Sustainable Farming Techniques at Dole's Bananito Farm in Costa Rica

Dole's Bananito Farm in Costa Rica provides perfect growing conditions and uses sustainable farming techniques to harvest premium bananas year-round. Bananas take 12 to 13 weeks to harvest from the appearance of the fruit stem. Bananeros measure banana fingers to determine ripeness for harvesting.

Harvesting at Dole's Bananito Farm occurs six days a week. A team of three bananeros harvests the plants, cutting off the entire stem with a machete. Bananas are harvested while still green to ripen perfectly for consumers. Protective foam padding is used to prevent skin damage.

After harvesting, the leaves of the mother plant are cut off to provide nutrients to the new daughter plant. The cut leaves enrich the soil, serving as nutrient-rich humus for future banana plants. This sustainable practice ensures the continuity of healthy banana growth.

Bunches of bananas, weighing about 65 pounds each, are carried to the packing plant using a cableway system that spans 80 miles on the farm. The bunches are numbered for quality control, washed with chlorinated water, and inspected thoroughly. Protective pads are reused, and any bananas not meeting quality standards are immediately removed.

Leftover banana stems and protective plastic bags are recycled after the bananas are washed and inspected. This recycling process ensures sustainability and environmental responsibility in the banana harvesting and packing operations at Dole's Bananito Farm.

Bananas undergo a meticulous processing journey starting with quality inspection and clustering into groups of five to seven fingers. The clusters are then moved to the next station for water tank removal and tray placement. Scales ensure the correct amount of bananas per shipping carton, followed by the application of the dole sticker for exceptional quality.

After receiving the dole sticker, the cut stems of bananas undergo a post-harvest treatment to maintain freshness, preparing them for packing into specially designed boxes for long-distance transport.

Packing involves assembling boxes on-site for quality control, with packers personally identifying each box. Banana clusters are strategically placed in the box to minimize damage during shipment, with each box containing approximately 40 pounds of bananas wrapped in perforated material for ripening.

Dole bananas are packaged in various ways to meet customer needs, including loose banana hands, single bananas, and consumer bags. A final weight check ensures the correct amount of fruit in each box.

The entire process from harvest to box takes only two to three hours, showcasing efficiency. To enhance sustainability, recycled materials like plastic from banana protection bags are used for corner boards. Each pallet is assigned a unique identification code for traceability.

Pallets filled with boxed bananas are loaded into shipping containers for transportation to a nearby port for export. The process is largely manual to ensure the delicate fruit's quality, with dedicated workers providing hands-on care at every stage.