THE BANANA PLANTATIONS

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One attraction of this region is the banana plantations, the packing plant and their process of export, those that appear like excellent elements to operate the agrotourism of the region and a new tourist offer in Panama.

A banana plantation is not only the cultures. Each "finca" has his own habitational center where are the house of the owner (in small properties) or of the administrator, and the houses of the qualified employees. This center is interconnected with the regional highways and with the other "fincas" by means of local roads.



In the begining of the industry in the region, several banana companies operated in the Bocas del Toro islands during the last years of XIX century. In 1899, the giant United Fruit Company replaced all the other interests of the banana in the region, establishing its headquarters in the Bocas del Toro city, in the same building that is today Hotel Bahia.

When the banana plantations of the islands and the coasts died due to an ill produced by a fungus, they were moved to the mainland plains, in special to the Valley of Changuinola, where they are actually.

Today, the Bocas Fruit Company (Chiquita Brands) is region's inhabitants very important for their income, families welfare and their sense of community pride. Bocas Fruit employs the vast majority of this area's people, and as is the case of the agricultural work in other regions, most of the field workers are ngobe indians.