Disease Proof

It’s took a while, but I found a new banana! Sawyer, my Habitat for Humanity Teddy Bear, proudly presents my banana. Take a look:

A little closer please:

I was sweating a bit. I thought I’d never find a new farm. Here’s the lowdown on farm number 773; Grupo Daabon Finca Don Diego. Check it out:

• Country: Colombia
• Farm Units: Finca Don Diego
• Location: Santa Marta, Colombia
• Crops: Organic Bananas
• Organic Certified since: 2001

Now, feast your eyes on these photos:

It took a while, but I found a new banana—you just can’t keep a good banana down! Alright soldiers, Operation Banana Hunt needs you. Buy Dole Organic Bananas! Log onto the Dole Organic Program and tell me all about it. Make a comment or shoot an email to diseaseproof@gmail.com. Bananas wanted!

Okay boys and girls. We’re all going on a mission. I’m calling it Operation Banana Hunt. You’ve probably noticed that I’ve become enamored with The Dole Organic Program. Get a load of these recent posts:

• Look at My Banana!
• I Got My Banana Out Again!
• My Banana, In Hand
• My Mother's Banana!
• Susan Grabbed a Banana!
• Mom's Banana, part deux
• Banana Hamburgo!
• Operation Banana Hunt: Mission 759
• Jayson and Julie's Banana!
• My Blue Sky Banana
• Some Pozo Bananas
• The Banana Rides Again...

Now, in case you have no idea what The Dole Organic Program is, be sure to visit their homepage. Here’s some of their introduction:

As defined by the Organic Trade Association, organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on using minimal off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony. Basically, organic agriculture puts the focus on improving soil fertility through the use of mineral and natural fertilizers and enhancing biological cycles for natural insect and disease control.

At the forefront of this organic trend is Dole’s Certified Organic Banana Program. In addition to using conventional agricultural production methods, Dole has been exploring alternative growing methods to provide consumers with a choice on how their bananas are grown.

“We see the organic industry as a growing market with good opportunities to learn methods for growing produce in a more earth-friendly manner,” said Frans Wielemaker, Director of the Organic Program for Dole in Latin America.

Alright, back to Operation Banana Hunt. I need your help. Let’s all pull together and see if we can find bananas from every country, and, every farm! It’ll be tough, but we’re already off to a good start. Take a look:

Peru
001: Huangala Palletizing Unit

• Gerry Pugliese: Look at My Banana!
• Susan: Susan Grabbed a Banana!
• Sue C.: "Okay, here's mine: Farm 001."

002: Saman Palletizing Unit

• Gerry Pugliese: I Got My Banana Out Again!

003: Salitral Palletizing Unit

• Mom: My Mother's Banana!
• Sue C.: "I got a farm number today with my bananas that I hadn't gotten before: 003."

223: Bonanza Farm
992: APOQ
993: BOS
994: APPBOSA
996: Pacific Organic
997: Agrotumbes SAC
998: Banana Latina SAC

Honduras
060: Esmeralda Farm

• Karen: “How cool! I just checked out the bunch of bananas I got from my organic produce co-op. Mine came from Honduras—a farm that was devastated in Hurricane Mitch, but has been brought back into production. I sent the link to the Dole Organic Program to my co-op members so they can check out their bananas...farms, that is...:-)”
  

"We got bananas at our organic co-op yesterday and I was all excited to locate a new farm from the number on the sticker. These came from the same farm my last ones did - Farm 060 in Honduras. Oh well - they are wonderfully delicious! Hope everyone is still checking their stickers and reporting in!"

• Jayson and Julie: Jayson and Julie's Banana!

Ecuador
100: Finca Nueva Esperanza

• Kirsten: "Looks like our bananas are coming from Ecuador. In the last week, we've had bananas from Ecuadorian farms number 100, 537 and 542. How great to get to see where our little yellow cuties grew up!"

350: Grupo Agrícola Prieto, S.A.
404: Las Mercedes Farm

• Sue C.: "Okay Gerry, I found a new one, 404. It's in Ecuador and the farm name is Hacienda Las Mercedes. Wouldn't it be great to do a tour of all the organic banana farms?"

537: Hacienda Celia María / Agrícola Carmita

• Kirsten: "Looks like our bananas are coming from Ecuador. In the last week, we've had bananas from Ecuadorian farms number 100, 537 and 542. How great to get to see where our little yellow cuties grew up!"

542: Lamiformi C. Ltda.

• Kirsten: "Looks like our bananas are coming from Ecuador. In the last week, we've had bananas from Ecuadorian farms number 100, 537 and 542. How great to get to see where our little yellow cuties grew up!"
• Ilana: "I got Dole bananas, number 542 from Ecuador. If I do say so myself, they're mighty long! I doubt I'll be able to finish one in one sitting. Sorry for replicating your mom. Don't get your bananas in an uproar!"

625: Agrícola La Isla
633: Alba Helena Farm
684: Cesar Encalada

• Sue C.: Gerry another new one for me; Ecuador farm 684. You've got me on the hunt!

686: Agrorgánica, S.A.
694: Hacienda Pérez Quiñonez.

• Sue C.: New farm from Ecuador 694. I never got that one before.
• Gerry Pugliese: My Blue Sky Banana

695: Las Mercedes Farm
698: La Gloria Farm
759: Mar Plantis

• Operation Banana Hunt: Mission 759

827: Andrea Farm

Columbia
773: Grupo Daabon Finca Don Diego

• Gerry Pugliese: The Banana Rides Again...

775: Finca Hamburgo

• Gerry Pugliese: Banana Hamburgo!

776: Finca Don Pedro

• Gerry Pugliese: My Banana, In Hand
• Karen: "Woo Hoo! More bananas in my organic co-op share this week. And this time they are from a different country - Farm 776 - the Don Pedro Farm in Columbia. Thanks, Don Pedro - your bananas will be delish in my morning smoothies!"

780: Grupo Daabon Finca Shangrilá
781: El Pozo Farm

• Some Pozo Bananas

Dominican Republic
253: Savid Dominicana

As you can see, 3 down and 27 to go! I’m not sure how long it’ll take or if we’ll be able to pull it off, but, it should be fun trying. And what’s the downside? Eating too many bananas, what’s the worst that could happen? Eep!

Okay, here’s how it’s going to work. You know I’ll be on the look out for new and exciting farm numbers and blogging about it, but if you find one. Make a comment to this post—just like Karen did—or send an email (with "I've gone bananas" in the subject) to diseaseproof@gmail.com.

And don’t worry. You’ll be able to find this post under Topics (on the left), just look for Operation Banana Hunt. Now, I’ll keep updating this post with your comments and emails, but, if you take a picture of your banana or bananas, I’ll gladly make a post out of it—wink, wink, hint, hint.

Let’s have fun with this. Tell your friends and family. Operation Banana Hunt is on!

“I don’t know what I’ve been told. Operation Banana Hunt ain’t growing old!” That’s right recruits. I’ve got a brand new banana! Take a look:

And for the close-up:

You’re looking at a great bunch of bananas from farm number 781, El Pozo Farm in La Guajira, Colombia. Here’s more from the Dole Organic Program:

• Country: Colombia
• Farm Units: El Pozo Farm
• Location: La Guajira, Colombia
• Crops: Organic Bananas
• Organic Certified since: 2007

Now, let’s check out some snapshots of El Pozo Farm in action. Enjoy:

See, Operation Banana Hunt just keeps making progress! So go on, get out there. Keep buying Dole Organic Bananas, then visit the Dole Organic Program and make a comment or send an email to diseaseproof@gmail.com. And please—GO BANANAS!

Operation Banana Hunt rides again. I discovered a new banana! Ladies and gentlemen I am proud to present, my banana. Have a look:

It was a beautiful day, so I took the opportunity to offer my banana to the heavens. I think the blue makes a wonderful backdrop. Another photo:

Yes, I have a glorious banana. And according to The Dole Organic Program my banana hails from Ecuador. Here’s some info on the farm:

• Country: Ecuador
• Farm Number: 694
• Farm Units: Hacienda Pérez Quiñonez
• Location: Province of El Oro
• Crops: Organic Bananas
• Organic Certified since: 2005

Very cool! This makes our fifth Ecuadorian banana. Here are a few pictures of the crew at Hacienda Pérez Quiñonez. Check it out:
Okay recruits. Let this be a lesson to you. Operation Banana Hunt is still going strong. So get out there, buy Dole Organic bananas, look up the farm number, take pictures, and send an email to diseaseproof@gmail.com. Until then, happy hunting!

Operation Banana Hunt marches on! I just got a great email from loyal DiseaseProof readers Jayson and Julie. Have a look see:

Julie and I finally found a banana, its number 060 from Honduras, seems that right now this is the only ones they have. We will keep checking back with that store to see if they get any different batches. The health food store we frequent carries organic bananas from a different supplier.

Just feast your eyes on their banana—or should I say—bananas! Check these babies out:

Sweet! What a lovely couple. Jayson and Julie really loved their Dole organic bananas. Here’s their glowing endorsement:

The bananas were very delicious, used them making some smoothies. Have you ever noticed though how the organic bananas will ripen on the outside but not on the inside, when the non organic ones ripen they ripen on the inside.

Thanks Jayson and Julie! I’m happy to get my hands on your banana—wait, um, yeah—moving on, here’s little about farm number 060. Take a look:

• Country: Honduras Farm
• Units: La Esmeralda and Tepusteca Farms
• Location: Aguán Valley, Yoro Province
• Crops: Organic Bananas
• Organic Certified since: 1996

And for your viewing pleasure, here are snapshots from La Esmeralda and Tepusteca Farms. Enjoy:

Alright everyone, Jayson and Julie did it—so can you! Get out there, buy some Dole organic bananas, check out the Dole Organic Program, take some pictures, and tell me all about it; diseaseproof@gmail.com. Until then—BANANAS, BANANAS, BANANAS!

Cool! Yesterday I grabbed a banana—a new banana. That’s right. Check another one off the list. Introducing my banana, farm number 759. Take a look:

Yes, I eat A LOT of bananas. They’re a great boost after a workout. Bananas are like a dessert to me. So, here’s another sweet picture of my banana. Enjoy:

Now, this time my banana hails from Ecuador—making it our fourth Ecuadorian banana—here’s what the Dole Organic Program had to say about the MarPlantis farm:

• Country: Ecuador
• Farm Units: Finca Colón, Finca Matanegro
• Location: Balao, Guayas, Ecuador
• Crops: Organic Bananas
• Organic Certified since: 2005

Guess what? Farm number 759 marks the tenth banana we’ve discovered—Operation Banana Hunt is a third of the way there! Awesome! Let’s celebrate with some photos of MarPlantis:

This is good, but we’re not done yet—get out there! Buy some Dole organic bananas, plug them into the Dole Organic Program, and tell me all about it! Operation Banana Hunt needs you! If not, you’ll have to answer to him:

And remember, it doesn’t matter if we’ve already discovered your banana. I still want to hear about it. Make a comment or send an email to diseaseproof@gmail.com. Peace.

Certainly a confusing title, but I assure you. You won’t find this banana sandwiched between two flame-broiled beef patties and drowned in mayonnaise. Nope, this banana is special—this banana is my banana! Check it out:

Oh! And the brown bags flanking the basket are filled tangerines for Dr. Petrillo and cabbage and tangerines for my mom—need me to pick you up something too? Okay, how about one more picture of my lean green mean banana. Take a look:

Correct, that is in fact a Transformers poster hanging up in my bedroom. It’s actually hanging above my bed. Thank you for noticing my sophisticated sense of décor. I call it—bachelor. Now—back to business—where’s my banana from? The Dole Organic Program says:

• Farm Name: Hamburgo Farm
• Country: Colombia
• Farm Units: Finca Hamburgo
• Location: Santa Marta, Colombia
• Farm Number: 775
• Crops: Organic Bananas
• Organic Certified since: 2005

Cool! Farm number 775, that’s a new one! Sweet, this makes our second Columbia banana farm. The first was 776, Finca Don Pedro; My Banana, In Hand. See, we’re making progress! Alright, time to check out pictures of the Hamburgo Farm. Enjoy:

That’s right recruits! Operation Banana Hunt marches on, “I don’t know what I’ve been told, but the banana hunt ain’t growin’ old.” That’s why I need you to get out and buy Dole organic bananas, then send me the farm number, pictures, a story, a comment—whatever! Just shoot off an email to diseaseproof@gmail.com. Until then, happy hunting!

I’m like moss, I grow on you, and, if there’s anyone who knows about that, it’s my mom, because despite her apprehensions, I’ve enticed—i.e. annoyed—her into joining Operation Banana Hunt. First with My Mother's Banana, and now, part deux. Take a look:

Yes, as you can plainly see, we Pugliese’s are quite eager to brandish our banana. In fact, once when I was in Las Vegas—yeah, maybe I’ll keep that story to myself—hey, check out my mom’s banana chilling with its fruity friends. Enjoy:

Okay then, my mother’s first banana was from farm number 003, Peru. This time around, my mom’s banana is farm number 542, Ecuador. Let’s see what the Dole Organic Program has to say about this farm. Check it out:

• Country: Ecuador
• Farm Units: San Humberto, Santa Laura, Santa Mariana and San José Farm.
• Location: Guayas, Ecuador
• Crops: Organic Bananas
• Organic Certified since: 2000

Wait a second. Farm number 542, sounds familiar. That’s right! DiseaseProof reader Kirsten was the first to find this farm—sorry mom—here’s what Kirsten had to say about her discovery. Here:

Looks like our bananas are coming from Ecuador. In the last week, we've had bananas from Ecuadorian farms number 100, 537 and 542. How great to get to see where our little yellow cuties grew up!

Ilana—my Yoga buddy—also joined Operation Banana Hunt. Ilana, please, tell us about your banana:

I got Dole bananas, number 542 from Ecuador. If I do say so myself, they're mighty long! I doubt I'll be able to finish one in one sitting. Sorry for replicating your mom. Don't get your bananas in an uproar!

Very cool! We’re making some steady headway, but we’ve still got work to do. There are still plenty of bananas and farms to be found. Let these beautiful pictures of farm 542 inspire you to get out there and get hunting. Have a look:

I love the photo of the dirt road. Reminds of the long-haul Operation Banana Hunt still has in front of it. That’s right folks! We still need lots of bananas. So get out there! Buy Dole organic bananas and tell me all about. Make a comment or send an email to diseaseproof@gmail.com. Remember, photos have a great chance of becoming a blog-post, a little birdie told me so—tweet-tweet!

Winston Churchill once said, “Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room.” Now, I have no idea what that means, but, monkeys eat bananas, I eat bananas, you eat bananas, and, Susan eats bananas. She just grabbed one:

That’s some banana! If you don’t know Susan, she is Dr. Fuhrman’s friendly Public Relations & Events Manager, and, this little guy is her very own Dole organic banana. Isn’t he cute? Have a look, notice the blatant product placement:

I’ve been using my powers of annoyance to spur my fellow workers into joining Operation Banana Hunt. As a result, they’re planning a union meeting to discuss my prompt execution. Anyway, here’s Susan describing her hunt:

Ok, you got my interest! I stopped at the supermarket near the office and picked up a Dole Organic Banana. The number is farm 001.

Alright, farm 001, sounds familiar? Let’s see here. Yup, just as I thought, after I ran it through the Dole Organic Program it came up Peru, Huangala Palletizing Unit. We found this farm in Look at My Banana, but for fun, here’s a recap:

• Country: Perú
• Farm Units: Huangala Palletizing Unit, Communitary Growers Group of Huangala, Montenegro, Huayquiquira, Pueblo Nuevo, San Vicente, Santa Rosa, and Chalacala.
• Location: Chira Valley, Sullana, Piura, Perú
• Crops: Organic Bananas
• Organic Certified since: 2001

Remember this great picture? It makes me really want a pet burro:

Now, let this be a lesson to all of you. If you’re bummed that I’ve already covered your banana—FEAR NOT—I still want your banana! Okay, that was awkward. Moving on, buy some Dole Organic bananas, check out the Dole Organic Program, and tell me all about it. Make a comment or email me your Operation Banana Hunt story and pictures to diseaseproof@gmail.com. Happy hunting!

Eek! That’s an uncomfortable sounding title. Nevertheless, I’m proud to say my very own mother has joined the hunt. Here’s a look at my mom’s banana:

Now, in a shameless attempt at cuteness, here is my highbrow and very artistic presentation of my mother’s banana. Behold my grand creativity:

I’m delighted that my mother decided to take part in Operation Banana Hunt. Here she explains why she did:

I got tired of you pestering me about bananas. I was at the store. Saw some Dole bananas and bought one. So here, stop annoying me.

Thanks mom. I think. Okay, the real question is. Where is my mother’s banana from? Well, its farm number 003, so let me plug that into the Dole Organic Program. Cool! Here’s what came up:

• Country: Perú
• Farm Units: Communitary Growers Group of Salitral, Querecotillo, Santa Cruz and La Peña
• Location: Chira Valley, Sullana, Piura, Perú
• Crops: Organic Bananas
• Organic Certified since: 2001

Nice! We’re certainly making headway on all those Peruvian farms—Operation Banana Hunt is going strong! Okay, here’s a special treat. In case you don’t know. Dr. Fuhrman’s new Food Scoring Guide is out. Let’s see how bananas add up. Take a look:

Banana (one fresh banana)

• Calories: 105
• Sodium: 1
• ANDI score: 30

Not sure what an ANDI score is. Dr. Fuhrman talks all about it in the guide. Here’s his explanation:

ANDI scores are calculated by evaluating an extensive range of food factors, including vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidants capacities, based on an equal number of calories for each food. After completing the calculations, foods are ranked on a numerical scale of 1 to 1000, with the highest nutrient foods given a score of 1000.

Granted, bananas aren’t the highest scoring food on the planet, but hey, don’t let that deter you from the hunt—please don’t! Moving on, let’s check out pictures from the farm where my mom’s banana was grown:

Wow, that tree gave me vertigo. Okay folks, if you’ve got a banana, I’d love to see it. Join Operation Banana Hunt! Buy Dole organic bananas and tell me all about it. Make a comment or send an email to diseaseproof@gmail.com, and no worries, if you’ve got a banana we’ve already covered, send it anyway. All bananas are welcome. Peace.

I’ve got a real treat for you. Back by popular demand, here’s my banana. Right there in my hot little hand. Take a look:

Wink-wink. Notice the poster in the background. To further scintillate you, here’s another picture of my righteous banana. Enjoy:

So, why am I flaunting my banana? Because Operation Banana Hunt soldiers on, and, it’s going strong! Did you see this great update from Kirsten? Check it out:

"Looks like our bananas are coming from Ecuador. In the last week, we've had bananas from Ecuadorian farms number 100, 537 and 542. How great to get to see where our little yellow cuties grew up!"

Cool, right? Three farms in one shot! Now, back to my banana, its farm number 776, which means, my banana hails from Columbia, have a look:

• Country: Colombia
• Farm Units: Finca Don Pedro
• Location: La Guajira, Colombia
• Crops: Organic Bananas
• Organic Certified since: 2005

Neat! My banana is certainly a world traveler. Prior to this Columbian excursion, my banana was grown at two different farms in Peru. Check these out:

• Look at My Banana!
• I Got My Banana Out Again!

As is customary, here are a few photos of my banana’s hometown. Enjoy this nostalgic trip down banana lane. Peep these:

Okay troops, remember DiseaseProof needs you! Operation Banana Hunt still has a lot of ground to cover. So make a comment or send an email to diseaseproof@gmail.com. I’m eager to blog about your banana, and remember, send pictures too! Peace.

What can I say? I must be an exhibitionist or something. I just can’t resist an opportunity to show off my banana. Feast your eyes on this handsome specimen:

Go on. Take a closer look, you know you want to:

Now, last week my banana had farm number 001, Peru. But this week, my banana’s number is 002. Alright, let’s run it through the Dole Organic Program and find out where my banana was grown. Cool! Check this out:

• Country: Perú
• Farm Units: Saman Palletizing Unit and Communitary Growers Group of Samán
• Location: Chira Valley, Sullana, Piura, Perú
• Crops: Organic Bananas
• Organic Certified since: 2001

You just can’t beat Peruvian bananas! Here are some pictures of my banana’s old stomping grounds. Enjoy:

Actually, I’ve been keeping an eye out for different farm numbers. Hopefully next time my banana will be from a different exotic location. Exotic and banana—sounds dirty!

Get your minds’ out of the gutter, but seriously, look at my banana:

Now, look closely at my banana’s sticker:

See the farm number, 001? In May we learned about Dole Organic Program, and, thanks to it, I can actually look and see where my banana was grown. Let’s find out:

• Country: Perú
• Farm Units: Huangala Palletizing Unit, Communitary Growers Group of Huangala, Montenegro, Huayquiquira, Pueblo Nuevo, San Vicente, Santa Rosa, and Chalacala.
• Location: Chira Valley, Sullana, Piura, Perú
• Crops: Organic Bananas
• Organic Certified since: 2001

Here’re some pictures of my banana’s hometown:

To end, my banana tasted real good blended with soymilk.