Along the way to Tortuguero, we drove through a Del Monte banana plantation. It was HUGE. We even got to see the entire process from trees to shipment. As you would imagine, it is a simple process...but I was amazed at just how simple it really was. It all starts in the fields where they place blue bags over the growing bunches of bananas to keep out insects and birds (picture 1). Given the sheer magnitude of number of trees...that is a daunting manual task for sure. When the bunches are "ready" the entire thing is cut 
down and tied onto a hook. 
Then that hook is put onto a long overhead "tram-line". They are then pulled along the line until they reach the "packing plant". You can see in the top-right picture (picture 2)...the bagged bunches being pulled over the street heading into the plant. Next the bags are removed from the bunches and they are staged into a "waiting area"...where I guess they are inspected (picture 3). Then they are pulled over to a guy who cuts off groups of bananas from the central "stem". He then throws them into a water tub where they float down to the next station (picture 4).
At the next station (picture 5), the ladies weigh the bunches and if they weight too much (each bunch should weigh 4 lbs), they cut one or two off until they are the correct weight. The extra bananas cut off are thrown overhead to another conveyor which takes them to a truck (not sure where they go). Then the ladies throw them into another water bath which floats them down to the baggers. These guys just take the bunches, put them into bags and then throw the bags into a big black plastic tub (picture 6). Finally, the
tubs take a ride down to the 
packers who put them into a box. Then they put the boxes onto the conveyor belt heading down to the truck (pictures 7 and 8). And that is pretty much it. If you look closely at the 7th picture you will see a small white "7" sticker on the top of the box. That is to let them know which packing station it was packed at...just in case you ever see that in your grocery store. Also, it is worth noting that I saw quite a few safety issues which would not be tolerated at my place of work. From basic ergonomic issues all the way to loose apron strings almost getting caught in the conveyor belt motor. I guess I see the world differently these days....And that is how bananas get from the tree to your grocery store!
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