Chiquita Brands is initiating a large scale hiring campaign in Panama to staff its banana plantations in the Bocas del Toro Province. The company plans to fill 5,000 jobs through a series of recruitment fairs scheduled from November 11 to 15, 2025. This hiring surge marks a significant step in resuming full operations after a months long shutdown caused by regional protests.
All new positions will be managed through five partner farming companies operating under a specific agricultural model. Under this arrangement, Chiquita provides the land to producer associations who then cultivate the fruit. The global company handles purchasing the harvest and distributing it to international markets. The recruitment process is being coordinated with Panama’s Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development (Panama).
Phased Hiring for Farm Operations
Company officials outlined a detailed plan for the phased reactivation of its workforce. The initial recruitment phase will focus on field labor positions. Harvesting and cultivation roles will be filled later. This progressive reactivation is scheduled to run from November 2025 through March 2026.
Chiquita expects to gradually cover all 5,000 positions across this timeline. By December 2025, the goal is to have at least 3,000 people hired for field harvesting work. An additional 2,000 workers for harvest and cultivation roles will be onboarded during the first quarter of 2026. Ministry of Labor data indicates the company has already hired 1,600 individuals as part of this restart process.
“The company is committed to rebuilding its operational capacity in the region,” a Chiquita representative stated. [Translated from Spanish]
Each day of the week long recruitment fair targets a specific partner company and its associated farms. The events will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at various packing facilities throughout the Changuinola district. Prospective employees must attend the fair for the partner company closest to their residence to ensure an orderly process. Organizers also recommend applicants do not bring children to the events.
Application Requirements and Logistics
Job seekers are required to bring specific documentation to the recruitment fairs. This includes a copy of their national identification card, bank account number and certification, an active email address, a police background check, and a health certificate issued within the last month. These requirements are standard for formal employment within the country’s agricultural sector.
The recruitment schedule is precisely organized. On Tuesday, November 11, the fair for Las Tablas Assets will be held at the Packing Facility of Farm 45, covering farms 44 through 47. Wednesday, November 12, is dedicated to Guabito Assets at the Packing Facility of Farm 41 for farms 41, 43, and 53. The schedule continues through Saturday, November 15, with each day assigned to a different partner company and set of farms.
“This recruitment drive is essential for stabilizing the local economy and getting people back to work,” a Ministry of Labor official commented. [Translated from Spanish]
This massive employment initiative follows the company’s return to operations in September. That restart was made possible by a memorandum of understanding signed in August between the Panamanian government and Chiquita Brands. The agreement guaranteed the continuation of operations in the Bocas del Toro region after significant disruptions.
Between May and July of this year, widespread protests in Bocas del Toro forced a complete halt to banana production. The unrest led to the closure of Chiquita’s operations and resulted in the layoffs of approximately 6,000 workers from the area. The current recruitment effort aims to reemploy a substantial portion of that displaced workforce. Company executives anticipate they will resume exports from the region in the first quarter of 2026, signaling a return to normalcy for one of Panama’s key agricultural industries.