9.Harvesting and storage & Organic Agriculture

9. Harvesting and storage & Organic Agriculture

A couple of weeks before the bananas are ripe an (often blue) bag is put over the bananas. This is not So other animals won’t eat from them or anything no this is to extend the ripening process. Because they are not exposed to direct sunlight the ripening goes a lot slower. This is done so all banana bunches are ripe at the same time and they can be sold as one big harvest. Banana bunches are harvested with a curved knife when the fruits are fully developed, that is, 75% mature, the angles are becoming less prominent and the fruits on the upper hands are changing to light green; and the flower remnants (styles) are easily rubbed off the tips. Generally, this stage is reached 75 to 80 days after the opening of the first hand. Harvesting is always an two man job, one man cuts and the other one catches the bunch to makes sure they don’t hit the ground and get damaged.

The banana bunches are stored in warehouses or sheds. They provide cover from wind and rain but also from animals such as rodents. Before the bananas end up in the ware house they get sorted and cut into smaller bunches. They are packed in wooden or cardboard boxes with again a piece of plastic as an cover against the sun.

In the Dominican Republic are certified organic bananas grown by Banana Link. It is an non-profit organisation that doesn’t only grow organic bananas but also follows the labour standards that are set by the UN. They are mostly destined for the European market and then especially for the German market. Everything is as said done in an organic way. They us organic fertilizers non chemical pesticides and weed control is done by hand with machetes.

Bananas with protection bag