The sublease contract for 1,300 farms signed between Del Monte and the Panamanian government will allow banana production to start in Barú, Chiriqui.

From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:

The contract for the sub-leasing of more 1,300 farms for reactivation of banana production in Barú, province of Chiriquí, was signed on Monday by the Minister of the Presidency, Álvaro Alemán and the vice president of operations for Latin America of the company Del Monte, Jorge Pelaes.

See “Central American Bananas: 78% bought by 3 Countries“

The agreement, for 20 years, extendable, and for an amount of 9.9 million balboas, involves farms in Mango and Juabito, which will be the first to be used to start producing and exporting bananas.

The German minister stressed that there are only a few steps left for the Del Monte company, through its subsidiary Banapiña S.A., to begin operations, including: obtaining an endorsement from the General Comptroller of the Republic and the Environmental Impact Study from the Ministry of Environment.

Read full release (in Spanish).