During 90 minutes of a World Cup soccer game the average player can lose between 3 to 5 kilos in weight. For the Ecuadorian team playing in the 2006 World Cup this means they have to eat well before and after every game.

In order to fuel the team, BONITA has supplied the team chef with all the BONITA PLANTAINS that the team can eat. So far the diet is working!!!

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Fresh Summit International
Convention and Exposition

October 20-24, 2006
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego, California USA

Please join us at Booth # 337

Congratulations to Joanna Lawn, the Woman´s Division winner of the Bonita Ironman New Zealand, the largest one day international sporting event in that country. Over 1,300 competitors from 40 nations participate in this world-class event.Bonita is committed to promoting healthy-lifestyle through its wide range of nutritious globally marketed fruit products.

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Bonita North America is aware of retail and consumer group concerns regarding use of plant protections products in the cultivation of fruit and vegetables. We welcome the level of interest in this important subject but are concerned that the issue is poorly understood by many consumers and does not fully represent the work of companies, such as ours, who work diligently to produce safe and healthy food.

For this reason we felt it important to summarize our record-keeping, traceability and residue testing throughout our supply chain.

For more details:

Environmental Policy

2006 Food Safety Update

MRL Schematic Overview

Bonita Approved Positive Pesticide List 2006

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Appearing in the US/LEAP News Letter, was an article entitled "Organizing Efforts in Ecuador Stymied". Bonita was mentioned as buying fruit from an independent banana producer who, in the opinion of US/LEAP, violated workers rights, including the right-of-free association and collective bargaining. Bonita was asked to intercede.

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Brussels, April 28-30, 2005

Pacific Fruit Group participated in the International Banana Conference II, "Reversing the Race to the Bottom", in Brussels, April 10-11, 2005. This forum brought together a broad range of supply chain stakeholders to openly discuss the problems and potential solutions in the banana industry.

These issues included a discussion of the macro-economics of the banana industry, the current perceived crisis in the EU regarding the proposed banana regime and its effect on the supply chain, environmental and health issues, worker rights issues, and policy for sustainable trade in the banana business.

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International Banana Conference II - Brussels, April 28-30, 2005 - Views from the Major Banana Companies

A statement by Eric Crisman, Senior Corporate Advisor and Director of External Affairs. Pacific Fruit/Bonita

For Pacific Fruit, global distributors of Bonita banana, the event was stimulating and constructive. A broad range of participants from the supply chain openly discussed key issues that organizers identified as accelerating the “Race to the Bottom”.

In order to effect change in the banana industry, we recommend future IBC formats include greater participation from "big retail". The organizers have correctly identified retail as contributing the greatest downward pressure on banana pricing. Their influence creates hardship and inequity on the banana worker/producer level. But "big retail" is in business to offer their shareholders maximum profitability. Indeed, the goal of “big retail” is to continually improve efficiencies and lower prices for their customer. They have no incentive to respond to price issues without the aggressive inter-action of producer country governments and consumer pressure.

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Growing a Sustainable Future

Intertek-Labtest is a recognized world leader in providing world class supply chain independent monitoring and advisory services.

Pacific Fruit and its affiliates, global distributors of Bonita bananas focuses with supply-side vendors on external market protocols that impact the perishable fruit industry. In Ecuador, educating the supply-side, the growers, packers, transporters, to the International Codes of Conduct that are mandated for international trading partnership is the greatest challenge that confronts Pacific Fruit. Lack of education is an endemic cultural issue. Pacific Fruit works closely with EBNSA, the Ecuadorian trading company supplying product to the international market-place. EBNSA seeks to fulfill a responsibility by assisting their sub-vendors, the independent producer network that supplies them fruit, to comply with established standards.

Complete article includes:

-Social Responsibility Audits
-Company overview
-Audit Plan 2006-2007
-Social Responsibility Conferences


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