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United Fruit Company

 Organization

Biography

The United Fruit Company was formed in 1899 when the Boston Fruit Company merged with several other companies that produced, imported, and marketed bananas from the Caribbean islands, Central America, and Colombia. The principal founder was Minor C. Keith, who developed banana plantations in Costa Rica beginning in the 1870s. During the early decades of the twentieth century, United Fruit’s distribution networks spread throughout the United States and Europe. By 1930, the company had absorbed more than twenty rival firms and was the largest employer in Central America.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Records of companies acquired by the United Fruit Company

Collection Identifier: Mss:1 1897-1955 R311
Overview:

The records contain minutes, charters, by-laws, and annual reports of fruit and related companies acquired by the United Fruit Company or in which it owned stock, 1897-1955.

Filtered By

  • Subject: Annual reports X