One Bananas https://onebananas.com Your new banana company is calling Fri, 22 Mar 2024 18:44:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 One Banana Expands Portfolio with New Plantain Farms in Guatemala https://onebananas.com/one-banana-expands-portfolio-with-new-plantain-farms-in-guatemala/ Fri, 22 Mar 2024 18:43:38 +0000 https://onebananas.com/?p=2471 Read more »]]> Guatemala, March 19, 2024 – One Banana is delighted to announce the expansion of its product offerings by launching a new plantain farm in Guatemala. Dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of its customers, the company has planted a new farm exclusively for plantains along the Pacific coast of Guatemala.

This new operation covers approximately 70 hectares and is equipped with its own exclusive packing plant, ensuring quality control and efficiency from cultivation to distribution. Initially, One Banana will be packing 50-lb boxes, but its facility’s flexibility allows it to adapt to various packaging requirements according to customer needs.

“We are excited to introduce our new plantain farms as part of our continued commitment to delivering high-quality products to our customers,” said Rob Adams, President of One Banana. “With this expansion, we strengthen our position as a leader in the industry and reinforce our dedication to sustainable farming practices.”

Shipping began in the first trimester of the year. At full capacity, One Banana anticipates supporting 5 to 7 containers per week, providing customers with a consistent and reliable supply of fresh plantains. This venture further strengthens One Banana’s position as a diversified and vertically integrated company, offering conventional and organic bananas, natural ingredients, and now plantains, all sourced from its own sustainable and certified farms in Guatemala, Ecuador, and Peru.

“At One Banana, we are committed to nourishing the world with food that is good for both people and the planet,” stated Rob Adams. “We continuously strive to enhance our offerings and provide our customers with better food. Now we are thrilled to expand our offering to include sustainable high-quality plantains, cultivated in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.”

For more information about One Banana and its sustainable farming practices, please visit our website at https://onebananas.com/ or contact us at info@onebananas.com.


Media contact:
Susana Perez Communications and Public Relations Manager
sperez@agroamerica.com
(+502) 5554-8774

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One Banana Elevates its Sustainability Commitment at the 2024 World Banana Forum https://onebananas.com/one-banana-elevates-its-sustainability-commitment-at-the-2024-world-banana-forum/ Fri, 22 Mar 2024 18:41:46 +0000 https://onebananas.com/?p=2468 Read more »]]> Rome, March 19, 2024 – Javier Aguirre, Corporate Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer for One Banana, participated in the 4th Global Conference of the World Banana Forum (WBF), between March 12 and 13 at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

The World Banana Forum serves as a dynamic platform for stakeholders across the global banana supply chain to drive sustainable production and trade. This year, topics focused on promoting a fair distribution of value, ensuring living wages for workers, advancing gender equity, and addressing the challenges of climate change.

“Our fresh premium division One Banana, has ascended in the European market thanks to a clear vision of sustainability, transparency, and commitment to our clients. With ambitious goals consistently met, One Banana pledges to uphold leading standards and infuse fresh ideas into the WBF Steering Committee,” said Javier Aguirre.

The conference spotlighted pressing industry challenges, including the battle against Fusarium Wilt TR4, where participants delved into current strategies and future solutions. Additionally, discussions centered on reducing certification costs through international multi-stakeholder collaboration, aimed at streamlining auditing processes and enhancing cost-efficiency.

Moreover, discussions at the forum underscored the pressing need to address another critical issue within the banana industry: the need for better pricing strategies at the retail level. Acknowledging bananas’ status as one of the world’s most widely exported fruits and recognizing the complexities inherent in their logistics and quality standards, participants highlighted that pricing them solely as a budget option is not conducive to long-term sustainability.

The WBF conference brings together a diverse range of stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, retailers, trade unions, and civil society, facilitating collective action to address sectoral challenges.

About One Banana:
One Banana is a family-owned, vertically integrated company dedicated to responsibly producing the highest quality bananas and ingredients from its own farms. We are committed to promoting sustainable practices and driving positive change within the banana industry. For more information about One Banana, please visit our website at https://onebananas.com or contact us at info@onebananas.com


Media contact:
Susana Perez Communications and Public Relations Manager
sperez@agroamerica.com
(+502) 5554-8774

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Under its “regenerate the earth and its resources” strategy, One Banana creates a One-of-a-kind project to restore pollinator habitats https://onebananas.com/under-its-regenerate-the-earth-and-its-resources-strategy-one-banana-creates-a-one-of-a-kind-project-to-restore-pollinator-habitats/ Fri, 22 Apr 2022 19:41:08 +0000 https://testing.onebananas.com/?p=2258 Read more »]]> In alliance with BeeHub, One Banana created a new concept of Macro Bee Sanctuary, as part of a regenerative project to promote the conservation of the pollinators and increase biodiversity.

April 22, 2022. On Earth Day, business leadership and actions toward environment care take more relevance. However, conventional sustainability strategies are being surpassed by efforts that are moving forward to regenerative business models. In this line, One Banana and BeeHub – an organization specializing in the protection and conservation of bees through rescues, creation of native bee sanctuaries and environmental education – began a pilot project at the One Banana’s Natural Ingredients Processing Plant located in the coastal lowland region of Guatemala, to protect pollinators and increase biodiversity.

The protection of bees – in all their diversity – and other pollinators, is an environmental priority on the global agenda due to their important role in the ecosystem survival. In response to the dangers and threats faced by these insects, the project consists of the creation of macro-sanctuaries for the protection and conservation of all the region’s native bee species and other pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds, among others, that will be linked through biological pathways and will promote environmental education and community participation.

The sanctuaries are places of special protection that promote the regeneration and conservation of bees. They are built in areas surrounded by gardens with flowering plants, prioritizing the biodiversity of native flora, landscape improvement, protection of water sources and the installation of special structures that favor the nesting of native species, to help the healthy development of these essential pollinators.

“At One Banana, we believe that it is necessary to regenerate the Earth and natural resources to save the planet. This is why we have made efforts to adopt business models that aim to guarantee the availability of resources in the future, placing nature and people at the center of our operations to become a regenerative company through innovative practices. Consistent with this belief, we are very excited that, in the region, One Banana is the first company from the food and agro-industrial sector to implement actions to protect bees and other pollinators, in order to promote their conservation and, at the same time, promote the natural regeneration of biological pathways” – Fernando Bolaños, CEO of One Banana.

Different studies indicate that bees, in all their diversity of species, are the most important animals on the planet due to their relevance for the regeneration of plants and entire ecosystems. “To protect them is to protect the entire planet,” emphasizes Fernando Bolaños. More than 70% of the world’s agricultural production depends on their work as pollinators, which is equivalent to 35%-40% of the world’s food production. However, a general fear of bees, lack of knowledge of biodiversity and its importance for life, pollution, and habitat loss, among other factors, are threatening the survival of these animals.

To address these problems, the project includes different phases that began with a diagnosis and data collection to determine the diversity of bee species and other pollinators in the area, and then moved on to the creation of the Macro Sanctuary and the implementation of training and awareness programs for company employees, students, and communities in the area.

“Bee conservation is a matter concerning all of us. From BeeHub we want to set the course for more ambitious programs for the conservation of bees and other pollinators, involving all sectors. We are excited to see agroindustry concerned and acting for bee conservation. Congratulations to One Banana for being pioneers in the region in leading their efforts for a better world.” Ahmid Daccarett, founder of BeeHub

The pilot project is expected to be replicated in more than 980 hectares of conserved forest within One Banana production sites, planning to have a positive impact on the biodiversity of at least 100 protected hectares in different locations. With this initiative, hope is given for the development and conservation of the most important living beings on planet Earth.

“When we think about bees, we usually think about honey; but these animals do something much more significant: they maintain the life and diversity of flora through pollination” – Robert Adams, President, One Banana.

On this day dedicated to the Earth and its protection, it is worth highlighting actions that promote regeneration, sustainability, and conservation of nature.

Media contact:
Susana Perez
Communications and Public Relations Coordinator
sperez@agroamerica.com
(+502) 5554-8774

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One Banana strengthens access to safe and nutritious food. https://onebananas.com/one-banana-strengthens-access-to-safe-and-nutritious-food/ Fri, 15 Oct 2021 17:55:12 +0000 https://testing.onebananas.com/on-the-path-to-achieve-health-equity-copy/ Read more »]]>

On October 16, World Food Day is commemorated to raise awareness about quality food access (in quantity and nutrition); Also, highlighting the importance of implementing processes that allow the production, manufacture, and distribution of sustainable food.

“We are committed to the responsible production of the highest quality BANANAS and FOOD INGREDIENTS to be enjoyed all over the world,” says Robert Adams, President of One Banana and One Banana Ingredients.

One Banana is committed to producing bananas of the highest quality for customers and consumers; while operating with the utmost respect for the environment and complying with the highest international standards in labor, production, manufacturing, traceability, and transparency, guaranteeing the implementation of best practices throughout all operations.

With the consolidation of the natural ingredients business, One Banana continues setting ambitious goals that allow an increasingly sustainable production. The Natural Ingredients Processing Plant has innovated the business in two ways: First, promoting a production committed to zero waste that maximizes the use of the fruit, and second, adding value to the products through the investment in technology and investigation.

An internationally-certified production:

The One Banana and One Banana Ingredients operations have more than 10 international certifications that support sustainable, responsible production, especially committed to food safety, traceability and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and anti-corruption principles.

In terms of food safety and access to food, our certifications are:

  • Global Gap and Rainforest Alliance:

To ensure safe and sustainable agriculture.

  • HACCP and BRC GLOBAL STANDARD for FOOD SAFETY:

Guarantee best practices in the production of safe food.

  • Business Alliance to Secure Commerce -BASC-

Reaffirming our commitment to safe and secure commerce and ensuring no intentional tampering with our products.

  • Rainforest Alliance (Procesing Plant):

To guarantee the chain of custody of the raw material.

Access to safe and nutritious food for all:

In addition to sustainable production, One banana devotes great efforts to execute health and nutrition programs and projects in its area of influence.

In 2020, more than 13 million bananas were delivered to benefit more than 60,000 families in Guatemala, Ecuador, and Peru. Efforts to reduce malnutrition rates continue through 2021.

Learn more about our sustainable practices by visiting: https://testing.onebananas.com/one-difference/

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A commitment to “zero waste” to fight Climate Change and food loss https://onebananas.com/a-commitment-to-zero-waste-to-fight-climate-change-and-food-loss/ Thu, 30 Sep 2021 15:42:52 +0000 https://testing.onebananas.com/on-the-path-to-achieve-health-equity-copy/ Read more »]]>  

One Banana aims to close the production cycle and make the most out of the highest-quality bananas produced by transforming them into natural ingredients, contributing to the goals of “Responsible Consumption and Production” in the fight against Zero Hunger and Climate Change.

According to the FAO, 14% of food produced gets lost between harvest and retail, and 11% of food is wasted in households, demonstrating that we all play a crucial role in achieving zero waste. Especially today, on International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction, we advocate for conscious production and consumption.

Since 2016, our natural banana ingredients processing plant has been operating on the South Coast of Guatemala, where One Banana innovates the business in two ways.

First, in terms of sustainability to achieve zero waste in its production process. This approach promotes food security, allowing maximum utilization of our banana production. In Guatemala, the majority of the bananas produced are used for export or become natural ingredients. In addition, millions of bananas are donated every year for social and nutrition development programs. In 2020, we donated +13 million bananas to communities in our area of influence.

The second innovation is in terms of technology. The food production plant processes bananas to create higher value-added products, such as Banana Powder, introduced in 2020, and Banana Flakes, launched in 2021.

Our natural ingredients are elaborated without additives or chemical preservatives, the puree can be used as a food flavoring and even as a raw material for baby food. We have high-tech equipment and ripening chambers that allow us to adapt our product to the market needs.

Internationally Certified Production:

The processing plant has international certifications (HACCP, under the LSQA seal, BRC Global Standard, Kosher and Rainforest Alliance – Identity Preserved), which guarantee transparency, safety, and security in the operations throughout the production chain. Most recently, in 2021, the food processing plant became the first in Guatemala to be Business Alliance for Secure Commerce -BASC- Certified, thus enhancing the company’s commitment to the pursuit of transparency, traceability, and more secure commerce.

Become a conscious consumer, you can enjoy one delicious banana through its entire ripening cycle, learn how on our image below:

 

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On the path to achieve health equity https://onebananas.com/on-the-path-to-achieve-health-equity/ Wed, 07 Apr 2021 14:35:29 +0000 https://testing.onebananas.com/?p=2214 Read more »]]> On the path to achieve health equity

April 7, 2021

Since 2014, AgroAmerica, in partnership with the University of Colorado, established the Human Development Center (CDH). Through this project, One Banana has benefited more than 35,000 people in the southwestern region of Guatemala.

The Health project has allowed developing programs to benefit maternal and child health, reducing malnutrition rates in the area; it also includes a Research Center built to measure the incidence of diseases such as Dengue, Zika, diarrhea, Covid-19, among others; thus developing action plans to eradicate them.

The One Banana’s Human Development Center is available to our employees, their families, and the communities that surround us to contribute to the development of the area. We provide access to high-quality and affordable medical services.

The Human Development Center offers the following services: 

  • Medical consultation 
  • Ultrasound exams 
  • Lab tests 
  • Drugstore 
  • Ambulance 
  • Dental clinic 
  • Research center 
  • Child delivery care 
  • General medical evaluation for workers 

We join the commemoration of World Health Day, aiming to reduce inequalities in access to health. This date has become more important since the appearance of the COVID-19 disease in late 2020, exposing the gaps in access to health worldwide.

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From March 2020 to date, we have donated 1,248,900 bananas https://onebananas.com/donated-1248900-bananas-during-2020-pandemic/ Fri, 26 Feb 2021 19:29:28 +0000 https://testing.onebananas.com/?p=2188 Read more »]]> Robert Adams, President of One Banana Co.:
“From March 2020 to date, we have donated 1,248,900 bananas”

Banana company One Bananas has their own sustainable farms in Guatemala, Ecuador and Peru. Robert Adams, President of One Banana Co. says: “Late last year, eastern Guatemala and Honduras were severely impacted by two hurricanes: Eta and Iota, causing devastating damage to farms and communities. This was in addition to the Covid crisis that was already impacting communities.”

Demand returning to normal after turbulence of 2020

Throughout 2020, demand patterns for the banana industry were affected by the covid crisis. Now, it seems to be slowly returning to a somewhat more normal pattern of demand. “Demand has been stable, as we begin to see retailer and wholesalers slowly begin to recover from the pandemic,” says Adams. While conventional bananas have seen some ups and downs throughout the pandemic, the demand for organic produce seems to have actually risen during the pandemic. It’s hard to say with certainty what the consumer motivation is at this point, or if it will be a lasting change, but we do see that demand for organics continues to grow,” Adams explains. “We have a diverse sourcing strategy for organics, sourcing in Peru, Ecuador and Mexico. All of One’s Organic Bananas can be easily identified by the characteristic One Banana label in a vibrant purple color,” he adds.

 

Working to make a difference in 2020

For One Banana, giving back to the community has always been an important value. In 2020, humanitarian needs in the communities where One operates increased due to the pandemic and the storms, and One Banana was there to do whatever they could to help out. “From March 2020 to date, the company has donated 1,248,900 bananas, benefitting more than 62,000 families in communities where we operate. Our aim is to contribute to food security and to prevent malnutrition from increasing, and strengthening immune systems by supplying nutritious bananas.

 

In addition to food donations, the company has also donated cleaning and disinfecting supplies to the communities to help prevent outbreaks. “We cultivated 167 alliances which allowed us to donate supplies and bananas to communities, health centers, firefighters, the National Civil Police, municipalities, the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations,” says Adams

Within their own operations, too, the company took great care to ensure everyone’s health and safety. “Complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Policy, One Banana has provided its collaborators with all the prevention measures required by the governments of the countries in which they operate, following all the recommended protocols for working safely during the pandemic. Our workforce received continuous training on Covid-19 sickness to be able to identify symptoms and be aware of all the preventative measure to minimize the possibility of an outbreak in our operations,” Adams shares.

Environmental responsibility

One Banana is family owned and has been cultivating bananas for 60 years, and their commitment and values have remained the same over the past six decades: “We have a 60-year tradition of protecting the environment and caring for the people in the communities where we operate. At One Banana, we understand that what you feed your family is one of the most important choices you make. That is why we comply with all the international standards on community development and conservation of natural resources through the implementation of CSR and have invested in state-of-the-art technology that has allowed us to achieve the following certifications: Rain Forest Alliance, BASC, Global Gap, CTPA, USDA Organic, European community regulation for organic production and the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS),” Adam explains.

In addition to all that, the company’s organic farm in Peru is also certified under the FairTrade International Standard. “We are on a mission to produce the highest quality and most delicious bananas in a socially and environmentally responsible manner,” Adams concludes.

For more information:
Javier Aguirre
One Banana Company
Tel: +502 2420 9600
Email: info@onebanana.com
www.onebananas.com

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One Banana makes a difference on Education https://onebananas.com/a_differrence_on_education/ Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:12:10 +0000 https://testing.onebananas.com/one-banana-joins-international-day-for-health-coverage-copy/ Read more »]]> One Banana joins the observance of the International Day of Education promoted by the United Nations. The goal is to highlight the importance of Quality Education, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

One Banana also works towards educational excellence through the opening, in 2010, of a school in the Southwestern region of Guatemala for worker´s children aiming to provide high-level education and generate more opportunities for the development of children and youth.

School Cycle 2020, during a global pandemic:

From March 16, 2020, to the end of the school year, the school implemented an online methodology due to the health emergency.
By using digital platforms, the school strengthened the teamwork among teachers and parents through working groups to share guides and audiovisual contents enhanced with periodic home visits made by the teachers.

2020 online graduation

2021 Opening:

On October 18, the 2021 school year began at the school for the children of ONE Banana workers. Strict health protocols will continue to comply through a part-time attendance methodology that respects national health protocols.

“For One Banana, it is essential to support the educational development of the regions where we operate, especially because it means better opportunities for the future generations among difficult times,” said Robert Adams, President of One banana.

 

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ONE Banana Joins International Day for Health Coverage https://onebananas.com/one-banana-joins-international-day-for-health-coverage/ Sat, 12 Dec 2020 16:28:55 +0000 https://testing.onebananas.com/one-commitment-to-h-n-s-copy/ Read more »]]> This year, the Global Pandemic reminded us of the importance of health as one of the essential human needs. This truth gets highlighted with the commemoration of the International Universal Health Coverage Day, promoted by the United Nations on December 12th.

Affordable Healthcare:

ONE Banana has prioritized access to affordable healthcare through the implementation of the Human Development Center – HDC- project, which is a fundamental part of our comprehensive vision and actions to promote progress for our communities and surrounding areas.

The healthcare project is executed in alliance with the Colorado University and the valuable work of our medical staff. The project aims to provide affordable health coverage in its area of ​​influence, especially promoting the health of employees, their families, and the communities in which they live.

To date, over 31,000 Workers and community members have received medical care at our Human Development Center since its opening in 2014.

Investigation Center: 

The Human Development Center has in place a Research Center, run in partnership with the University of Colorado.

The Research Center aims to measure the incidence of endemic diseases to develop action plans that diminish them in the area. Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, diarrhea, and recently, studies on the COVID-19 are research in the area of influence of our operations in the Southwest region of Guatemala to improve health conditions and the opportunities for a better future for our workers, their families, and their communities.

 

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ONE commitment to Health and Safety. https://onebananas.com/one-commitment-to-h-n-s/ Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:14:38 +0000 https://testing.onebananas.com/?p=1926 Read more »]]> One Banana stands in solidarity with those affected by the health and safety measures applied to prevent and contain the pandemic known as COVID-19 in Ecuador by donating more than 2,000 boxes of bananas to help scarce resources areas of the country.

Despite its importance, the strict sanitary measures established to prevent the spread of the virus have globally hindered the normal execution of socioeconomic and commercial activities, affecting the most vulnerable population. These provisions require the joint work of government entities, private companies, and civil society.

ONE banana, in alliance with different government municipalities and NGO’s, donated more than 2,000 boxes of bananas to the collection centers set up to provide support in low-income areas in Ecuador.

The local authorities will coordinate the distribution of the donation according to the needs of each region, mainly benefiting the populations in need of each province.

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