Expensive Bananas

The European Commission has fined the banana importers Dole, Del Monte and Weichert a total of € 60.3 million for price fixing in violation of the EU's strict antitrust laws.

The infringement covered the period from January 2000 to January 2002.

California-based Dole was fined € 45.6 million, with Del Monte (USA) and Weichert (Germany, but now controlled by Irish banana giant Fyffe) jointly accountable for € 14.7 million of the fine.

I always knew that Ireland is really a banana republic...