Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Michelbananas.Thecompanywouldnotaccept''bruised,damaged,dirty,
or sun-burned'' fruit, nor would it buy bunches that were not at the stage
of ripeness requested, or that had short bananas (dedos cortos). Finally,
the company would be obligated to accept only bunches with seven or
more hands. The contract also stipulated that the fruit company could
issue avisos on any day ''without exception.'' Contract growers would be
guaranteed a period of at least 12 hours to cut and deliver their fruit to
the designated loading spots.
17
Individuals who signed the contract con-
sentedtoweedandprunetheirfarmswithcare(bienlimpiasydeshijadas),
and to treat plant diseases according to the procedures adopted on com-
pany farms.Theyalso agreed to sell their fruit exclusively to theTela Rail-
road Company. In return, the company agreed to purchase Gros Michel
fruitfromcontractgrowersatleastonceaweek,attherateof50U.S.
cents for nine-hand stems, 37.5 cents for eight-hand stems, and 25 cents
for seven-hand stems.
18
Upon making delivery, the contractor would be
given a check or receipt that could be redeemed for cash in the company
oces. The contract outlined a grievance procedure that consisted of an
arbitration panel whose members were to be named by both the com-
pany and the contract grower, but disagreements related to the ''variety,
classification, maturity, and quality of the fruit'' would be resolved by the
company ''without appeal.''
Manyfruitgrowersfoundthetermsofthecontractunacceptable;one
outspoken critic of the contract predicted that it would lead to far more
fruit rejections than in the past.
19
One week after a North Coast news-
paper published the contract, the Ministro de Fomento met with a group
of bananagrowersinSanPedroSula.Duringthemeeting,growerselected
a committee to draft a counterproposal.
20
However, as the year came to a
close, some 800 growers still refused to sign the contract.
21
In an open let-
ter defending his fellow banana cultivators, Francisco Bográn, President
of the Unión Frutera de Cortés, stated that his organization would ex-
haust all ''peaceful and civilized means'' to resolve their differences with
the company. Shortly thereafter, another grower explained that he had
rejected the contract because ''individual sovereignty of one's lands and
fruit inspectors (juezdefruta) are the umbilical cord of the independent
farmers.''
22
Atleastsomegrowersbelievedthathavingsomecontrolover
quality standards was absolutely crucial.
In early January 1932, the company lowered its purchase price for
nine-handed stems to 30 cents. Many growers responded by refusing
to cut their fruit.
23
The combative tone of Eduardo Da Costa Gómez, a
spokesperson for the Unión Frutera de Cortés, underscored the height-
