Concerning May I suggest a few resolutons?

Jim: I enjoyed reading your article concerning New Year’s resolutions. Good advice we all need to follow. I believe the answer to your question about the leading exporter of bananas is Ecuador. The agricultural sector of Ecuador, which accounts for about 14 % of the GDP and 30% of the labor force (1.25 million workers), is sustained by its largest export, that being bananas. This is in part due to the cheap price of unskilled, unorganized labor (earnings for the banana workers are roughly US $2 to $3 per day) for which Ecuador provides an attractive base of operation for fruit companies. The banana industry faced temporary difficulties with production in 1998 when El Nino destroyed much of the crop, but it has since recovered it position as the world’s top exporter. Hope you have a happy and prosperous New Year.

Best Regards,

Doug

PS: I was working at the Wickliffe Mill during the rebuild of the paper machine in 1984.

Douglas W. Knott
Paducah, Kentucky, USA

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Am guilty with regard to saying business would really be good if OCC prices were the same as last year. Will quit that in 2008, unless of course, OCC prices keep going up.

Regards and Happy New Year!

Tim Campbell
Sylva, North Carolina, USA

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Jim:

I accept them all. Easy for me!!!

George Mead
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, USA

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