Banana Supply Chain.

The banana supply chain is a complex and global process that involves multiple stages and actors. Some of the key details of the banana supply chain include:

Farming: Bananas are grown on large-scale monoculture plantations, typically in tropical countries such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia. The cultivation process involves planting banana shoots, which are the suckers that grow from the underground rhizome of the banana plant, and then harvesting the fruit when it is ripe.
Harvesting and packing: Once the bananas are ripe, they are harvested by hand and then packed into bunches. These bunches are then wrapped in plastic to protect them during transport.
Shipping: Bananas are shipped by boat to ports around the world. The journey can take several weeks, during which time the bananas are kept in refrigerated containers to slow down the ripening process.
Distribution: Once the bananas reach port, they are inspected by the relevant authorities before being distributed to supermarkets and other retailers. The bananas are then ripened further by exposing them to ethylene gas before they are sold.
Retail: Supermarkets and other retailers sell the bananas to consumers.
Waste: bananas are perishable fruits, and if not properly handled, stored, or transported, they can get spoiled and become waste, which may have a negative impact on the environment.

The entire supply chain is also challenged by various factors such as climate change, disease outbreaks, labor conditions, and trade tariffs and agreements, which can all have a significant impact on the availability and cost of bananas.

Supply Chain Quotes

“Why not make the work easier and more interesting so that people do not have to sweat? The Toyota style is not to create results by working hard. It is a system that says there is no limit to people’s creativity. People don’t go to Toyota to ‘work’ they go there to ‘think’” ~Taiichi Ohno

“If we reduce batch sizes by half, we also reduce by half the time it will take to process a batch. That means we reduce queue and wait by half as well. Reduce those by half, and we reduce by about half the total time parts spend in the plant. Reduce the time parts spend in the plant and our total lead time condenses. And with faster turn-around on orders, customers get their orders faster.” ~Eliyahu M. Goldratt, author of The Goal

“Observing many companies in action, I am unable to point to a single instance in which stunning results were gotten without the active and personal leadership of the upper managers.” ~Joseph M. Juran

“We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain… what we will not do – and never have done – is stand still or turn a blind eye to problems in our supply chain. On this you have my word.” ~Tim Cook