A moment of curiosity can take you strange places. Years ago, during my interest in the history of broadcasting, I came across the factoid that the RCA Corporation was the result of a pool of technology patents owned by Westinghouse, AT&T, and a company known as the United Fruit Company.

Little was given in explanation as to why a generic-sounding produce company would own vital communications patents, except that they used wireless to coordinate their operations. In the years since, I've heard almost no reference to the company.

So I embarked on a little research project. Keep in mind that little, if anything, here is from primary or even secondary sources. Best to accept this all as a casual historical overview of one of the most influential--and least known--companies in the Americas.


United Fruit Company






Origins Minor C. Keith and the railroading of Central America
Octopus The tentacles reach, the ink obscures
Banana Republic Genocide as fashion statement
No word rhymes with company Neruda, Ferlinghetti, American Pop
The more things change The Cincinnati Enquirer and historical erasure
Chiquita.com History is written by the winners



Finally, a little about what I was looking for in the first place.


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