ANA Foods

Tanabe Farm Japanese

Tanabe Farm bananas are harvested at a designated plantation in Ecuador that uses recycling-based agriculture, an environmentally friendly method of farming that ensures high quality.

Tanabe Farm

Banana production is overseen by the owner, Masahiro Tanabe. The farm can be found at an elevation of approximately 300 meters in Ecuador, one of the world's largest banana exporting nations.
The bananas are cultivated through recycling-based agriculture using organic fertilizer, with quality controlled using water disinfected through ozone treatment. These processes ensure safety while also being friendly to the environment.

The delicious bananas from the farm are characterized by their sweetness and richness of taste, with a tanginess not found in bananas from the Philippines or Taiwan.
The ANA Group signed an exclusive agreement with Tanabe Farm in June 2005 and put an integrated distribution system in place that spans shipment from the farm to arrival at stores within Japan, with bananas produced to the farm's exacting standards.

Tanabe Farm's Four Commitments

Commitment 1: Nature

Tanabe Farm cultivates its bananas by utilizing the special characteristics of its soil through recycling-based agriculture, a method in which spoiled bananas and inedible parts such as stems and leaves are reintroduced into the plantation as organic fertilizer rather than going to waste.

Commitment 2: Soil

The compost is made by worms fed on the spoiled bananas and stems and leaves. The farm also uses Bokashi fertilizer (EM) instead of chemical fertilizers and does not use chemical herbicide, meaning the ground is covered in undergrowth to create soil with superior moisture retention.

Commitment 3: Water

Before being used to wash the bananas, the water drawn up from the well goes through activated carbon filtration and is treated with ozone, thereby preventing decay caused by bacteria present on the fruit.

Commitment 4: Quality

Tanabe Farm has obtained GLOBALG.A.P. certification, an internationally recognized food safety standard.
This certification ensures food quality and also pursues food industry processes that do not place a burden on people or the environment.

A Closer Look at Tanabe Farm's Four Commitments
  • Commitment to Nature
  • Commitment to Soil
  • Commitment to Water
  • Commitment to Quality
Commitment to Nature
  1. These are the workers at Tanabe Farm, and the person at the center of the back row is the owner, Masahiro Tanabe. He has transformed the farm he inherited from his father into a banana plantation practicing recycling-based agriculture.

    These are the workers at Tanabe Farm, and the person at the center of the back row is the owner, Masahiro Tanabe. He has transformed the farm he inherited from his father into a banana plantation practicing recycling-based agriculture.

  2. The banana plantation is located in Ecuador at an elevation of approximately 300 meters. It covers around 320 hectares in planted land, an area equivalent to 68 times that of Tokyo Dome. Bananas thrive here because of the region's temperate climate, with daytime temperatures of 30-32°C and nighttime temperatures of 20-22°C.

    The banana plantation is located in Ecuador at an elevation of approximately 300 meters. It covers around 320 hectares in planted land, an area equivalent to 68 times that of Tokyo Dome. Bananas thrive here because of the region's temperate climate, with daytime temperatures of 30-32°C and nighttime temperatures of 20-22°C.

  3. Visitors will notice that the plantation is covered in weeds, and this is because Tanabe Farm does not use any herbicides. It uses organic fertilizers and compost (e.g., Bokashi fertilizer) instead of chemical fertilizers, and this makes the areas around the roots of the banana plants turn brown.

    Visitors will notice that the plantation is covered in weeds, and this is because Tanabe Farm does not use any herbicides. It uses organic fertilizers and compost (e.g., Bokashi fertilizer) instead of chemical fertilizers, and this makes the areas around the roots of the banana plants turn brown.

  4. Tanabe Farm is home to many insects, birds, and other animals, and this is proof that the farm is friendly to the environment.

    Tanabe Farm is home to many insects, birds, and other animals, and this is proof that the farm is friendly to the environment.

  5. Due to its rich natural environment, you can get up close to insects and animals not found in Japan such as grasshoppers, katydids (bush-crickets), hawks, iguanas, anteaters, and armadillos.

    Due to its rich natural environment, you can get up close to insects and animals not found in Japan such as grasshoppers, katydids (bush-crickets), hawks, iguanas, anteaters, and armadillos.

Commitment to Soil
  1. This is where they make the worm compost, something needed to create good quality soil. How is it done?

    This is where they make the worm compost, something needed to create good quality soil. How is it done?

  2. This is how it's done—by the worms themselves.

    This is how it's done—by the worms themselves.

  3. In the worm composting area, stems and leaves from the farm's banana plants are fed to the worms, as are any misshapen bananas. The brown things scattered in each lane are the worm food, and there are tens of thousands of worms per square meter busily eating and excreting this food to produce compost.

    In the worm composting area, stems and leaves from the farm's banana plants are fed to the worms, as are any misshapen bananas. The brown things scattered in each lane are the worm food, and there are tens of thousands of worms per square meter busily eating and excreting this food to produce compost.

  4. The compost is ready for use after about half a year of feeding, after which it is harvested. To do this, the surface is first scattered with an ample amount of food. When the worms have risen up to the surface, they are transferred to another lane along with the worm food.

    The compost is ready for use after about half a year of feeding, after which it is harvested. To do this, the surface is first scattered with an ample amount of food. When the worms have risen up to the surface, they are transferred to another lane along with the worm food.

  5. What remains underneath is the finished compost, and there are hardly any worms in this layer. This compost is scattered around the banana plant roots, allowing for truly natural, recycling-based agriculture.

    What remains underneath is the finished compost, and there are hardly any worms in this layer. This compost is scattered around the banana plant roots, allowing for truly natural, recycling-based agriculture.

  6. At Tanabe Farm, Bokashi fertilizer is used instead of chemical fertilizer. Here, chicken manure and organic fertilizer are sprayed with EM containing lactic bacteria and yeast.

    At Tanabe Farm, Bokashi fertilizer is used instead of chemical fertilizer. Here, chicken manure and organic fertilizer are sprayed with EM containing lactic bacteria and yeast.

  7. The compost and fertilizer are then scattered about the roots of the banana plants.

    The compost and fertilizer are then scattered about the roots of the banana plants.

What is EM?

EM stands for effective microorganisms. This includes a diverse range of safe, effective, widely used microorganisms that aid in the start of the fermentation process such as yeast and lactic bacteria, and whose safety has been confirmed by multiple institutions.

What is EM Bokashi?

EM Bokashi refers to fertilizer made through the fermentation of raw waste using EM. The use of EM is widespread in Ecuador, and its use in fermenting discarded bananas into fertilizer enables bananas to be cultivated with safe organic fertilizers.
Note: Please see here for more details on EM.
→EM Research Organization, Inc.

Commitment to Water
  1. The reservoir is created by damming the clear river running through Tanabe Farm, and this water is used in banana cultivation. Fish also live in the reservoir, meaning that it doubles as a fishing and recreation spot for farm workers, and you can sometimes also see otters there.

    The reservoir is created by damming the clear river running through Tanabe Farm, and this water is used in banana cultivation. Fish also live in the reservoir, meaning that it doubles as a fishing and recreation spot for farm workers, and you can sometimes also see otters there.

  2. Water drawn up from the well includes bacteria, even if in trace amounts. For this reason, the water is filtered at Tanabe Farm with activated carbon, and then disinfected through ozone treatment before it is used to wash the harvested bananas.

    Water drawn up from the well includes bacteria, even if in trace amounts. For this reason, the water is filtered at Tanabe Farm with activated carbon, and then disinfected through ozone treatment before it is used to wash the harvested bananas.

  3. The bananas are washed after they are harvested.

    The bananas are washed after they are harvested.

Commitment to Quality
  1. The brown banana flowers turn outward to reveal the small fruit inside, a condition called ”banana shooting.” Since the fruit is still too small, a little more time is required until the bananas can be harvested.

    The brown banana flowers turn outward to reveal the small fruit inside, a condition called "banana shooting." Since the fruit is still too small, a little more time is required until the bananas can be harvested.

  2. Harvesting is an arduous job. The bananas, which have been covered in bags to prevent them from being eaten by birds or insects, are cropped off from the base of the bunch, and each bunch weighs about 30 to 45 kilograms.

    Harvesting is an arduous job. The bananas, which have been covered in bags to prevent them from being eaten by birds or insects, are cropped off from the base of the bunch, and each bunch weighs about 30 to 45 kilograms.

  3. The harvested bananas are hung from cables strung across the plantation, and then pulled up by workers to the packaging house.

    The harvested bananas are hung from cables strung across the plantation, and then pulled up by workers to the packaging house.

  4. Next, any remaining flowers at the ends of the bananas are removed.

    Next, any remaining flowers at the ends of the bananas are removed.

  5. The bananas are then washed.

    The bananas are then washed.

  6. Making sure not to bruise any of the bananas, the bunches are separated into hands by pairs of workers.

    Making sure not to bruise any of the bananas, the bunches are separated into hands by pairs of workers.

  7. The bananas are placed in ozone water and washed thoroughly, and the crown is trimmed. Spoiled or misshapen bananas are discarded and placed on the conveyor belt for use as worm food to make organic fertilizer and compost.

    The bananas are placed in ozone water and washed thoroughly, and the crown is trimmed. Spoiled or misshapen bananas are discarded and placed on the conveyor belt for use as worm food to make organic fertilizer and compost.

  8. The bananas are then weighed, as shipping methods will depend on the size of the bananas and weight per box. On the tray in the picture are six hands of small-sized bananas weighing 13.5 kilograms.

    The bananas are then weighed, as shipping methods will depend on the size of the bananas and weight per box. On the tray in the picture are six hands of small-sized bananas weighing 13.5 kilograms.

  9. The person responsible for checking for foreign substances uses an air compressor to remove these substances from all parts of the fruit.

    The person responsible for checking for foreign substances uses an air compressor to remove these substances from all parts of the fruit.

  10. The cut at the stem of the hand is cleaned and disinfected with ozone water, and covered with film to prevent decay.

    The cut at the stem of the hand is cleaned and disinfected with ozone water, and covered with film to prevent decay.

  11. The Tanabe Farm sticker is placed on the bananas as a guarantee of safety.

    The Tanabe Farm sticker is placed on the bananas as a guarantee of safety.

  12. The bananas are placed into boxes and vacuum-packed in bags to prevent them from ripening.

    The bananas are placed into boxes and vacuum-packed in bags to prevent them from ripening.

  13. Before shipment, the production date, standards, and similar information is displayed on the box so that it can be traced.

    Before shipment, the production date, standards, and similar information is displayed on the box so that it can be traced.

  14. The bananas are loaded into reefers (refrigerated containers) and transported to the port.

    The bananas are loaded into reefers (refrigerated containers) and transported to the port.