Bananas grow in the tropical regions within about 10 degrees of the equator and receive up to 98 inches of rainfall every year where the temperature averages 80 degrees. Chiquita owns about 37,000 acres of banana farms in Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala. In 2004 the company shipped 136 million boxes to the US, Europe, Middle East, and Asia. They employ 25,000 people, and the Guayacan farm we were on cultivates on 500 acres, produces more than 10,000 metric tons of bananas annually, employs 123 workers, and pays $13 per day to the average worker plus social benefits which include health, accident, maternity, and life insurance. The bananaindustry employs 10 percent of the workforce in Costa Rica, and workers at Chiquita farms generally enjoy higher living standards than other agricutlural workers. Women make up 5 to 30 percent of Chiquitas labor force, and about 3 of 4 farms are unionized. Chiquita workers can buy homes at reduced prices, which promotes stable communities. Banana plants are the largest herb in the world. A banana plant grows continuously from the same rhizome, which sends up several shoots. There are about 1635 bananas every hectacre. Workers select the best shoot to the next prodcing plant and eliminate the rest. At 6 to 8 months, plants develop stems with large buds, and bud tiny flowers that develop into bananas. Plants are fertilized and protected from insects and diseases usuing only products approved by the US EPA and the EU regulatory agencies. All owrkers are trained appropriate agricutlure practices, occupational safety and proper use of protective equipment. Workers bag the stem to protect the fruit from insect and sun damage. Colored ribbinds are used to identify the shedulled harvest week, 10 to 13 weeks from bagging. Plants are secured with twine to ensure they dont fall over with the weight of the stem. Stems are harvested according to ribbon color and maturity. Padding protects the bananas from bruising. Workers cut stems and hang them on aerial cableways that transport the fruit to the packing station. Harvested plants are cut down, which allows new growth to flourish, and all plastic bags are then recycled.