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Carmelita Brand / Le Best Banana Supply Co., Inc.

Over 40 years Carmelita Brand has been recognizes for their

leadership in Global Community for Best Farm Practices, Food

Safety Standards and Corporate Responsibility.

Our Story: Carmelita Brand – America’s Freshest Bananas Farm to Retail – Carmelita Best Practices

Best soils, banana varieties, farming practices, post harvest and integrated green-life supports never

ending quality control efforts to produce the highest productivity in Central America

Family Owned – Carmelita Brands

Producing bananas for over 40 plus years with over 4,500 acres of production with projected volume of

6.5 million cases for 2016.

Category Leaders

Food Safety Standards, Corporate Responsibility, Recognized leadership in the Global Community for

best farm practices

Varieties Cavendish, Williams, Grand Nain

Carmelita controls quality at the source, directly with over 2000 Carmelita employees in our

farms, to prevent defects and ensure each box is consistent

Carmelita does not reduce specifications during tough growing periods

Carmelita Scientific Team of 4 scientists with world class reputation in tropical ecosystems,

public health, and waste management.

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Each Farm scorecards are used to provide Yield per stem (conversion), Industry Yield per stem

is on average 1.15< cases, where Carmelita Yield per stem is on average 1.65> cases. Workers

are trained, certified and earn a license in critical processes such as packing, cluster cutting, and

harvest.

Carmelita Bananas are placed directly into Pressurize Banana Rooms at our packing station(s)

within 4 hours of harvest where we hold for min. 8 hours to stabilize at 58°.

Each load is shipped the next day to the U.S. arriving within 3.5 days on average.

(Industry standard is 7-10 days)

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Carmelita in Mexico has 4 DC’s that distribute over 2500 loads annually for Mexico Retailers

that include Wal*Mart Mexico, Soriana, S-Mart , Wholesale and, Foodservice accounts.

Carmelita owes land that could increase potential volume to 2 million additional cases annually

Carmelita bananas

Premium bananas are no mistake… Carmelita Brand takes great pride in growing the largest

bananas in the world with best farm practices.

Clusters removed

Carmelita de-hands clusters from the bottom of the stem when bagging. This allows the upper

clusters to grow larger hands and fingers when harvested 12-14 weeks after bagging, This is not

a standard practice with other growers which allow bottom clusters to grow to create #2 fruit.

Carmelita practice is to only grow and produce PREMIUM FRUIT

Illustration above shows hands that are removed

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Carmelita Inspects every load that arrives to the US before shipping to our value customer(s)

Below reviews a sample of a report that is entered into a data base that tracks…

Finger Length, Fingers and Hand per case, Grade , Weight, Quality, photos

Even to the person that packs the fruit at the farm to assure quality is met

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Carmelita Irrigation pump house. Leads the banana industry for conserving water usage and reducing

our footprint

Control room

Holding tanks for fertilizer

Irrigation pumps

Antenna that measures rain gauges & moisture gauges thru the farm

and automat opens values with water and nutrients as needed

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Radio signals open and close valves with hydraulic system.

Water filtering station as well Carmelita digs some of the deepest

wells in the industry to provide clean water to our farm. (no surface retention ponds as other my practice)

Sprinkler head and ground coverage to allow soil to absorb water and

nutrients

Soil gauges measure moister to assure adequate levels are applied

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Carmelita Farms same latitude as ….

Guatemala and Honduras Banana growing areas…

Pallets / Packaging / Pack Date

PALLETS: Palletized product shipped on standard hardwood pallets

(CHEP/ IFCO Pallets under agreement)

PACKAGING: 2 piece cartons STD to Banana Industry are used. ( RPC under agreement)

Pack Date: Each Case mark for traceability and includes Pack Date

Example of label

Mexico Guatemala Honduras

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Carmelita Bananas cross at our warehouse in Texas

Le Best Banana Supply Co, Inc / Warehouse Info

Le Best Banana Supply Co. in Hidalgo, TX since 1992

Over 10,000 sq. ft, cold room capacity for bananas

24/7 monitoring

Forced Air Cooling

Security Cameras

Up to 200 loads of bananas weekly can be store and shipped

Temperature Range from 0 – 80 f (banana rooms held at 58f)

Decofrut in - house Inspections upon request

Low density racking allows “Pick by Pallet” Capabilities

Bonded Warehouse

Primus Labs Certified

Electrical Hook Up available for Containers

Owned and Operated by Carmelita From Farm to Le Best Banana Supply Co. Carmelita Team

monitors each load

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Carmelita Banana packaging (Custom packing and Brand on request)

Carmelita 150ct Petite Bananas 48 cases per pallet, 40lb case,

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Carmelita “Banded” Bananas

“Banded” Regular Pack, 48 cases per pallet, 40lb box

Also available in “Banded” 3.2 format, (no photo)

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Carmelita Standard Premium Box

Premium Bananas, 48 per pallet, 40lb case,

(Finger length min 8in max 11in) Note 8in min is measured on back of hand

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Carmelita PLUS 24ct

Premium selected Fingers, 180 cases per pallet,

(Internal Finger Length Min 7in Max 9in)

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Carmelita Quad Pack

78 cases per pallet, Approx 64-72 fingers per box, 25lbs,

(External Finger Length Min 7in Max 9in)

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Organic “Banded” Bananas

48 cases per pallet, 40lbs,

Meets all Organic Certifications

Grown in Mexico

#1 Grade Banded fruit

Distributed by Le Best Banana Supply Co.

Partial loads Available

Ordered one week in advance

Annual program

Contract pricing

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Sustainability Snapshot

ETHICAL SOURCING Carmelita Farms have implement programs that protect labor rights and ensure the health and safety of our workers. SUPPLY RISK - Climate and energy Farming can consume significant amounts of electricity and energy, leading to greenhouse gas emissions. Fertilizers and transportation vehicles also emit greenhouse gases. Carmelita Farms measure and track energy use, implement a nutrient management plan, perform preventative maintenance on equipment, replace inefficient equipment, optimize the size and efficiency of farm or transportation vehicles used, or use precision agriculture or low energy irrigation to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.

Fertilizer and nutrients Carmelita nutrient management plan assures the efficiency of fertilizer use, and can use precision agriculture and other methods to optimize application because fertilizers release greenhouse gases. Our plant vegetative buffer zones around streams to help prevent water pollution via nutrient runoff. Pesticides Carmelita Farm may use but limit pesticides which are first consulted with experts to assure we apply appropriate forms and amounts of pesticides, and workers are trained and provided with protective gear to prevent exposure to harmful chemicals. Supply chain transparency Since we own our farms and packing sheds we continue to develop environmental and review social challenges within our agricultural supply chain to improve and determine ways to improve transparency and data sharing not only for our farms but that will support our industry. Carmelita Warehouses and Farms meet the following Certifications:

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Contact Info:

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