Chiquita Hangs Up Panama Bananas
Independent Panamanian banana growers are without funds Wednesday after the much criticized decision by US transnational Chiquita to cut banana purchases again.

The company reduced banana purchases by another 30 percent this week, justifying it with saturation of the European market.

In less than a month the firm announced three cuts in purchases, which has caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses to growers.

Faced with this situation, banana worker unions threatened to blockade the company if they do not free them from the exclusive contract and allow them to sell bananas to other traders.

These unions have asked for executive participation in the dispute to avoid larger losses.

Some days ago, Deputy Interior Trade Minister Manuel Jose Paredes said the Chiquita measure was unfair and the 24-hour advance notice was inadequate.