United Fruit Company

The United Fruit Company (1899–1970) was a corporation prominent in the import-export trade of tropical fruit (notably bananas and pineapples) coming from Third World plantations and sent to the United States and Europe. The company is notorious as an archetypal example of multinational influence extending deeply into the internal politics of so-called banana republics and is frequently cited as an example of exploitative neocolonialism.

Related Topics:
1899 - 1970 - Corporation - Fruit - Banana - Pineapple - Third World - Plantation - United States - Europe - Multinational - Politics - Banana republic - Neocolonialism

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The United Fruit Company was known as la frutera (the fruit company) or Mamá Yunay ( "Mommy United") in Central America. It established a monopoly on the production and distribution of bananas in Latin America in the early 20th century, a monopoly which lasted until the end of the company in 1970, and arguably, through the company's successors, during the rest of the 1970s had long lasting ramifications for the economic and political development for the region. This monopoly was predicated on the fact that between 1920 and 1994 the United States purchased 60-90 percent of the region's exports, thereby ensuring the ongoing dependence on the United States. In turn this enabled the UFCO to penetrate the political and economic fabric of Central American societies and influence economic and political outcomes for its own gain.

Related Topics:
Monopoly - 20th century - 1970s - 1920 - 1994

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