The FDA today issued its final rule on nutrient content of the 20 most frequently consumed fruits and vegetables, which serves as the basis for labeling and nutrient content claims. We are pleased to tell you that the FDA responded favorably to the requests from IBA in its June 2005 regulatory submission, thus making banana claims and labeling much more consumer friendly.

[ The full FDA rule ]

1. FDA revised its sodium content in a single serving (one 126 gram banana) down from 5 mg to 0 mg. This will allow bananas to carry a sodium-free label.

2. FDA also raised its fiber content in a single serving from 2 gm to 3 gm, thus providing 12% of the daily value of fiber. This was a critical change which will allow bananas to carry a nutrient content claim of "good source of fiber."

[complete article]

The Samama Hills are a much sought-after biodiversity hotspot for international researchers. Researchers from the Biology Department of Gotland University, Sweden, have spent much time in the Cerro Samama Nature Reserve and have released a plant taxonomy report showing the increasingly rare opportunity to study and catalogue this unique biosphere. The Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment has declared Cerro Samama as "Bosque protector" (protected forest)

[complete article]

Here is an exciting article from the Bonita East Coast office. Michael Stamatis, Pacific Fruitīs Senior Vice President of Sales, in Staten Island, N.Y. says. "People do not always understand what is involved with getting bananas to market. It is an amazing thing." Read on...

Bonita, fourth-largest importer, keeps workers fresh, fruit ripe in climate-controlled operation
Thursday, July 20, 2006 BY SUSAN TODD Star-Ledger Staff

NEW YORK -- This time of year, nothing beats the banana work at the New York Container Terminal.

In the heart of the Staten Island terminal, Pacific Fruitīs warehouse -- better known as the banana building -- receives millions of pounds of Bonita bananas every week that ultimately wind up in your supermarket, bodega or farmerīs market.

[complete article]

The Turner and Growers sponsored pair had impressive performances in the hot conditions that soared over 30C deg. Turner and Growers is the exclusive importer of BONITA BANANAS in New Zealand.

[complete article]

Ecuador won their first game against Poland 2-0, a team ranked 12 places higher in the world. The next game was against Costa Rica on Thursday, the number 1 banana producer for Europe versus number 2. Ecuador again came out on top because of the teams commitment, skill and energy. BONITA PLANTAIN ENERGY!

[complete article]

BONITA is proud of the Ecuadorian Team for its impressive World Cup performance against the top teams in the competition! SI SE PUEDE ECUADOR!

During 90 minutes of a World Cup soccer game, the average player can lose between 3 to 5 kilos in weight. In order to fuel the team, BONITA has supplied the 2006 Ecuadorian Football Team chef with all the BONITA PLANTAINS that the team can eat.

[complete article]

Fresh Summit International
Convention and Exposition

October 20-24, 2006
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego, California USA

Please join us at Booth # 337

Congratulations to Joanna Lawn, the Womanīs Division winner of the Bonita Ironman New Zealand, the largest one day international sporting event in that country. Over 1,300 competitors from 40 nations participate in this world-class event.Bonita is committed to promoting healthy-lifestyle through its wide range of nutritious globally marketed fruit products.

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Bonita North America is aware of retail and consumer group concerns regarding use of plant protections products in the cultivation of fruit and vegetables. We welcome the level of interest in this important subject but are concerned that the issue is poorly understood by many consumers and does not fully represent the work of companies, such as ours, who work diligently to produce safe and healthy food.

For this reason we felt it important to summarize our record-keeping, traceability and residue testing throughout our supply chain.

For more details:

Environmental Policy

2006 Food Safety Update

MRL Schematic Overview

Bonita Approved Positive Pesticide List 2006

[complete article]

Appearing in the US/LEAP News Letter, was an article entitled "Organizing Efforts in Ecuador Stymied". Bonita was mentioned as buying fruit from an independent banana producer who, in the opinion of US/LEAP, violated workers rights, including the right-of-free association and collective bargaining. Bonita was asked to intercede.

[complete article]

Brussels, April 28-30, 2005

Pacific Fruit Group participated in the International Banana Conference II, "Reversing the Race to the Bottom", in Brussels, April 10-11, 2005. This forum brought together a broad range of supply chain stakeholders to openly discuss the problems and potential solutions in the banana industry.

These issues included a discussion of the macro-economics of the banana industry, the current perceived crisis in the EU regarding the proposed banana regime and its effect on the supply chain, environmental and health issues, worker rights issues, and policy for sustainable trade in the banana business.

[complete article]

International Banana Conference II - Brussels, April 28-30, 2005 - Views from the Major Banana Companies

A statement by Eric Crisman, Senior Corporate Advisor and Director of External Affairs. Pacific Fruit/Bonita

For Pacific Fruit, global distributors of Bonita banana, the event was stimulating and constructive. A broad range of participants from the supply chain openly discussed key issues that organizers identified as accelerating the “Race to the Bottom”.

In order to effect change in the banana industry, we recommend future IBC formats include greater participation from "big retail". The organizers have correctly identified retail as contributing the greatest downward pressure on banana pricing. Their influence creates hardship and inequity on the banana worker/producer level. But "big retail" is in business to offer their shareholders maximum profitability. Indeed, the goal of “big retail” is to continually improve efficiencies and lower prices for their customer. They have no incentive to respond to price issues without the aggressive inter-action of producer country governments and consumer pressure.

[complete article]

Growing a Sustainable Future

Intertek-Labtest is a recognized world leader in providing world class supply chain independent monitoring and advisory services.

Pacific Fruit and its affiliates, global distributors of Bonita bananas focuses with supply-side vendors on external market protocols that impact the perishable fruit industry. In Ecuador, educating the supply-side, the growers, packers, transporters, to the International Codes of Conduct that are mandated for international trading partnership is the greatest challenge that confronts Pacific Fruit. Lack of education is an endemic cultural issue. Pacific Fruit works closely with EBNSA, the Ecuadorian trading company supplying product to the international market-place. EBNSA seeks to fulfill a responsibility by assisting their sub-vendors, the independent producer network that supplies them fruit, to comply with established standards.

Complete article includes:

-Social Responsibility Audits
-Company overview
-Audit Plan 2006-2007
-Social Responsibility Conferences


[complete article]