Bloody Bananas

Behind the familiar yellow banana lies a story of power, greed, and violence that shaped the modern world. Bloody Bananas uncovers the hidden history of the United Fruit Company — later known as Chiquita Brands International — and its role in creating the concept of the “banana republic.”

This gripping exposé spans over a century, from the bloody 1928 Banana Massacre in Colombia to the 1954 CIA-backed coup in Guatemala. Discover how United Fruit toppled governments, funded paramilitary death squads, and crushed labor movements to protect its profits.

With influence that reached from Central American plantations to the corridors of Washington, D.C., United Fruit’s playbook became a blueprint for modern multinational corporations.

Drawing on declassified government records, court filings, and investigative journalism, Bloody Bananas reveals how the tactics pioneered by United Fruit live on in today’s corporate giants like Amazon, ExxonMobil, and Chiquita. From monopoly control to union-busting, the strategies remain disturbingly familiar.

More than a history book, this is a cautionary tale about unchecked corporate power and its impact on human rights, labor, and democracy. Behind every banana lies a story of blood, betrayal, and empire — and its lessons are more relevant than ever.