Michigan should consider banning the sale of a popular banana brand

One of my first jobs in college, outside of working and studying at college, was as a cashier at WalMart. So, to this day, I can still give you the banana crate code number… it’s 4011.

But I didn’t know then, and I found out recently, that the company responsible for distributing these bananas, specifically “Chiquita”, was doing nefarious things with its banana production, its staff and the farmers and pickers who harvest them.

In a recent news release, it was announced that the United States Federal Court is pursuing a civil action against Chiquita Brands International for helping to finance an infamous far-right terrorist group in Colombia, where most of the bananas from Chiquita are harvested.

The trial took place after a person identified as “David” was killed in 1997 by the same group.

David was a target of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia who, in 1997, boarded a bus he was on, took him out and brutally beat him to death, covering his body on the roadside with a banana plant.

The U.S. civil case asks Chiquita to pay $38.3 million in compensation to his family and at least seven other victims.

But these are the only cases the United States can officially prosecute.

Who are the AUC and what are their links to Chiquita?

The United Self-Defenders of Coluimbia, or Autodefensas Unidas de Columbia, was created in 1997, during a time of unrest and civil war in Colombia. Over time, local farmers and businesses provided funds to the group to defend their properties and businesses against left-wing guerrilla forces.

But over time, things got out of control and the AUC was eventually labeled a terrorist group and started exploiting people for money.

That’s where Chiquita comes in, which claims in its most recent lawsuits that it was forced to pay the AUC protection money. But it was proven that they still made 100 payments to the AUC, totaling more than $1.7 million. In fact, a lawyer representing Chiquita claimed that they had to pay off various terrorist groups for 15 years because it was these groups that controlled the area where the company operated.

No contact has ever been established with the Colombian government.

Why should we boycott Chiquita?

The AUC officially disbanded in 2007, but lawsuits continue from its days operating with Chiquita. However, since 2007, even after a peace agreement, some of its members still operate under a different name, the Gul Clan, which challenges government control in the northwest of the country.

This is precisely where the Chiquita banana fields are located. At present, it is unclear whether Chiquita is still paying the organization for its “protection”, but the fruit company still denies having to pay for the deaths linked to it and is appealing the court decision .

So the next time you eat a banana, check the label and really think about whether you’re willing to cross that moral line.