Dan Kopel
Writer and historian focused on the histories of objects and commodities; author of Banana, the Fate of the Fruit that Changed the World, and featured here explaining Minor Keith and the banana's role in U.S. history.
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Mar 31, 2026 • 15min
What the banana tells us about US history
Dan Kopel, a writer and historian of objects and commodities, explains Minor Keith and the banana's surprising influence on US reach. He traces Keith's railroad venture in Central America. He outlines the deadly labor conditions, the land-for-concession deal, and how feeding workers turned into a global banana business.
