Exquisite, High-Quality Wellness
Diversibananas
The inception of Diversibananas is a direct result of our commitment to explore and address the resurgence of the most dreaded pathogen impacting the banana industry. In the 1950s, the industry was devastated by Fusarium wilt, also known as Panama Disease, which forced the industry to replace the prevailing Gros Michel banana variety with the resistant Cavendish variety. By the late 1950s, the commercial cultivation of Gros Michel had ceased.
However, Fusarium wilt evolved to affect the previously resistant Cavendish banana. In 2019, an outbreak was discovered in Colombia, posing a significant threat to Latin America, which produces over 75% of the world’s exportable bananas. This event underscored the urgent need to understand, prevent, and control the spread of this pathogen within Colombia and its neighboring countries.
A team of experts embarked on a mission to regions where the original Fusarium wilt had been prevalent. The objective was to develop strategies to combat the potential entry of this pathogen into Guatemala, the world’s second-largest banana exporter. Our research led us to the highlands of Guatemala, where remnants of the original Gros Michel bananas continued to thrive despite the presence of the pathogen.
Our field visits uncovered a promising solution in the fight against Fusarium wilt. We observed the benefits of cultivating bananas alongside other crops, a practice that has enabled the survival of the long-lost ‘Big Mike’ (Gros Michel) banana in the high altitudes of Guatemalan plantations. This crop diversification promotes sustainable agriculture and offers significant advantages in combating the pathogen. Our discovery provides a glimmer of hope in the battle against Fusarium wilt, demonstrating that sustainable agricultural practices can be effective in fighting the disease.
Our Team
Seizing this opportunity, a group of professionals united in a shared purpose to form Diversibananas, a community outreach project dedicated to delivering premium, high-quality ‘Big Mike’ bananas to local and international markets.
- Eduardo Solares: A business entrepreneur with extensive experience in promoting sustainable agricultural solutions.
- David Chinchilla: Graduate from Zamorano Pan-American School, brings extensive operational experience having worked in 3 different continents.
- Benjamin Paz: A fresh produce executive who led the banana operations at Dole and Chiquita for many years.
- David Martinez: Graduate from Zamorano Pan-American School, brings experience in bananas and other fresh crops.
- This year, Grupo Coban joined the team, known as one of the most diversified enterprises in Guatemala, with agricultural plantations that could become synergetic with our plans to source Gros Michel bananas.
Together, we are committed to advancing sustainable agriculture and ensuring the availability of high-quality ‘Big Mike’ bananas.
Gros Michel Growing Areas Guatemala
Guatemala has eight coffee regions classified by the National Coffee Association (ANACAFE).
There are many differences within each region such as: coffee variety, microclimate, and growing conditions which have a direct impact on the coffee flavor.
Five out of the eight regions have Gros Michel plantations where both coffee and banana trees grow.
Those five regions are: Acatenango, Antigua, Atitlan, Coban, and Oriente.
The three remaining regions face some challenges. Some are located in secluded areas, which makes them a logistical challenge, while others have a higher altitude than what is ideal for the cultivation of Gros Michel.
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