attention mainly to those attending the forum in banana farm workers is the existence of a "black list", as they call them. When an employee is dismissed with approval, by plaintiff or in solidarity with his fellow workers, appears on the blacklist, which is not simply the record of the name in line with other employers, so it can not be hired as worker. Some of these workers who are on the blacklist, have been forced to impersonate identities to obtain decent work and continue to carry food for their families. Health and Social Security Social security judging from the complaint made by the participants of the Forum is only for a privileged few, because the vast majority of them do not know, or receiving Social Security benefits of IESS. This jeopardizes their disease management when they occur, so they are forced to use their limited resources on their health making his life more miserable. Some of the complainants, reveal that there are banana companies that have infrastructure for health care workers, but unfortunately this is only done with the approval of the administrator. When an emergency to look for the administrator to extend the approval, but if this is not no human power, that makes the physician meets the patient site. Been extreme cases the patient is aggravated by the inhumanity of the physician. Among the thousands of workers are recurrent skin diseases, malnutrition, gastrointestinal, cancer, rheumatism, liver disease, etc. Some of these diseases can be considered officially due to exposure of pesticides they and their families, but none has an occupational hazard insurance to protect you from the unexpected. Banana Export, was invited to this first preparatory meeting of what they lick the conformation of the Coordinator of Management, which can lead to a single banana workers union, allowing them to claim their rights and negotiate benefits for banana farm workers. In this context we talked to Ab. Robrt Alvarado, one of the most enthusiastic promotors of the forum, To hear the interview go to the news on the website and click on the podcast.

Page # 10

Opinion

多

多From how to do things? Lcdo. Kleber Exkart R.

Of how to do things or how to make the laws?, That concern the people can give us instructions instructive Americans. The Government of Barack Obama, was raised from the campaign revolutionary goals regarding U.S. law on such sensitive issues as the Law on Health Safety and most recently, financial reform. Act was not revised since 1929 and had become the platform for real debut as bankers of Wall Street gangsters.

The failure of the draft Law of communication, water, land-use planning and more laws that are in limbo, the actions of the Assembly members for lack of agreement, is nothing more than the failure of a leader who has failed to bring these laws in real attuned to their constituencies. Most of these laws suffer from real enforcement, which would make this country move from a legal paradise to a hell dictatorial.

How do they do it?. This is what we are interested in our environment. Because we Ecuadorians every time we enact a law we do not have the consensus of the parties involved and waste time in fruitless delay of the draft Act

Not that I do not have to make changes. It's who have failed to lobby for these changes are accepted. The lobbying the government is known or pendejometro tontometro. They perform hundreds of meetings where many ideas are targeted participants, but in the end, all-embracing vision prevails the ruler, which is not necessarily the view of Juan Pueblo.

First the concept of the law must keep universality. Chanson by connectivity that should have the draft law with the constitution and international laws which the country is adherent. If for some perverse reason petty interests of the proponents, the tome of Act vitiates its articulated as in the case of some of the Laws, submitted by Assemblyman Country Alliance, which have obvious constitutional distortions, is a millstone be difficult to digest in a democratic assembly. In the particular case of the Assembly of Ecuador,

Juan Pueblo, may not be widely studied or critical, but has learned over the years to be shyster and this gives you the wisdom to read between the lines of Tonga of Laws, the government hastily want to force down with statements greater freedom and welfare, so their political smell the smelly vomit in rejection of government packaging.

is born illegitimate, lame, disabled, with the imposition of a single mind, rather than having the messianic vision of the redemption of people have no tenderness or love the leader, who characterizes the Messiah . His call has been erratic for the hatred and resentment of wounded cholo, he seeks in these laws is to muzzle the freedom of their subjects to convert by force of his acolytes election leftist idea of an ideal nation that lives in the limbo of his holy madness.

It is laudable legislative accomplishments Obama administration, who without much fanfare in waist put two sectors characterized by chaos and inequality in the future will gross expenditures of equity among all Americans. Meanwhile in the country we are still waiting for the laws, made in true harmony with the most needy and not just with the power of the ruling group in power.

Page # 11

Business

Fertilizer Fertisa introduced new

Mr. Alejandro Rojas - General Manager, Lic Maria Emma Crespo Mosaic Sales Manager, Mr. Brande Hook - Mosaic Marketing, Mr. Sergio Henriquez - Technical Mosaic, Mr. Billy Sanchez-Agrochemicals Division Manager, Mr. Kenneth Hylton - Technical Manager - Mosaic. Ing Luis Fernando Hidalgo - Commercial Manager, Ing Stalyn Sanchez Sales Manager.

ith the presence of a large group of producers and representatives of the firm Mosaic, the company Fertisa, performed the launch of its new fertilizer called "MicroEssentials" product with a new approach to nutrition, which ensures an even distribution of nutrients in each granule distributing benefits evenly in plants.

The new fertilizer is a product of the prestigious Mosaic, formulator of nutrients known in the U.S., and a large market share in Europe and the rest of the world. The new fertilizer is the result of many years of research and market requirement, which aims at a comprehensive solution in nutrition. 多How It Works? MicroEssentials is fundamentally different from other fertilizers. It is not just a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and zinc, but rather a pellet impregnated created through a patented manufacturing process.

And, is not encapsulated or micronutrient fertilizer sprayed on just existing. With MicroEssentials, sulfur and zinc (SZ) are added in layers around developing partial particulate phosphorus-based fertilizer. The result is uniform, nutritionally balanced fertilizer granules, each precisely combined with essential nutrients in correct proportion to the health of plants. This uniformity allows a uniform distribution of nutrients, not only in the field, but also from one plant to another, and throughout the season. This is especially beneficial because the nutrient sulfur and zinc are essential for efficient plant metabolism, are not as mobile in the soil. When the sulfur and zinc are applied as minor components of a mixture in bulk, much of its benefits are lost because the plants must find the density granules throughout a large area.

Page # 12

Agrosoft Publirreprtaje

Traceability and Food Safety T

raceability is a term that appeared in 1996, responding to the demands of consumers who are heavily involved as a result of health crises that occurred in Europe and the discovery and impact of Mad Cow Disease (BSE) in the various countries. This risk to the consumer gave birth to a new technology that is known as "traceability." Traceability define as the ability to draw or trace the movements and processes by which a product passes principally for human consumption, although traceability is also very applicable to warehouse logistics management, inventory, production processes of any product etc., there are now sites in the food industry, health, transport, textiles, toys, animals, glass, ceramics and others. Since then there has been several initiatives to regulate traceability. EAN International organization worldwide manager of product identification standards, such as barcodes EAN * UCC-participates in a series of global initiatives in which it works to develop traceability systems; this because through This identification system EAN * UCC, broadcast in over 100 countries worldwide and used by more than one million companies in the world, it could include information that allows to properly implement a traceability system. In 1999 began a project in the area of traceability of fresh produce, called Fresh Produce Project Traceabi-lity or FPTP, which resulted in the publication of the Fresh Produce Traceability Guidelines or Guidelines for Fresh Produce Traceability.

bar code labeling and electronic data exchange and best practices for traceability.

On the issue of Banana is the most recent conducted in 2004 by Fresfel Europe and the Banana Trade Association (ECBTA), which created a working group on traceability with the aim of adapting the draft "Guidelines on Traceability of Products Fresh, with a view to the immediate implementation by the suppliers of bananas to the European Union to comply with related provisions, food traceability General Law - Council Regulation (EC) # 178/2002. The bill worked representatives of major marketers: Bonita, Chiquita, Del Monte, Dole and Fyffes Europe, should be noted that the proposed traceability which originated in this group, by no means replaced the "Guide Product Traceability Fresh, "which remains the reference document for the traceability of fresh produce worldwide. In this paper, the banana Supply Chain Traceability Working Group describes the EAN â&#x20AC;˘ UCC System for the unique identification of clusters of nonstandard element commercial point of sale, logistics units and business partners as well as data the standards,

Banana has its own complexity Traceability project. The banana supply chain has always been complex and geographically fragmented, with distant suppliers and a group increasingly demanding clientele. The unique features of this supply chain will pose problems to the implementation of an effective traceability system. Larger companies are a significant percentage of the industry and may provide identification of their products through barcode technology based on existing requirements. By contrast, upstream of the supply chain comprised of small and medium companies with limited exposure to such technology would have trouble bringing the technology and standardize information. In the chain there are many other companies that provide protection of plant products, packaging materials, transportation, storage and other services are also affected by traceability. These companies vary greatly in their technical capacity: taken as mere paper records, lack of minimal elements of communication, telephone, fax and now we must add the email, non-electronic transactions, difficult to codify through the existing bar code or some other internal system. The ability to track and tracing of products in one unit operation is concurrent with your existing technology and quality management.

Page # 13

Guilds

t promises made assembly Augura Information. THE ASSOCIATION OF BANANA DE COLOMBIA It is a civil law corporation of public interest nonprofit, strictly union, bringing together international producers and marketers of bananas from Antioquia and Magdalena, Colombia areas of fruit production for international markets. AUGURA as a union seeks to ensure that banana exports are consolidated in international markets as a result of sustainable production processes that ensure conservation of natural and human resources, an equitable income distribution and social welfare of workers in industry and of the inhabitants of the production areas.

the Association of Banana Growers of Colombia, AUGURA, who is serving seven years of presence in the area of Santa Martha, held in the lounge of the Hotel Bolivar Palmarena, its affiliate informational meeting, which was released throughout the balance of 2009 and in which they were made all the projects currently under way in this region of our country.

This meeting, which was attended by Roberto Hoyos Ruiz, president of AUGURA, and Luis Horacio Echeverri, regional director K'david Sagil Riyadh, a member of the Board by the Department of Magdalena, released through the audiovisual intervention made last June the President of the Republic, Ă lvaro Uribe VĂŠlez, the regular annual meeting of the general assembly of members and who congratulated the guild for their struggle and perseverance in adversity and expressed his immense gratitude to this sector that has given many contributions to the country of Colombia. In his speech, the president of AUGURA, Roberto Hoyos Ruiz, presented the annual report of 2009, which highlighted a positive balance for development projects and improvement programs for agribusiness and the communities of Magdalena. Among the most important facts that were highlighted in the report, is the landmark agreement that reduces the tariff on bananas for entry into the European Union market under the WTO, the increase in the number of cases exported, amounting to 96 million. Similarly social development programs for more

than nine billion dollars that have been implemented, thanks to the PPP Alliance Augura Embassy of the Netherlands and the Social Foundations and Corbanacol FundaunibĂĄn, by which the union received the National Award Undertake Peace , investing in programs like Banatura, UNEP Moko, certification of small farmers and the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility programs led by the union, were also presented on its balance sheet. The regional director, Luis Horacio Echeverri Fernandez, during his presentation praised the work being done in the region of Magdalena, is worth mentioning that in his speech announced the importance of this area of the country for the program in partnership with the cheapness Sena, recognizing the support of the cooperatives of small producers. It also gave way to the technical reports of each of the projects being executed from the regional. During the presentation of Cenibabano Technical Report, by engineer Bornacelly Helena Horta, several of the producers present were noted very interested in the subject and was immediately clarified several questions regarding the proper management of moko disease, project supported by the Ministry of Agriculture. The meeting ended to publicize the Acorbat XIX International Meeting, which this year will be held in Medellin from 8 to 12 November at the International Convention Centre Plaza Mayor of this city and that producers told him to and from Magdalena yes.

Business Interview

Page # 14

Banana cultivation is one of the most economically and socially important for world food security. In Ecuador, the commercial planting of banana is done since the previous century and following the industry thousands of jobs and hundreds of companies in services and agricultural inputs, are pushing the market to meet the needs of many called the "King", His Majesty the banana. In this connection, the company Dymsa of Spain and the Agriandes Ecuadorian company, presented a few months ago Soleo Nematon and organic products to control nematode disease and black Sigatoka, banana. The company's main Agriandes, Juan Manuel Cuesta V., spoke with Banana Export, regarding market expectations and the benefits of the products.

¿Cuesta Engineer ", which is the tendency of new disease control products for plant health, crop?. The alternatives of natural, biological in nature, our products and particularly the Soleus product is a product developed for both conventional production where fungicides used chemical character and also for those products or producers who are dedicated to the production organic, is a product that fits snugly into a integrated management system where you can combine the products of chemical synthesis and those derived from natural components. ¿What is the best way to apply? The application we are talking about implementing good area, just as it does with the products of chemical synthesis is exactly the same application, they must apply at the recommended doses of the product, but the great advantage of a naturally occurring product SOLEUS is that you can apply the product, even a day before collecting the fruit, and this is crucial because it means that the product does not leave residues in fruit and is a very friendly environment, as well. ¿How important is the segment of organic producers in the context of the existing number of acres?. Well, organic production is increasingly gaining in importance in the production of our country and we support and look very favorably to organic production because production is more friendly to the environment, is a production in which the producer also has to be much better able to manage their crop because note that when you have a disease such as black Sigatoka, and has no chemical antidote to use, it has

o see ways of how to control this disease, and we're not only talking about a control through fungicide products, we are talking about cultural type controls, we can talk about planting densities where the number of plants per hectare is lower with to move more air and do not develop the disease in order to prevail no moisture in the banana, is an integrated organic production and is increasingly being most important and the market also is considering an organic product and all the overseas market and paying a premium price for organic produce, that's very interesting. ¿Do the alternatives being presented, both as NEMATON SOLEUS holds certifications?. Of course, the two products are both European certifications, both for the European market to the U.S. market are international certification guarantee that products are suitable for applications and for cultivation of organic matter. In this case is a guarantee to the final consumer of the fruit, who consume bananas, is a guarantee that such products are being applied to crops in organic nature are guaranteed by an international body and thus guarantee the safety of the fruit. ¿Every time new alternatives are emerging within the sector of non-conventional agricultural chemicals, in the case of fungicides and bactericides that are derived from plants or plant extracts, how to measure the effectiveness of these products compared to a short-term needs of farmers meet their needs for disease control?.

Business Interview

Page # 15

多What is the importance given by farmers in Ecuador to improve the soil?. Well, depends on the types of soils. It should be noted that in Ecuador, possibly have that rate, I know. Actually for your info I just found that statistic, but probably due also in Ecuador, we have a very generous land, a very productive soil, I believe we live in a lucky country in which one hand we have different climatic zones. Where we have from temperate crops in our mountains to tropical crops, and on the other hand, a diversity of soils and fertility in those soils which gives us very important product and allows us to be competitive globally.

Well, why are research centers, and we have research centers, both foreign and domestic. Within the national research centers, is the INIAP, for example, are universities, polytechnics, and are also private enterprise. Of note is the work of private enterprise in the development of new technologies and the investment it requires, is very important from my point of view, with the joint efforts between the state sector and the private sector to the banana industry Ecuador continues to maintain that leadership in the world, that definitely requires that the two areas go hand in hand. 多Do you supply are diversifying their products. They began providing nutrients to the ground and now are also biological products for disease control?. We will start with specialty plant nutrition products, especially products for foliar application, and now we have diversified into this line, which we called plant protection products that are natural, a natural alternative to control pests and crop diseases

多Does the fact that the government has primed the import of urea does not reveal a growing need in the field of fertilization?. Yeah, well that is a support in this case the national government is a subsidy to the agricultural sector in the country, and is a way of promoting fertilization but are not really talking about a soil improver, but a fertilizer that allows you to higher productivity producer. 多And is what sometimes looks for producer? Of course, when the producer receives a much more productive crop and greater tons per hectare, of course that it will mean more revenue.

Page # 16

Syndicalism

Panamanian Banana paralyze Changuinola

t press time, continued the efforts of the Panamanian government and its authorities to avert the serious problems that occurred a month ago in the banana plantations in the province of Bocas del Toro, where workers began an indefinite strike that included making plantation and the blocking of the most important district of Changuinola, where even the merchants had to close their doors to any situation that may provoke violence. At least SITRAIBANA 4,000 employees took to the streets, where they were backed by the locals. The situation was very tense, as the National Police had to bet antimontines agents against its facilities at the airport and the center of Changuinola. Hundreds of banana packers were located about 600 meters from the police station in a threatening manner. Daniel Jimenez, SITRAIBANA banana workers, told Radio Panama that "as banana workers reject the Law 30," saying that it affects the collective agreements considered by labor as the only tool you have to defend themselves. "We're not going to work until President Ricardo Martinelli and President of the National Assembly did not repeal the Law 30 (...) if there is no concrete answer are

not going to work. The only thing we say is that we ask for the repeal of the Act which the Government does not come with stories, because we are going to fight until the end. "Jimenez said. The Minister of Labor and Workforce Development, Alma Lorena Cortes and Agricultural Development Minister, Emilio Kieswetter, eagerly seeking common ground with members of the Board of the Union of Workers of the banana industry of Bocas del Toro (SITRAIBANA), trying to reach an agreement for workers to return to their work, but the union is firm and demand the repeal of the Act as they call it lobster. These days the strike has generated losses of millions of dollars a banana that could be exported from the province of Bocas del Toro. Act 30 violate labor rights As a qualified legal representative outburst of workers 30 or older law known as "locusts", as that destroys the rights enshrined in Panamanian workers, in clear violation of the right to strike enshrined in the constitution of that country and which considered employees, is the last resort the workers who come from abuse of the employer. Among the challenges is to allow the company to keep open during the strike

and the employers to hire "strikebreakers." For his part the Minister of Labour, Panamanian Alma Cortez, said that this move follows a request from the ILO, which has been described as false by the aggrieved. They claim that curiously, the ILO has recommended amendments to labor legislation on freedom of association and right to organize, among others, that the Panamanian government refused to comply because of their business openly. Act 30 also eliminated the mandatory payment of union dues through direct off to thereby weakening the unions given that the main source of income of trade unions are the mandatory fees. The workers say that if you are looking for voluntary payment of workers that share a healthy, why not apply the same rule for the payment of social security contributions, taxes, or where direct discounts from banks, furniture stores and other retail stores? They say it is clear the perverse interests of the authorities to combat unionism in Panama and annihilate in order to guarantee their interests as the ruling class and establish a system of slavery in Panama.

Page # 17

Page # 18

Page# 19

Guild Management

The jewel of AUGURA

Cenibanano Without fear of error may call the National Banana Colombia, the jewel of AUGURA CENIBANANO by the scientific importance of this research institute banana, alone among Latin American producer countries.

ts history goes back to the 70s when several sectors and Colombian unions, dissatisfied with the service they received from the ICA and state, established their own research. Today is one of the most renowned and validates the technology that gives leadership to the Colombian banana exports. Dr. John Jairo Mira, current Director of Cenibanano, one of the drivers of research Musaceae, who are this time the challenge of developing the event ACORBAT 2010, Banana Export dialogue on the conclave and the expectations of this regional research center. ¿Dr. John Jairo how they are preparing for this international conclave and what the prospects are? First of all we should say that we are preparing for the meeting in the city of Medellín between 8 and November 12 this year coming. To do this we have the support of the municipality of Medellín has an office responsible for promoting the city as capital of events and conferences and a business city. In that sense we have all the support for the administration and government of Medellín.

¿This city hotel has a good structure? In recent years it has been growing very well, not if you know, but in recent years we have been doing or have done in the large city events such as the Assembly of the InterAmerican Development Bank with more than three thousand guests high level. A few months ago we finished the South American games where there were more than ten thousand visitors, or the infrastructure of the city in terms of public transportation and hotels is unbeatable. We have the second convention center and the most modern Colombia, the center called Plaza Mayor and is where we will host the event, has a capacity of three thousand people, yet we are just waiting between one and 1200 visitors to ACORBAT. ¿Worried about security issues which are expected to be taken? Safety and general Medellin in Colombia in recent years has improved a lot, today there is no big risks, let alone visitors, there may be normal in any large city, but there were 15 or 20 years ago and all this terrorist plot is history fortunately for us. Then there is a normal security logistics, police will monitor the sites

they normally adjacent to the convention center, but there is no risk to any citizen of the world to go to Medellin today. ¿What about the production, research and marketing of banana which is basically what ACORBAT touches, which have prepared you, what the menu will have information for visitors? Well here we have a little bit of everything according to the meeting to be held in Guayaquil two years ago, as we have a mandate and return to the issue of bananas, because it is important because in rural societies in Latin America and while there is It promises that the issue agreed banana, we're the Banana Exporters Association we export very strong resume. So say we have several traditional themes: control of pests and diseases, the subject of physiology and nutrition, the issue of soil, is the subject of banana strong, strong is the theme of sustainable agriculture and organic bananas is a separate module, we economy and social responsibility, and a new module that we have found it a while ago say post-harvest never came to appear, but we started to find that is growing strongly, then there is a new form of post-harvest.

Page # 20

Guild Management

多How worrying for CENIBANANO as investigating body is the subject of race four of Panama disease to which he is giving enough importance in the last two international conclaves have been held in Guayaquil? Well, the primary importance as you know is a disease, a fungus that arrived in Latin America would be devastating as it was Panama disease in time. Against that, we as a research center and as Augura, since we have been participating in all international forums where he has been trying to create awareness about the need to address measures. In these measures, we are working with the government of Colombia to implement all legal and technical measures to avoid the arrival of the pathogen to Colombia, we accompany all international movement that has been created to avoid facing the issue as the continental block arrival of the pathogen, even at the next meeting of ACORBAT, the first theme to be made is precisely

that of the Tropical Race 4 Fusarium, and the first speaker, the first keynote will be delivered by Prof. Randy Plots. 多Another issue that is also very important is marketing, if you are growing and the bilateral agreement signed recently with the tariff burden eases them, what aspects do you consider to be improved in the future in the marketing? What was achieved with the European community, talks Colombia achieved a very satisfying because it makes us more competitive with those Latin American markets. But producers still do not know or do not yet know how it is going to be palpable this benefit anyway because you know there is a chain of intermediaries, and still do not know of such reductions in tariff, what percentage actually touches the producer, but let's say we are optimistic about that, and is seen as a victory against the issue of marketing.

Well, the primary importance as you know is a disease, a fungus that arrived in Latin America would be devastating as it was Panama disease in time. Against that, we as a research center and as Augura, since we have been participating in all international forums where he has been trying to create awareness about the need to address measures.

Page # 21

Monitoring

Continuous monitoring SANIBANANO export quality bananas SANIBANANO The strategic focus of the service was permanent with a vision of change to promote export-oriented fruit quality through preferential attention to exporters as a result of coordination between national institutions and international organizations

he phytosanitary inspection program and Musa banana exports of Ecuador, SANIBANANO, a nation with the support of the American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in order to avoid the high rejection of banana that was given in export markets.

directly be part of SESA (Ecuadorian Agricultural Health Service), today AGROCALIDAD currently provide service in ports Bolivar, Guayaquil and in farms and collection centers.

Do you have statistics of the problems that sometimes occur, for example, spots on the fruit, and fungal disease problems SANIBANANO The strategic focus of the such effects on the quality that can be service was permanent with a vision of shared?. change to promote export-oriented fruit quality through preferential attention to Indeed SANIBANANO program has a exporters as a result of coordination database where it has identified all the between national institutions and inter- banana growing areas of our country, and even those places where the problems national organizations. mainly affect plant protection and quarThis program is now run entirely by Agro- antine pests of importance. calidad, the SESA replacement body wants to maintain the competitiveness of ¿Do you also have to do with the issue of banana in overseas markets by working security, namely drug monitoring if it is with the same philosophy of service that not?. allowed its creation, as Coordinator Agrocalidad says in interview Banana Export. Well, basically the drug is not for us, we do inspections we are together with the staff ¿Eng " Muente let us know if consolida- of drug found in the Port, but we are not tion has been achieved SANIBANANO involved in that situation. program, which serves to monitor the ¿What have been the problems usually quality of export fruit?. are presented at time of qualification?. Indeed the product continues to SANIBANANO plant health inspection service In general there are problems that we for small, medium and large businesses could say on a smaller scale. Thank God that require it. From January 2007 we we have the support of producers and

exporters. Until this date the opinion given by the inspector AGROCALIDAD SANIBANANO O has always been respected.

¿How many points do you have staff located in SANIBANANO?. The program operates in SANIBANANO have the seaport of Guayaquil and Puerto Bolivar. The program also has a mobile workforce is going to other provinces such as Rivers, where we have no infrastructure, but due to the demand for services are considering doing so in future. ¿You mean score on farm doing?. The plant part we are also leading to farms and collection centers. Likewise, companies that require the service it is providing SANIBANANO.

17.00 17.00

19.00 19.00

17.00 17.00

16.50 16.50

13.00 13.00

10.50 10.50

ATLANTA 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized

ATLANTA 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

ATLANTA 07/30/2010 BANANAS - Organic 40 lb cartons containerized -

ATLANTA 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons institutional pack -

ATLANTA 07/30/2010 BANANAS - BABY 15 lb cartons -

Fuente: USAID

BALTIMORE BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

cartons -

07/30/2010

15.00 15.00

07/30/2010

ATLANTA BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

19.00 20.00

15.00 15.00

07/30/2010

cartons -

ATLANTA BANANAS - 40 lb

10.00 10.00

07/30/2010

LowHigh Price

ATLANTA BANANAS - 40 lb

Date

19.00 19.00

COLOMBI A

COSTA RICA

COLOMBI A

GUATEMA LA

COLOMBI A

GUATEMA LA

MEXICO

HONDURA S

COSTA RICA

HONDURA S

GUATEMA LA

COSTA RICA

Mostly Origin LowHigh

NONE

STEADY.

NONE

Origin Item Color Enviro Unit of Quality Condition Appearan Storage Crop Repac Trans Offering Market Price Comment District Size nment Sale ce ked Mode s Tone Comment s

Market Prices Page # 22

Banana prices in the U.S., in different port of arrival to July 30, 2010

20.00 -

24.00 -

12.50 12.50

14.00 14.00

07/30/2010

BALTIMORE BANANAS - 40 lb

BALTIMORE -

BALTIMORE 07/30/2010 BANANAS - BABY 15 lb cartons -

BALTIMORE 07/30/2010 BANANAS - RED - 20

18.00 19.00

BOSTON 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

07/30/2010

Fuente: USAID

BOSTON -

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

BOSTON -

18.00 -

17.00 18.00

BOSTON 07/30/2010 5.00 - 5.00 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

cartons containerized -

16.00 16.00

14.50

14.50 -

24.00

21.00

18.00

07/30/2010

BOSTON BANANAS - 40 lb

BANANAS MANZANO - 15 lb cartons -

BALTIMORE -

lb cartons -

BANANAS - Organic 40 lb cartons -

cartons -

07/30/2010

17.00 -

07/30/2010

BALTIMORE -

BANANAS - 40 lb

20.00

19.00 -

07/30/2010

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

BALTIMORE -

17.00 19.00

LowHigh Price

07/30/2010

BALTIMORE BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

Date

18.00 18.00

19.00

19.00 -

18.00 19.00

GUATEMA

COSTA RICA

COLOMBI A

RICA

COSTA

COSTA RICA

RICA

COSTA

GUATEMA

RICA

COSTA

COLOMBI A

Mostly Origin LowHigh

NONE

lge

NONE

FR QUAL

NONE

FR QUAL

NONE

FR QUAL

NONE

ORD COND

NONE

STEADY.

NONE

STEADY. occas 17.00

STEADY.

NONE

Origin Item Color Enviro Unit of Quality Condition Appearan Storage Crop Repac Trans Offering Market Price Comment District Size nment Sale ce ked Mode s Tone Comment s

Market Prices Page # 23

Banana prices in the U.S., in different port of arrival to July 30, 2010

22.50 24.00

16.00 -

16.00 17.00

12.00 13.00

BOSTON 07/30/2010 BANANAS - Organic 40 lb cartons containerized -

07/30/2010

BOSTON 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons institutional

BOSTON 07/30/2010 BANANAS - BABY 15 lb cartons -

18.00 19.00

CHICAGO 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized

Fuente: USAID

19.00

18.00 -

CHICAGO 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

18.00

17.00 -

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

07/30/2010

CHICAGO -

17.00

16.00 -

07/30/2010

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

CHICAGO -

cartons containerized -

18.00 19.00

17.00

07/30/2010

CHICAGO BANANAS - 40 lb

pack -

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons institutional

BOSTON -

15.00 -

07/30/2010 BOSTON BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

17.00

19.00

LowHigh Price

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

Date

18.00 18.00

16.00 16.00

16.00

16.00 -

17.00

16.00 -

GUATEMA

ECUADOR

COSTA RICA

COLOMBI

COLOMBI A

ECUADOR

GUATEMA LA

RICA

COSTA

COSTA RICA

HONDURA

Mostly Origin LowHigh

NONE

sml

petite

lge

NONE

FR QUAL

NONE

FR QUAL

NONE

STEADY.

NONE

Origin Item Color Enviro Unit of Quality Condition Appearan Storage Crop Repac Trans Offering Market Price Comment District Size nment Sale ce ked Mode s Tone Comment s

Market Prices Page # 24

Banana prices in the U.S., in different port of arrival to July 30, 2010

22.00 -

13.00 13.50

14.00 14.00

13.00 -

15.00 15.00

07/30/2010

CHICAGO 07/30/2010 BANANAS - BABY 15 lb cartons -

CHICAGO 07/30/2010 BANANAS - BABY -

07/30/2010

CHICAGO 07/30/2010 BANANAS - BURRO - 20 lb cartons -

CHICAGO -

13.50 13.50

18.00 19.00

07/30/2010

COLUMBIA 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

Fuente: USAID

cartons -

COLUMBIA BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

10.00 13.50

07/30/2010

COLUMBIA BANANAS - 40 lb

15.00 15.00

07/30/2010

14.00

COLUMBIA BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

BANANAS MANZANO - 20 lb cartons -

CHICAGO -

15 lb cartons -

BANANAS - Organic 40 lb cartons containerized -

24.00

22.00 24.00

07/30/2010

BANANAS - Organic 40 lb cartons containerized -

CHICAGO -

cartons containerized -

17.00 17.00

18.00 18.00

LowHigh Price

07/30/2010

CHICAGO BANANAS - 40 lb

CHICAGO 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

Date

24.00 24.00

GUATEMA LA

COSTA RICA

MEXICO

COLOMBI

GUATEMA LA

ECUADOR

COLOMBI A

MEXICO

HONDURA S

Mostly Origin LowHigh

NONE

YELLO W

NONE GREEN

NONE

NONE GREEN

NONE

FR QUAL

NONE

FR QUAL

NONE

STEADY.

NONE

few much higher

NONE

STEADY. occas lower

STEADY.

NONE

Origin Item Color Enviro Unit of Quality Condition Appearan Storage Crop Repac Trans Offering Market Price Comment District Size nment Sale ce ked Mode s Tone Comment s

Market Prices Page # 25

Banana prices in the U.S., in different port of arrival to July 30, 2010

18.00 18.00

COLUMBIA 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized

18.00 20.00

20.00 22.50

16.00 -

22.50 22.50

DALLAS - BANANAS 07/30/2010 - 40 lb cartons -

DALLAS - BANANAS 07/30/2010

DALLAS - BANANAS 07/30/2010 - BABY - 40 lb cartons -

24.00 24.00

14.00 -

DETROIT 07/30/2010 BANANAS - Organic 40 lb cartons bagged -

07/30/2010

DETROIT -

Fuente: USAID

BANANAS - BABY 20 lb cartons -

14.00

18.50

17.50 -

07/30/2010

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

DETROIT -

17.50 18.00

07/30/2010

DETROIT BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

17.50 18.50

07/30/2010

DETROIT BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

- 40 lb cartons -

17.00

13.00 -

BANANAS MANZANO - 10 kg cartons -

07/30/2010

COLUMBIA -

13.00

18.00 -

18.00

18.00 19.00

LowHigh Price

07/30/2010

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

COLUMBIA -

COLUMBIA 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized

Date

RICA

COSTA

ECUADOR

GUATEMA

COSTA RICA

COLOMBI A

MEXICO

GUATEMA LA

COSTA RICA

COLOMBI

HONDURA S

HONDURA

GUATEMA LA

Mostly Origin LowHigh

NONE

YELLO W

NONE

YELLO W

NONE GREEN

NONE

FR QUAL

NONE

FINEAPPEAR

NONE

ABOUT

STEADY.

ABOUT STEADY.

ABOUT

STEADY.

ABOUT STEADY.

STEADY.

few 15.25

NONE

few 14.50

NONE

few lower

NONE

STEADY. occas lower

STEADY.

NONE

Origin Item Color Enviro Unit of Quality Condition Appearan Storage Crop Repac Trans Offering Market Price Comment District Size nment Sale ce ked Mode s Tone Comment s

Market Prices Page # 26

Banana prices in the U.S., in different port of arrival to July 30, 2010

14.50 -

15.00 -

07/30/2010

22.00 22.00

LOS ANGELES - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - Organic 40 lb cartons -

11.00 13.00

LOS ANGELES - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - RED - 20

10.00 11.00

07/30/2010

LOS ANGELES BANANAS -

LOS ANGELES - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - BURRO

Fuente: USAID

MANZANO - 20 lb cartons -

17.00 18.00

07/30/2010

lb cartons -

LOS ANGELES BANANAS MANZANO - 20 lb cartons -

15.50 16.00

10.00 11.00

LOS ANGELES - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - BABY 15 lb cartons -

cartons institutional pack -

15.00 16.50

07/30/2010

LOS ANGELES BANANAS - 40 lb

22.50

22.00 -

07/30/2010

BANANAS - Organic 40 lb cartons -

LOS ANGELES -

11.50 12.00

15.50

07/30/2010

LOS ANGELES BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

LOS ANGELES -

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

cartons -

LOS ANGELES -

15.00 15.50

07/30/2010

LOS ANGELES BANANAS - 40 lb

14.75 15.25

07/30/2010

LowHigh Price

DETROIT BANANAS MANZANO - 20 lb cartons -

Date

11.00 11.00

22.00

22.00 -

15.00

15.00 -

MEXICO

GUATEMA LA

COLOMBI A

ECUADOR

PERU

ECUADOR

MEXICO

GUATEMA

ECUADOR

COSTA RICA

COLOMBI A

Mostly Origin LowHigh

NONE

petite

NONE

Boat

NONE

Boat

NONE

occas higher/lower

few second

labels low as 12.00

few second

labels low as 12.00

NONE

few low as 11.00

STEADY.

NONE

STEADY. occas higher

STEADY.

STEADY. occas high as 12.50

STEADY.

ABOUT STEADY.

NONE

Origin Item Color Enviro Unit of Quality Condition Appearan Storage Crop Repac Trans Offering Market Price Comment District Size nment Sale ce ked Mode s Tone Comment s

Market Prices Page # 27

Banana prices in the U.S., in different port of arrival to July 30, 2010

11.00 -

11.00 12.00

12.00 12.00

11.00 12.00

17.00 -

MIAMI - BANANAS - 07/30/2010

MIAMI - BANANAS - 07/30/2010 40 lb cartons -

MIAMI - BANANAS - 07/30/2010

25.00 -

07/30/2010

NEW YORK -

12.00 12.00

11.00 -

NEW YORK 07/30/2010 BANANAS - BABY -

07/30/2010

NONE NONE

PARIS - BANANAS - 07/30/2010 1.05 - 1.11 1.07 - 1.07 IMPORTS

NONE

PARIS - BANANAS - 07/30/2010 1.05 - 1.11 1.07 - 1.07 DOMINICA

ECUADOR

RICA

COSTA

COLOMBI

GUATEMA

ECUADOR

COLOMBI A

GUATEMA

GUATEMA LA

ECUADOR

COSTA RICA

RICA

COSTA

COSTA RICA

COLOMBI A

Fuente: USAID

18 kg cartons -

15 lb cartons -

NONE

NONE GREEN

NONE

NONE GREEN

NONE

PER KG

NONE

FINE

QUAL

NONE

FR COND

NONE

FR COND

NONE

STEADY.

NONE

few 12.00

NONE

few 20.00

NONE

few 21.00

few higher

NONE

few higher

few lower

few higher

NONE

Origin Item Color Enviro Unit of Quality Condition Appearan Storage Crop Repac Trans Offering Market Price Comment District Size nment Sale ce ked Mode s Tone Comment s

NONE

11.00 11.00

12.00

12.00 -

Mostly Origin LowHigh

GUATEMA

BANANAS - BABY -

NEW YORK -

15 lb cartons -

11.00

10.00 -

10.00

25.00

07/30/2010

BANANAS - BABY 15 lb cartons -

NEW YORK -

BANANAS - Organic 40 lb cartons bagged

24.00

23.00 -

07/30/2010

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons bagged -

NEW YORK -

cartons bagged -

23.00 23.00

07/30/2010

NEW YORK BANANAS - 40 lb

20.00 20.00

07/30/2010

17.00

NEW YORK BANANAS - 40 lb cartons bagged -

40 lb cartons -

12.00

17.00 18.00

MIAMI - BANANAS - 07/30/2010 40 lb cartons -

40 lb cartons -

17.50 17.50

LowHigh Price

MIAMI - BANANAS - 07/30/2010 40 lb cartons -

- 40 lb cartons -

Date

Market Prices Page # 28

Banana prices in the U.S., in different port of arrival to July 30, 2010

LowHigh Price

Mostly Origin LowHigh

07/30/2010

PHILADELPHIA -

07/30/2010

PHILADELPHIA BANANAS - 40 lb

PHILADELPHIA -

07/30/2010

PHILADELPHIA BANANAS - 40 lb

PHILADELPHIA BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

PHILADELPHIA BANANAS - 40 lb

Fuente: USAID

cartons -

07/30/2010

PHILADELPHIA BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

cartons -

07/30/2010

16.00 17.00

13.00 13.00

15.50 17.00

16.00 17.00

13.00 13.00

17.00

16.00 -

15.50 17.00

13.00 13.00

17.00

15.50 -

07/30/2010

17.00

16.00 -

13.00

13.00 -

07/30/2010

PHILADELPHIA BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

PHILADELPHIA -

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

PHILADELPHIA -

cartons -

BANANAS - 40 lb

cartons -

15.50 17.00

17.00 17.00

16.00 16.00

17.00 17.00

17.00

17.00 -

16.00 16.00

16.00

16.00 -

17.00

17.00 -

16.00 16.00

COLOMBI A

GUATEMA LA

ECUADOR

COSTA RICA

RICA

COSTA

RICA

COSTA

COLOMBI

COLOMBI A

07/30/2010

PHILADELPHIA BANANAS - 40 lb

cartons -

COLOMBI A

17.00 17.00

07/30/2010

PHILADELPHIA BANANAS - 40 lb

16.00 17.00

AFRICA

18 kg cartons -

PARIS - BANANAS - 07/30/2010 1.05 - 1.11 1.07 - 1.07 WESTERN

18 kg cartons -

Date

NONE

sml

NONE

sml

NONE

sml

NONE

sml

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PER KG

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FR QUAL

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FINE

QUAL

NONE

STEADY.

NONE

Origin Item Color Enviro Unit of Quality Condition Appearan Storage Crop Repac Trans Offering Market Price Comment District Size nment Sale ce ked Mode s Tone Comment s

Market Prices Page # 29

Banana prices in the U.S., in different port of arrival to July 30, 2010

11.00 -

11.00 11.00

14.50 17.00

15.00 17.50

07/30/2010

PHILADELPHIA -

PHILADELPHIA - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - BABY 15 lb cartons -

PITTSBURGH 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized

PITTSBURGH 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

Fuente: USAID

PITTSBURGH BANANAS - 40 lb

BANANAS - BABY 15 lb cartons -

pack -

07/30/2010

18.00 18.00

PHILADELPHIA - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons institutional

15.50 17.00

11.00

18.00 18.00

PHILADELPHIA - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons institutional

cartons containerized -

17.50 17.50

07/30/2010

PHILADELPHIA BANANAS - 40 lb

17.00 17.00

07/30/2010

PHILADELPHIA BANANAS - 40 lb cartons bagged -

17.00

17.00 -

07/30/2010

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons bagged -

PHILADELPHIA -

cartons bagged -

17.00 17.00

07/30/2010

PHILADELPHIA BANANAS - 40 lb

17.00 17.00

07/30/2010

LowHigh Price

PHILADELPHIA BANANAS - 40 lb cartons bagged -

cartons bagged -

Date

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COSTA RICA

COLOMBI A

GUATEMA LA

ECUADOR

HONDURA S

COSTA RICA

HONDURA S

GUATEMA

ECUADOR

COSTA RICA

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petite

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Origin Item Color Enviro Unit of Quality Condition Appearan Storage Crop Repac Trans Offering Market Price Comment District Size nment Sale ce ked Mode s Tone Comment s

Market Prices Page # 30

Banana prices in the U.S., in different port of arrival to July 30, 2010

17.75 -

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SAN FRANCISCO - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

SAN FRANCISCO - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb

SAN FRANCISCO - 07/30/2010

SAN FRANCISCO - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - Organic 40 lb cartons -

SAN FRANCISCO - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - Organic -

SAN FRANCISCO - 07/30/2010

SAN FRANCISCO - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - 40 lb cartons containerized -

SAN FRANCISCO - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - BABY 15 lb cartons -

SAN FRANCISCO - 07/30/2010

PITTSBURGH -

Fuente: USAID

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cartons -

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15.00

17.75

18.50

17.00 -

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PITTSBURGH -

cartons containerized -

16.50 17.75

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PITTSBURGH BANANAS - 40 lb

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Date

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COLOMBI

GUATEMA LA

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MEXICO

GUATEMA LA

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GUATEMA

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GUATEMA LA

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few 14.00

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Origin Item Color Enviro Unit of Quality Condition Appearan Storage Crop Repac Trans Offering Market Price Comment District Size nment Sale ce ked Mode s Tone Comment s

Market Prices Page # 31

Banana prices in the U.S., in different port of arrival to July 30, 2010

13.00 -

19.00 22.50

07/30/2010

SEATTLE -

SEATTLE 07/30/2010 BANANAS - RED - 20 lb cartons -

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ST. LOUIS BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

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cartons -

07/30/2010

ST. LOUIS BANANAS - 40 lb

BANANAS - BABY 20 lb cartons -

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SEATTLE BANANAS - 40 lb

17.80 17.80

17.80

17.80 -

16.80 16.80

15.00

19.00 22.00

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SEATTLE BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

19.00 22.00

07/30/2010

13.00

12.00 -

22.00

LowHigh Price

SEATTLE BANANAS - 40 lb cartons -

SAN FRANCISCO - 07/30/2010 BANANAS - SABA 40 lb cartons -

cartons -

BANANAS MANZANO - 20 lb

Date

19.50 21.50

15.00

14.00 -

MEXICO

HONDURA

GUATEMA LA

ECUADOR

HONDURA S

GUATEMA LA

ECUADOR

MEXICO

Mostly Origin LowHigh

NONE

Boat

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ABOUT STEADY.

ABOUT

STEADY.

ABOUT STEADY.

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few lower

few higher

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Origin Item Color Enviro Unit of Quality Condition Appearan Storage Crop Repac Trans Offering Market Price Comment District Size nment Sale ce ked Mode s Tone Comment s

Market Prices Page # 32

Banana prices in the U.S., in different port of arrival to July 30, 2010

Export Performance

Page # 33

Export still banana booming

Last year, banana exports were valued at $ 1,995 million, which represented an increase of 21.7% compared to 2008. Therefore, with 29% is the bestselling product after oil. During 2009 the Ecuadorian banana reached 60 destinations worldwide. The main markets are Russia, with 24%, followed by the United States, with 23%, and Italy with 18%.

Page # 34

Export Performance

t week 26 Ecuadorian exports of pineapple envision a healthy and promising Tedora presence in its traditional markets, with a peak export of 139 023 977 boxes, according to the report of the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE). Fears of a fall in exports due to the deterioration of European economies, have been dissipating for producers and are optimistic that these mark a new record in 2010. With a monthly average of 24,384,840 boxes and a weekly average of 5,805,914 boxes, quinquimestre exported in JanuaryMay, exports are its healthy development in the market. These figures are not shared by the Central Bank according to their statistics between January and May of this year exports have registered a 938.30 2'422 tons of bananas, 101,467.46 less than the same period last year, as 2009 were sold abroad 405.76 2'524 tons of fruit. Some analysts as Cecilio Jalil, said that the climate will affect these results because of the cold season, which will tend to lower courts. While other producers like Hugo Garcia, a member of the Banana Producers House of El Oro, on the contrary says that in his sector have increased productivity through fertilization programs made in their area, which will balance the supply. Ecuador held a lead of exports for decades through the expansion of agricultural frontiers of bananas, in excess of 230 000 hectares. Sector authorities consider the country easily exceed 10 million cases last

year peak of 260 million. The firm Ubesa, Dole ally maintained until the time he leadership of the exports of 2010 with 12.59% market share, totaling 15344.433 boxes, the second position is for Brundicorpi, Chi-ally removed with 8 , 99% of the market, totaling 10962.631 boxes. Continental banana before Exportadora Noboa, lies in third place with 8.93% of exports, sum 10887.258 boxes; Reybanpac is 6.50%, 5.62% Bonanza Fruit; Cipal 4.82 % 4.32% Gold Banana; Sertecban 4.32% 3.82% Isbelini. In tenth place is located Banana Exchange 3.71%, totaling 4521.466 boxes exported. These top ten companies totaling 62,215,621 boxes exported to a grand total of 121,924.200 May 2010 boxes, approximately 50% of banana exports.

all countries of the region. However imports of bananas from the dollar area (Latin America), Africa and the French Antilles, remain volatile.

The price performance has been erratic downward trend. The market of Germany has made a difference where there has been a little tender, but the

gap

between

official

prices and prices charged has widened. In France and the UK, negotiated markets

prices

and

local

export

have

declined, and some people can see availability. Just as in Eastern Europe, the fall in prices has intensified, especially

competitive

offerings in Western Europe

Banana box Price

have increased. However, the

The price of the banana box remains unshaken internally USA $ 5.40. While in the beginning of the high season from January to May, had a significant fall in international markets, especially in Russia, but they soon improved and stabilized in the historical past, tending to recovery. Due to climate changes that have affected the supply between weeks 23 and 26 remain high as reflected in the prices of inner box

fall in prices has been less

Europe markets

year imports of the Ecuador-

Due to rising temperatures in the different European markets, which coincides with the beginning of the summer holidays and competition from seasonal fruit, banana demand has fallen at a rate of summer, this is a fall of 8%. Therefore sales of yellow and green bananas have declined steadily in

marked

Italy,

because

imports are much more limited. Similarly, in Spain the fall in

volumes

Canary

market

has

allowed

equilibrate

despite

the

the low

demand level. Finally the Russian market decline has continued despite moderate levels of import. This ian banana market in the months January to May, have been 23376.614 boxes, 1l representing 19.17% of the country's exports. Ranks third in exports

according

AEBE.

destination, figures

from

Page # 35

Ecuaquimica Information

Good nutrition is key to the

banana yield

he economic crisis and the rise in fertilizer and petroleum supplies in several countries have not allowed the banana industry has the resources to reinvest in their plantations, so there has been a decline in productivity and nutritional imbalance. This was explained by the Costa Rican Jose Parra, a doctorate in soil chemistry at an event on nutrition in banana EcuaquĂmica organized this week at the Hotel Oro Verde in Guayaquil. For the expert, a way to save money is to use the same waste from the plantation, and to provide that balance was a formula that will help the recovery of the plant and significantly improve yields. As a general rule, a banana plantation is owed to 350 to 400 k of nitrogen per hectare per year, 25-50 k phosphorus, 600-700 potassium k, 300 k of calcium from 50 to 75 k magnesium from 25 to 50 k of sulfur, 14 k of zinc when applied to soil,

2 k if and boron foliar 4-6 k if the ground change and black Sigatoka, the coach said. and 2 if leaf, said the technician, and that In other years we have exported 5 million this should made per hectare each year. cases and is estimated to be losing 15% of the production quality parameters, he If left to fertilize now, the harvest in two added. years will have lower production, if the inputs and lower costs, as production Guido Artavia, technical adviser for declines, he added. Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean of the firm Miller, said that to achieve Magno Sanchez, manager of banana efficiency in the banana plantations is EcuaquĂmica, explained that, for example, important to set aside the excess return to a banana that produces 1800 cases, when academic and missed some practices. you stop fertilizing can lower your productivity up to 50% in Ecuador. He explained, for example, that when one is exposed to soil fertilization, without He said the country has great productive protection, the banana lose money potential but there is no culture of doing because the rain washed fertilizer and do good practice especially in the nutrition not work, whereupon a good practice is to theme. "We remain a very competitive use the residue on the plantation stems country, increasing yields, but a lack of and leaves of previous harvests, which are resources for investment and technology," converted into organic matter, and placed remarked Sanchez. on the base of the plant together with humic acids programs, so that each kilo Ecuador currently being exported about 4 being applied in 70% advantage. This million cases a week, a figure that has efficiency can be increased up to 30% in dropped due to low temperatures, climate planting and preserving the soil.

International Business

Page # 36

Panama Government will encourage planting of banana T he National Programme Banana, Panama, Roberto Santamaria Rubio, said the current government of Panama is seeking to give the banana production, the importance it had for two decades through the incentive of new crops with higher productivity rates . Revealed that he has placed special emphasis on Puerto Armuelles area of approximately 4,000 hectares, which was previously the company Chiquita. The statements were made exclusively for Banana Export, in an interview a few days earlier. ¿Mr. Roberto Santamaria Tell us what the expectations of banana production in your country? Well with the new government of President Ricardo Martinelli, who started from July 2009, we are doing work in the National Banana to see how we go back to what we were before. Panama in the last 20 years really has been a decline in the industry, so the work we are doing is a quest to return to increase our production, increase the productivity of domestic producers ¿Do you have areas to develop them? Right now it casually, we have a Puerto Armuelles area of approximately 4,000 hectares that have a year and a half of being out of production where Chiquita was before, and we are looking to do a joint venture with a multinational company. Panama's government ahead of some conversations with some transnational corporations in

this regard and hope that soon we can resume these 4,000 hectares that would help us, at least, increase our production by 12 million boxes. ¿Do you have a natural market, understand? Well, we export. Panama exported to Europe 90% of its production, that is our market.

¿And the banana box, what is the point? In Panama, we have one company that is Chiquita, she is paying for the contract by mutual agreement with the producer in the Pacific sector. Right now we have about an average price of U.S. $ 6.85. In the Atlantic or Caribbean side the price is between U.S. $ 3.50 and 5.50, which you pay U.S. $ 3.50, Chiquita will provide some supplies such as boxes and assumes the risks of black Sigatoka control, to USA $ 5.50 they have to bear these costs The visit to Ecuador by Mr. Santamaría Rubio, was made in connection with the Banana Forum, organized by AEBE and to convene professionals from various countries. The impression has said is very interesting because Ecuador is considered a leader in the export banana production through technological development of plantations in our area. was pleased to support organizations such as AEBE give the producer, which he considers of great use and worth imitating in their country.

Page # 37

Technical Information

Plantain (Musa paradisiaca)

This delicious gourmet fruit, that the world is known by the name of bananas and that among us we say simply "green" for its green shell, it will be in the coming November, the special guest of ACORBAT 2010 Since the organization hosting the event AUGURA, submit it as the highlight of every conference to be held at the event. Here are some of its history and its mythical travel the world, feeding hungry and discerning palates. The name Banana (banana, banana or banana) brings together a large number of herbaceous plants of the genus Musa, both horticultural hybrids derived from wild species Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana as genetically pure cultivars of these species. Originally classified as Musa paradisiaca Linnaeus in 1753, the type species of the genus Musa, subsequent studies have led to the conclusion that the complex

taxonomy of the genus contains many hybrids of varying genetic composition, and has developed a sui generis system strictly classification to account for this variation. However, according to the rules of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, Linnaean name has priority and is still used, in both its original and the amended Musa paradisiacal, indicating that this is a hybrid, to designate generically to these varieties. In the vernacular nomenclature sometimes draw a distinction between bananas, eaten raw as dessert fruit, and bananas, which for superior starch content should be roasted or fried before eating. The difference does not correspond exactly with any genetic test, although the varieties with higher genetic presence of M. balbisiana often included in this second group, you can not determine whether a plant will produce bananas simply because of their genetic makeup. The confusion is

heightened by the fact that in other regions are considered perfectly synonymous terms. In any case, this group of plants make up the intertropical most consumed fruit in the world. This is a false berry, falcate or elongated shape, which grows in clusters of up to one hundred units and 50 kg in weight, yellow when ripe, sweet and meaty, rich in carbohydrates, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C. It is much richer in calories than most fruit for its high starch content, of the 125 g weight in average, 25% is dry matter, which provides about 120 calories. Are cultivated in over 130 countries, from Southeast Asia where they are native to Oceania and South America, the world's largest producer is India, from where nearly a quarter of the fruit market in the world, although many of them are for domestic consumption.

Page # 38

Technical Information

The main exporter is Ecuador, which generates almost one third of global exports. The volume of bananas and plantain production is exceeded only by wheat (Triticum spp.), Rice (Oryza sativa) and maize (Zea mays). The continuous production of fruit throughout the year makes them particularly valuable as food in the period between harvests in tropical countries are the fried bananas which mainly fulfill this role.

GOURMET USE T

he variety of shapes are the banana and plantain extremely versatile food. In the West the most common and simple to use as a fruit for dessert is served whole and using the shell to hold hands without contact with the pulp directly.

gained great popularity in the vinegar with pepper, garlic, onion, United States. bay leaf and salt. The banana is retained in the edible state recently, but have developed Pureed in a food are often used for numerous means of conservation . children, with the added ascorbic acid, used to prevent discoloration Since the 1960s produced in Honby oxidation of the pulp, puree is duras sliced bananas preserved in produced industrially with syrup as a means to reap the fruits discarded copies of the packing in that, for defects of the skin or its the countries of origin. He is degree of maturity, can not be homogenized, pasteurized and transported for sale as fresh fruit. packaged, either alone, combined There have been experiments to with a cellulose based stabilizer for package unripe bananas, but the juice, or mixed with applesauce. He fruit exude latex is problematic, and also includes preparations for ice the darkening of the pulp or desencream, cakes and other desserts. latadas once thawed.

Pieces joined in fruit salads, jellies and other desserts, as well as smoothies and other drinks. Due to their high energy intake and high in potassium, rare among the fruits, is common use among athletes and bodybuilders. â&#x20AC;˘ Cooked, bananas are used as accompaniment for some meat in recipes tropical as well as in the rice In Polynesia the bananas are usually to Cuba and the supreme Maryland. eaten roasted, whole or as a sweet pastry with grated coconut pulp With brown sugar, lemon juice or (Cocos nucifera). With coconut milk, vinegar and spices are prepared citrus fruit and bananas are also sauces or jams, sometimes very hot, preparing a refreshing and in Jamaica the bananas and chili aromatic. In Costa Rica a thick syrup sauce is the usual dressing for poul- is prepared based on slowly boiled try. They are also used in cakes and bananas. biscuits. Bananas Foster, flambeed with rum and cinnamon and served In the Caribbean islands of green with vanilla ice cream, is a native of bananas are boiled in its own shell New Orleans dessert that has and eaten alone or marinated in

To deactivate the enzymes responsible for pulp bleaching bananas are dipped in water before peeling the edge of approxi-lliciĂłn point, and adding 2% citric acid to the brine solution in which it is packaged. The fruit used in this way to be harvested when the rate of pulp does not exceed one sixth the weight of the fruit, or the resulting product is easily discolored by reacting the tannin of the green flesh with iron in the outer shell.

Technical Information

n Polynesia the fruits are preserved by fermentation in a preparation called masi, stored in wells and wrapped in leaves of Heliconia or Strelizia, covered with stones and left to ferment in the ground until needed. They may be stored well for years in case of famine. Bananas invariably eaten cooked. In Central America, plantains are fried in butter or oil, the preparation, which is sometimes added to milk, is called mangĂş, and is the usual side dish for dinner daily. This name is also applied to mashed boiled green bananas, which is accompanied by eggs, salami, pickled onions and avocado. The tostones (mashed banana slices and fried) are served with meat. The sheet cake is made with a mass of ripe banana and other food that is cooked wrapped in banana leaf (it is visually similar to Mexican tamales). Mashed and mixed with flour, milk, butter and eggs are used to make a dough that is mixed with meat and cheese and baked as pie. They are also used green, boiled and served with h o n e y, boiled in syrup, or sliced and fried until it is crisp to accompany meats and o t h e r dishes. In Puerto Rico is popular mofongo, a meatball mashed green plantains, pork rinds, garlic and other seasonings. The fried banana slices are prepared and packaged industrially from the cultivars 'Loving' and 'Bungulan'. Africa are consumed boiled, fried or roasted. As part of the supplement or supplant stewed cassava (Manihot esculenta), and are the basis of a preparation called fufu that accompanying soup is one of the bases of food in Ghana. Mashed and mixed with flour is used as pancake batter

Page # 39 and other pies. His intense use has led to the development of methods for drying bananas can have all year, sun-dried or crushed by mechanical means and provided an excellent meal, used alone or mixed with wheat flour, corn or cassava . Some cultivars, like 'Latundan' or 'Saba', are particularly suitable for such preparations. The green banana toasted flour has been used as a coffee substitute. In Asia it is practiced drying fruits, whole or cut in half lengthwise, which are packaged and stored until a year to consume as a snack or pastry preparations. Both 'Dwarf Cavendish' and 'Lakatan' are widely used for this purpose. In Brazil the production of flakes banana dehydrated to include baked goods, breakfast cereals and other preparations began in the 1960s, allowing the export of good part of their production, vacuum-packed or ready to eat. They are also used for the production of packaged ice cream and other desserts. The bleaching process is steamed and dried fruits then drums, are kept up to one year in these conditions. Combination products incorporating soy or corn to the mix are marketed in Brazil, Israel and South Africa. Other products are more rare, but have some use. In Africa, prepared alcoholic drinks by the controlled fermentation of the ripe fruits, and has experimented with the production of vinegar from them. The tender shoots are eaten boiled as a vegetable in India and Africa, where they constitute an important food in case famine. Curries are prepared with other vegetables, or toasted until carbonization for use as a topping for other plant products. The terminal bud of the inflorescence, which contains male flowers, cooked and eaten as a vegetable after soaked in brine to remove tannins, in varieties that do not lose the male flowers, they are started at times for use in this way.

Page # 40

Market Research

多Barriers Will you Export of the Future?

e analyze this issue from the perspective of a professional like Mr. Sergio Sanchez, vice president of Inspectorate American Corporation, for whom the biggest concerns for fruit and vegetable exports in the future would be in the new nomenclature of the regulations, they are watching a different spectrum of what so far have been conventional regulations. 多Mr. Sergio Sanchez. Vice Inspectorate American Corporation which is what comes and what the tools to remain competitive? Basically we talk about U.S. regulations U.S. Regulations are looking into several issues: for example are looking at the issue of pollutants that may affect the American consumer. They are looking at the issue of pathogens that can also affect the American consumer to the consumer especially weak, infants and old people are looking at the issue of social responsibility, they have not used here in lower food production and sustainable food, that has sustainability of food. For the United States is becoming more important to the entire food chain. All stages of the farm inputs used in harvesting, packing plant, processing plant. The export, sending, receiving U.S., all points are important and every point can be problematic in this type of pollution, either natural pollution, whether industrial pollution, or pollution from the point of view terrorist, who

wish to enter the chain to hurt the American consumer, so basically regulations have increased. They have been getting a little stricter again to better protect the American consumer. United States once produced most of the foods you eat. Today, most being imported from third countries where it is important that the product is safe and secure for consumers. American Inspectorate Services Corporation as experts give self-analysis laboratory for products being exported and imported, or are in process of certification. Identify critical points in any stage, may be in processing, farm, plant or food product itself. We are able to attend the training topic or theme product inspection before being sent to the U.S. 多What does Mr. Sanchez's experience, about what we are doing right or wrong in this region in this part of the business to remain competitive in overseas? What is important for an exporter to the U.S., is to have a responsible government agency, a protocol to audit the various phases existing regulations in the country that are homologous or equivalent to the U.S., that thing two points can protect the American consumer.

Page # 41

Health & Nutrition

Banana ally your health

A large number of athletes domestic and foreign, including nutrition in your diet to bananas, by considering the product ideal for good health physical and mental.

anana is an ally of health. This fruit native to India, Australia and tropical Africa is a source of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients such as potassium, carbohydrates and fiber. Maria de la Torre, clinical nutritionist, explains that eating a banana a day makes the body vitamin B6, which helps red blood cell formation. Also fiber necessary for intestinal function, prevention of cardiovascular disease and some cancers. The fruit is the richest in potassium (chemical symbol K).

Properties and consumption patterns. We recommend consuming one to two units of bananas a day. Not more than half banana suggests eating one or two hours before competition. The fruit should be consumed only before a test. Accompany it with carbohydrates. Choose ripe fruit. The green contains large amounts of starch. It passes undigested into the large intestine and causes the gases. Bananas, being a sweet, can be ingested at any time of day. But it is better to eat in the morning. The mineral regulates blood, water balance and muscle activation. For this component, is an ideal food to beat blood pressure.

A study implemented in 2009 to 200 students at the school Twickenham (Middlesex), England, proved that potassium increases brain power. It also improves the learning process and the ability to concentrate. Lately, is credited with properties to control the HIV / AIDS. The University of Michigan, U.S., discovered last April that a component of this fruit is very potent against HIV. This substance, called lectin, effectively inhibits the infection in laboratory tests. With the discovery in the future could make a product that stops the infection through sexual contact, according to research from the university, which was published by the website The Journal of Biological Chemistry (The Journal of Biological Chemistry), whose website is www.jbc.org Daily consumption of bananas is recommended for children and adults. But Fernando Cevallos, nutritionist and sports doctor, advises people with diabetes who are overweight and regular intake for the carbohydrate content. The most benefited group is composed of athletes, such as participating in the 50th edition of the News 15 km race.

Health & Nutrition

evallos said that the fruit is indispensable in the diet of people who participate in endurance events.

0.3 mg. of fat contained in each 100 grams of tropical fruit. The athlete is suffering from depletion, which is a decrease of glucose (sugar) and glycogen (an enzyme that accumulates energy) in the blood, muscle and liver. This affects their physical condition causing fatigue. According to Cevallos, bananas achieves this compensation. "It's good because it is rapidly metabolized in the gastrointestinal system level," he says. The warning for athletes is not including bananas in your diet the day of

Page # 42

the competition if they have not done in practice. His sudden consumption can cause vomiting, gas and upset stomach, he said. "First we must condition the body." All properties described contribute to the banana stand out as a healing fruit of different health disorders. Among them, fatigue, hypertension and diarrhea. Moreover, cholesterol and acts against gastric ulcers. Prevents cramps if eaten before exercise. It is best if the fruit is eaten raw. So do not lose the vitamins and fiber. It can also be consumed in milk shakes. In addition, it is recommended in the daily diet variety of other fruits and vegetables. "One food does not provide all the vitamins and minerals that our body needs," says De la Torre.

Page # 43

Technology Transfer

Bananas do not fade gandan bananas scientists developed due to BXW disease, which has also been reported in transgenic or genetically modified (GM) other countries such as Burundi, Democratic bacteria resistant to the disease known as Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. Banana Wilt. Lead researcher Leena Tripathi, a biotechnologist Scientists in Uganda developed GM bananas working in Uganda and comes from the resistant to the disease known as banana wilt, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas (BXW, of Nigeria, noted that the insertion of genes for Banana Xanthomonas Wilt). They did it thanks to the proteins PFLP (amphipathic protein ferredoxin-type) introduction of two genes of sweet pepper and HRAP (protein assists in the hypersensitive response) in four local banana varieties, yielding very (Capsicum annuum). good results. The banana is a key crop for Uganda, with about 70% of the population depends on it. Unfortunately, more "For more than five years of research we managed to than 200 million dollars have been lost since 2001 introduce genes into the East African varieties that

are used for cooking (and Nakitembe mpologoma), Sinica, Taiwan (and where the genes were isolated), it dessert (Sukari ndizi) and beer (kayinja). is anticipated that proteins that already exist in

plants, and therefore are not new to the consumer. From these transformations we have managed to develop resistant lines, which have proved effective in laboratory and greenhouse tests, compared to the Although GM banana varieties developed in Uganda deliberate exposure to BXW "said Tripathi, although were resistant to BXW in field trials, the lack of a he added." It remains to verify the effectiveness in regulatory framework in the country could prevent field trials " . the technology was used by the producers. With regard to the safety of these transgenic varieties, all researchers agree that it should make In this sense, it is noteworthy that the draft National the necessary biosafety assessments before releasing to the market and consumption. In this Biosafety Law in Biotechnology developed in 2008 sense Teng-Yung Feng, a researcher at Academia has not yet been discussed in Parliament.

Page # 44

Eco Innovations

ÂżBanana-Bags on your roof? The environmental impact of plastic bags is enormous. In addition to large amounts of energy required to manufacture, are composed of oilderived substances, which can take to degrade over half a century. Also, screen printed bags may contain toxic metal waste.

here is no doubt that we are pioneers in many things and the resolution of the banana bag roof can be one of these. And is that reuse plastic leftover plantations for the production of tiles is a green idea, aesthetic and affordable and is available in our area and can be considered a revolutionary idea and green.

Consider using recycled material in the roof of our house is something that we discarded a few years ago, but today we can even find tiles produced with plastic bags. This is exactly what the company does Ekoroof Products, which manufactures and exports here tiles from the bag discarded in the banana plantations. The material used to cover 10 square feet of roof is the equivalent of the bags collected from one hectare plantation. To convert these bags of raw material, pass through a grinding process until they become a fine powder which is mixed with crushed plastic also from soft plastic cases with inorganic dyes and certain additives for UV protection. From this mixture a paste is obtained which is taken into molds to shape. They are also ecological because no virgin resins are used in their manufacture, and the company does not work during peak hours to avoid excessive consumption of electricity.

The tiles have the same appearance as those made of clay, but are lighter, easy to install and more resistant. Four-wave panels resemble tiles. One of the main advantages is that it can be installed over an existing roof, without meaning overweight because they are lightweight, 6 kg / mÂ˛ against 100 kg per m of mud. The company receives the surplus from which the client already installed and re-processed, and the buyer benefits, and to be exchanged for new shingles for cash. The square meter costs $ 22, slightly less than the mud but a little more than imitation that already exist in the market. To contact this company, please call 2293-6026.

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Investment in Media

Advertising as a platform to relaunch for the "Banana Canario" Home Jungle Book, created by the agency AGR Group, an advertising agency official ASPROCAN, which sees Mowgli and Baloo, starring in the promotional campaign Canary banana. The campaign ended in January 2008.

pot Radio and TV, Web pages, network presence, billboards and endless communication tools to interact with the consumer, is the largest association strategy of producers, ASPROCER to reach the Spanish market order to maintain the hegemony of the Canarian banana sales. The market is not easy. The consumer is rarely fair and often prefer lower-priced products, but ASPROCAN knows that a good advertising campaign will result in positioning the brand and is what they are doing for many years, positioning the brand "Platano de Canarias" . This has spared no effort and has not only resorted to recognized advertising agencies that have handled the whole campaign as part of the dose of creativity has been combined with gifts to consumers or the free product distribution in schools

or orphanages as part of the communication strategy that involves the social and creative. And no wonder. There is much concern in ASPROCAN managers, it is becoming more difficult to have a successful campaign result in good sales. What we do is guaranteed is the harvest of awards that have taken over so many years of media investment.

not cool but you can win an iPhone" was awarded the highest award for creativity. The agency responsible for the ads is Agr advertising company, which was awarded the highest distinctions getting the Silver award for the TV spot "Banana Cana-tions always" pray for the interactive campaign for "Platano de Canarias / Iphone, and I pray for the advertising campaign of "Banana Summer."

The last campaign of winter of 2010 that included guidelines on Spanish radio and television and a whole boat painted with the words "Platano de Canarias", was a success in the Spanish advertising festival, and rose with the grand prize .

The concept of the campaign was devel-oped by Asprocan and Agr Spanish advertising agency and their minded view to the campaign was to communicate the values of bananas as a healthy food, inexpensive and easy to transport. It is not the first time ASPROCAN uses advertising to keep the expectations of consumers in the Canarian banana. A percentage of government subsidies for these volumes is used as interest, to maintain customer loyalty in the Canarian banana on competition, especially Latin Americans.

The event is organized by the Advertising Agencies Association of Valencia and one of the awards that delivery is the Grand Prix. In this category was awarded the campaign "Platano de Canarias / Iphone" with the slogan "Being a fan of a banana is

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