Banana in the Economy of Madeira (1822-1929)

Abstract

Banana is a tropical fruit that can be grown at higher latitudes, such as in the archipelagos within the Macaronesia region. References to banana plants in Madeira date back centuries, particularly in gardens, but customs clearance of banana bunches began after the return of the Portuguese court to Lisbon in the 1820s. The different units used to record this trade make it impossible to accurately analyze the development of the Madeira’s banana trade until the first decades of the 20^th century. With the end of the sugarcane regime, banana cultivation expanded in Madeira, and cultivation techniques improved with foreign investment. However, the small area dedicated to this crop and the high production costs disinterested the large companies that dominated the global fruit trade. Thus, the commercial circuit was controlled by intermediaries and the lower competitiveness of the product limited exports, whose main markets were almost limited to Portuguese territory and the supply of ships.

Keywords: Banana; Banana Plant; Intermediaries; Export; Victuals; Freight.