I think it was more the fact that oranges don't need to be transported in refrigerated ships, whereas most other fruits do. The more modern reefers were particularly valuable shipping not so much for the refrigeration but because they were quick, so didn't need to go in convoy. Prior to the ban on imports the 'banana boats' were sailing independently and getting away with it due to their speed.
Jamaica had also been pounded badly in the '39 hurricane season, so the banana plantations were in a bad way even before the war.
Pre-war there wasn't really a Dollar area and I'm not sure I see the driver for one post-war. Certainly I'd be surprised to see anything like Bretton Woods emerge, so I look forward to seeing what does happen as something has to change because the pre-war setup cannot be returned to.
I thought that the UFC zone would be effectively a Dollar area? Honduras and Costa Rica and so on.
Point taken. I'd be curious as to what the Tilapa (and her sisters) were transporting during the war. Beef definitely makes sense.
Yes. From the 1820s to the 1950s, the primary "desert" Banana exported was the Gros Michel. From then until now, it is the Cavendish.
Since the UK couldn't feed itself during WWI, before Irish independence, that's not right.
Probably somewhere between the Napoleonic Wars and the Industrial Revolution.
Actually they did a study either just before or at the start of WW2 and came to the conclusion that GB could feed itself, just. The diet would have been very bland, limited variety and flatulent but survivable. Obviously they also decided it was better to add imports.
It's in my books somewhere, but my understanding is that a lot of them were supporting the war in the Western Desert. The high speed meant that they were very suitable for running fast convoys around the Cape.
Polish wheat was routinely imported into England even earlier than that - Gdańsk got access to the Vistula river trade in 1343 and, after the first wave of the Black Death ended, rapidly became a major route for wheat exports; there were significant volumes to England as early as 1400.
Wasn't asking when it started making sense to import food to England, but rather when (or if) they got to the point where having to work from only local food production would have been a significant existential issue (the way it would be if Singapore tried to feed itself)
Statistics UK would be the best place to find out the percentages as they changed during the war, but in 1939 the UK imported roughly 60%-70% of it's food. This included 70% of cereals, 50% of meats, and up to 90% of butter. Domestic food production intially dropped as enlistments & conscription into the armed forces picked up, before agriculture was declared a reserved industry. This was offset by rationing, food wastage laws, increased mechanisation of agriculture, the formation of the Women's Land Army and the utilisation of conscientious objectors, prisoners and POWs as farm labour. Allotments, also known as Victory or community gardens, doubled over the war. Initiatives such as pig clubs and the encouragment of urban poultry & rabbit breeding also eased the food stresses caused by the war.
