Photo: "Green" Banana Farming Gains Industry Appeal

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Banana bunches are covered in plastic bags (top) to protect the fruit from scarring and keep out pests. Recycling these bags is just one of the measures being adopted to reduce the fruits' environmental impact.

EARTH University in Costa Rica has been a pioneer in eco-friendly banana farming, and its harvest—sold exclusively in the U.S. and U.K. at the Whole Foods Market chain (bottom)—helps fund its many students who come from poor backgrounds.

Images by Stefan Lovgren

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