The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
Geest Bananas
New processing plant in Heathfield sees careful handling of bananas destined for consumers.
In partnership with:
Overview
Geest bananas are unloaded from a train cabin onto a conveyor belt to be transported into a holding plant and ripening warehouse in Heathfield, Newton Abbot. The bananas are then sorted packaged and sent to grocers and supermarkets. There are various types of banana but the Cavendish (the family name of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire of Chatsworth House in Derbyshire) gained popularity in the 1950s and accounts for the vast majority of imported bananas into the UK.
The Geest horticultural business was formed by the Dutch Van Geest brothers in Spalding. In the 1930s they specialised in selling flower bulbs and then their first shipment of bananas came to London in 1953. In the 1960s a network of ripening centres opened in Heathfield, Devon, Ardrie in Scotland, St Helens in Lancashire, Spalding in Lincolnshire, Stansted in Essex and other plants in Wiltshire. Geest Bananas was sold jointly to the Windward Island Banana Development and Exporting Company Ltd and Fyffes Group Ltd in 1996. Officially ceasing to sell bananas in the UK in 2001, Geest Bananas Ltd changed to Geest Line Ltd in 2008 and concentrated only on its cargo transport service.
Related
The Bevs The Bevs
News 1962 4 mins Location: Newton Abbot
The delightful Beverley Sisters are interviewed on a visit to Newton Abbot.
Little Poland Little Poland
Current affairs 1964 12 mins Location: Newton Abbot
The Polish community at Ilford Park near Newton Abbot in Devon is testament to enduring relations between Poland and Britain.
Newton Abbot, Devon: 'An Essay in Citizenship' Newton Abbot, Devon: 'An Essay in Citizenship'
Amateur film 1927 4 mins Silent Location: Newton Abbot
An army of infants proceeds to reforest the Milber Pine Woods neat Newton Abbot.
The Devon County Show Post War The Devon County Show Post War
Amateur film 1949 10 mins Silent Location: Stover Country Park
This year's show sees the expansion of electrical items
A Farmer's Boy A Farmer's Boy
Documentary 1945 15 mins Location: Newton Abbot
When it comes to training the post-war generation of farmers, this agricultural college in Devon looks to reap what it sows.
Some of the Glories of Devon and Its Industries Some of the Glories of Devon and Its Industries
Industry sponsored film 1935 10 mins Location: Totnes
Beyond the glorious views, this Devon travelogue boasts a mouth-watering focus on the sweet industry.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.