Boston Fruit Company

The Boston Fruit Company was founded through the efforts of Lorenzo Dow Baker and Andrew W. Preston. In 1870, Baker purchased a cargo of bananas during a stop in Jamaica, and then sold them in New Jersey for a handsome profit. Baker joined forces with Preston, who owned a small fruit commission business in Boston. Baker delivered shipments of bananas from Jamaica to Boston, and Preston distributed the product. The demand for bananas grew exponentially throughout the decade. With the help of several financial backers, Preston and Baker established the Boston Fruit Company in 1885. Baker oversaw the firm's operations in Jamaica, while Preston managed the company from Boston and supervised its sales and delivery efforts. In 1898, Minor Cooper Keith, who controlled extensive banana operations in Costa Rica and Panama, approached Baker and Preston to propose a merger. The Bostonians agreed, and the United Fruit Company was established in March 1899.