Sainsbury’s, the supermarket giant, has taken a pioneering step in the industry by investing in living wages for banana workers. This move comes three years ahead of a broader industry commitment, demonstrating Sainsbury’s proactive approach to fair trade. In the previous year, Sainsbury’s, along with nine other UK retailers, pledged to bridge the pay gap for workers on large banana plantations.

Global banana marketers (Banasan) has reached an achievement by receiving the Certification of Excellence in Sustainability granted by (CHEP), marking a fundamental step in its environmental commitment and responsibility. It should be noted that this award certifies the company's efforts with its suppliers, consolidating its position as a benchmark in promoting the circular economy, a model of production and consumption that involves sharing, reusing, renewing, and recycling materials and products.

Over 3 million containers were mobilized in the Port Terminal of Guayaquil (TPG) in the last six years, with an annual average of 500,000 TEUs. It was indicated by the entity in the latest figures after the closing of 2023. According to Luis Enrique Navas, its general manager, in that year, the transfer of containers registered a significant increase, from 487,904 containers in 2022 to 507,223 in 2023.

Chiquita Guatemala S.A. (Chiquita) has received the first two of three Konecranes reachstackers for its Terminal Ferroviaria in Puerto Barrios with one more scheduled for delivery in 2024. The first two reachstackers, a Konecranes SMV 4632 TC5 and a Konecranes SMV 4632 TC6H were received in Q3 2023. The third one, currently on its way, is a Konecranes Liftace 4532 TCE5.

Colombian banana producers, headed by the Association of Colombian Banana Growers (Augura) and the Association of Banana Growers of Magdalena and La Guajira, were present in Berlin, Germany, at the Fruit Logistica fair seeking joint solutions to address the price crisis facing the sector. A few days ago, the banana guilds warned about the possibility of a drop in the price paid per box exported to the European Union, as supermarkets in this area allegedly requested a reduction of 1.30 euros.

With an investment of approximately $ 90,000, the Agency for Regulation and Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Control (Agrocalidad) upgraded the rapid diagnostic laboratory (LDR) of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, which will benefit more than 50,000 producers in the area that includes the provinces of Santo Domingo, Esmeraldas, Manabí, El Oro and Los Ríos. With this repowering, the laboratory presents an annual analytical capacity for this year of 7,800 samples, with an increase of 3,260 samples in 2023, which means an increase of 42% in the attention of the LDR Santo Domingo.

After the sanctions imposed by the Russian government against five Ecuadorian banana exporters for the alleged presence of the humpback fly, Patricio Almeida, director of the Agency for Phytosanitary and Animal Health Regulation and Control (Agrocalidad) of Ecuador, said that the humpback fly is not an agricultural pest of bananas, as denounced by the Federal Veterinary Control Service in Moscow.

Claiming to have found specimens of the humpback fly and using this sanitary excuse, the Kremlin blocked the entry of the Ecuadorian flagship product, the bananas and carnations, days before Valentine's Day. Ecuador is preparing a response to the measures that Russia has applied by suspending five Ecuadorian banana exporters and restricting the entry of carnations from the Latin American country.

The Platform for a Fair and Authentic Price of Bananas has organized an act of protest to call for "an end to the massive 'pica' of the fruit that they claim reached 28,000 tonnes destroyed in 2023, in addition to "drawing attention to the ruin of producers due to their low income". On February 6, the platform called for the elimination of the "old practice" of the "pica" imposed by the Association of Banana Producer Organisations of the Canary Islands (ASPROCAN)

The team at Chiquita is rolling out its latest campaign, Pop by Nature, fusing art and nature in a unique way to celebrate the brand. Teaming up with acclaimed artist and Founder of the Happy Art Movement, Romero Britto, Chiquita is driving brand awareness while celebrating the beauty and power of art across the globe. Tina Varjabedian, Head of Global Communications, Chiquita “Chiquita is thrilled to once again be teaming up with Romero Britto, an artist whose vibrant and optimistic pop art mirrors the joyful spirit of our brand,”

Banana selling prices in St Petersburg dropped compared to the past week, and according to brand, volume and packing, the main prices were USD 17.25-21.70 per box CIF. Nearly 1.5 million boxes were discharged in week five, and around 1.56 million are expected for week 6. The exchange rate was 1 USD=90.66 RUB. The Mediterranean prices for Ecuadorian bananas were USD 15.00-16.00 per box CIF according to brand, volume, and region. Prices in Libya for Ecuadorian bananas were around USD 17.0 per box CIF and USD 15.0-16.0 per box CIF for Central American bananas. Prices in Algeria were also around USD 17.0 per box CIF. Some importers incurred losses from the bananas in the previous weeks when the prices were much higher than now at the origin. The Mersin Free Zone prices for the re-exported bananas of Ecuadorian origin were USD 15.0-17.0 according to brand, quality, packing and weight and around USD 13.0-14.0 per box for Central American bananas. The exchange rate was 1 USD=30.34 TL.

Integrated logistics company A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) is pleased to announce the appointment of Charles van der Steene as the new Regional President for North America, effective Feb. 1, 2024. With the move, van der Steene will join the company’s Executive Leadership Team. A logistics industry veteran, van der Steene joined Maersk in 2011 with deep global experience in commercial leadership, operations, and general management. He previously led Maersk’s commercial organization in North America and most recently headed up Maersk’s Global Commercial Excellence and Transformation organization.

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Ocean Network Express (ONE) has introduced the world’s first dual-temperature refrigerated container with Controlled Atmosphere (CA) technology. Specifically designed to meet the needs of “Don Quijote,” the largest Japanese discount store chain run by Pan Pacific International Holdings (PPIH), this advancement represents a significant milestone in maritime transportation for perishable goods and fruits. It was developed in partnership with NAX Japan and PPIH.

Ecuador's banana exports to international markets are on the rise. It reflects a recovery in the sector but not a sustained increase in the industry. It was explained on Monday by Marianella Ubilla, president of the board of directors of the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE). Ubilla and José Antonio Hidalgo, executive director of AEBE, and Paúl Vera, from the entity's Statistics office, showed the figures for the 2023 financial year. He pointed out that 359.12 million boxes of bananas were exported from January to December last year, 5.84 per cent more than in 2022 when 339.31 million boxes were exported.