Behind every cheap banana on a Western shelf lies a hidden story of corporate greed, toxic chemicals, and exploitation. From large-scale plantations in Costa Rica, multinational companies like Dole and Chiquita have prioritized profits at the expense of workers and local communities. Toxic agrochemicals like mancozeb and chlorothalonil, banned in Europe, continue to be sprayed across fields and schools, causing long-term health damage. Workers like Germán Jimenez and families like Lidieth Gómez and her son Daniel live with the consequences: illness, exposure, and institutional silence.

Transforming this crisis requires centering the people most harmed and building pathways toward structural change. We propose a 12-month grassroots strategy:

Phase 1 (Months 0–3): Organizing the Collective

• Launch local assemblies in affected communities.

• Map pesticide exposure zones with resident input.

• Facilitate inclusive dialogues that elevate women, youth, and elders.

• Anchor the organizing principles in Buen Vivir — a philosophy grounded in harmony, dignity, and ecological balance.

Phase 2 (Months 3–6): Formulating Demands

• Publicly release a platform with concrete demands:

  • Expand the pesticide ban to include mancozeb, glyphosate, and paraquat.

  • Establish buffer zones around homes, schools, and water sources.

  • Compensate families harmed by exposure, modeled after the chlorothalonil ruling.

  • Support regenerative, small-scale farming through government subsidies.

  • Mandate transparency in chemical use and worker training.

Phase 3 (Months 6–12): Public Pressure and Legal Advocacy

• Partner with NGOs like Banana Link, Earthjustice, and Pesticide Action Network.

• Organize public performances, storytelling events, and school visits.

• Launch a global consumer awareness campaign demanding fair-trade, pesticide-free bananas.

• Advocate for international solidarity with exploited workers in Iraq, DRC, and beyond.

A banana may seem ordinary. But it is a symbol of a broken global supply chain built on suffering. This initiative is not about guilt—it is about agency. Through solidarity, creativity, and community leadership, we can build systems rooted in justice and care.

By placing power in the hands of workers and residents, this movement can reshape not only Costa Rica’s banana industry, but also global models of extraction. From Latin America to the Middle East, from the DRC to your grocery store, the story of transformation begins with dignity, truth, and organized resistance.

1. Learn the stories behind your food and goods - start with Noor, Germán, and Amina. 

2. Choose fairly sourced products whenever possible (look for fair-trade bananas, coffee, chocolate, etc.) 

3. Boycott companies linked to exploitation, toxic practices, or land grabs - every purchase sends a message. 

4. Ask questions: Where does this come from? Who profits? Who’s harmed? 

5. Share what you learn with friends, family, and your community using storytelling as a tool for change. 

6. Use your platforms - even a single social media post can help educate and inspire others.