Banana Plantation Aka Banana Story (1957)

Jamaica, West Indies. Scenic shots of Jamaican harbour. Various shots of work in a banana plantation. Man drives tractor through rows of plants. White worker peels back leaves to show young bananas growing. Narrator tells of the history of banana harvesting. Good shots of men at work cutting bananas from the plants, carrying them on their heads to a collection point. One worker uses a large machete to chop ends off the stems as men walk past - looks dangerous! Each man is given a ticket for each stick of bananas he brings - the men are paid depending on how many bananas they collect. Bananas are loaded onto trucks lined with old banana plant leaves. The fruit is covered with these leaves to prevent it ripening too quickly. Various shots of the bananas being made ready for export. They are washed and examined. They are put into perforated plastic bags and the stems are painted to prevent stem-rot. Various shot of the bananas being transported by rail trucks and pontoons. L/S of the banana