After months of paralysis, the multinational said the first exports are scheduled for February
Chiquita has harvested its first Panamanian bananas since reactivating its operations in the country following last year’s labour dispute and mass layoffs.
As reported by EFE, Chiquita Panama spokesperson Alexander Gabarrete said the first harvest will be destined entirely for the domestic market.
The fruit is currently being processed by 20-30 workers at the packing plant located in El Empalme, in the western province of Bocas del Toro. According to Gabarrete, this first batch allows the company not only to supply the domestic market but also to observe the performance of the packing facilities after the maintenance and repair work carried out during the shutdown.
The cornerstone of the multinational’s operation in Panama will be the sharecropping model, under which the company grants land use to local farmers without transferring ownership, while maintaining its commitment to acquire and regulate production according to its own standards.
The strike initiated by the Banana Industry Workers Union (Sitraibana) in April 2025, which lasted for approximately two months, was a direct consequence of the workers’ rejection of the social security reforms implemented in Panama. The dispute resulted in the dismissal of 6,500 employees racked up US$75mn of losses for Chiquita.
The multinational announced the resumption of operations late last year following negotiations with the government, headed by President José Raúl Mulino. Under this renewed framework, it has committed to invest US$30mn to restore production on 5,000ha of land, as well as to finance the logistics and export process for the fruit.
