top of page

BANANAS

Dominican Republic to United States

Banana Bunch
INDUSTRY STATISTICS

With a worldwide customer demand increase of organic foods and a 10-year sustained appreciation of banana exports, the transport of fresh bananas is currently a valuable investment. Statistics show the demand for organic bananas is not slowing down; actually quite the contrary. Spurred by a trend toward healthful eating, among millennials and others, demand for organically grown fruits and vegetables continues to increase throughout the U.S. and Canada. Organic consumers are looking for authenticity and transparency in their food choices. Buyers care about where and how their food is produced.

WHY THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC?

The Dominican Republic is one of the most organically rich countries. In 2018, the Dominican Republic was in the top 10 countries that export the highest dollar value worth of bananas (organic and non-organic). In March of 2019, they reached an all-time high for their countries dollar value of exports as a whole.

​

Dominican Republic banana exporters have smartly focused on organic production and are currently the world's major producer of this organic product. Organic bananas represent close to 80% of all organic exports of the country.

​

While bananas are grown in all regions from the Dominican Republic, the northern region accounts for 60% of production, specifically in the provinces of Valverde, Santiago Rodriguez, Montecristi, and Dajabon. The southern region follows with 12% of the harvest and the central region produces 11%. There is no established season for planting bananas, however, producers prefer cultivation between the months of June and August because it is the cycle when the plant's requirements are more favorably satisfied regarding temperature, rainfall, and light.

Points of Interest.jpg
MISSION / COMMUNITY IMPACT
Packaging Factory

Zephyr Cold’s mission is not to just focus on the benefits to the company, rather this is viewed as a win - win opportunity for everyone. We see the bigger picture and how it impacts the surrounding communities, the economy, the environment, and trickles down directly to the farmers.

 

Here is how:

  • Growing crops organically is labor-intensive, therefore, banana farms create more jobs and opportunities within the community.  It is not only a great source of employment in farmlands, it also increases jobs in product selection and packaging for export. 

  • By investing in this type of produce, there is a heightened inflow of money that can make significant impacts within the local economy. It’s as simple as the domino effect.  We increase the demand by purchasing organic products, and the demand creates the need for more workers. More jobs decreases unemployment, and brings additional money to their community. The more people make – the more the economy benefits as they spend, and the cycle repeats.

  • The growth of bananas enhances biodiversity, soil building, and erosion control which is of great importance in tropical environments.

bottom of page