Where did your Banana come from?

Mine came from Ecuador. From a conglomeration of 3 farms called MarPlantis, that's been certified under United States organic farming laws since 2005. If you get a Banana from Dole, you can see where it came from, too. Just check the UPC sticker on it and head to the web.

Here's an important question:
Is it better to know for certain that your banana comes from a farm thousands of miles away, and to see the faces of those farmers who send it off to feed you, although you will likely never have a chance to meet? Or is it better to "suffer" and give up summer fruits in the winter -- a season when dried fruits traditionally supplied North Americans with enough to satisfy the sweet tooth?
I have yet to move exclusively into farmers markets and local food, but the common sense of the equation just makes sense. The environmental impacts (which I won't go into) are noteworthy in and of themselves, but the support of local economies is a more tangible effect in lots of ways. I know that I support myself by supporting my neighbors!

For the skeptics and rushed soccer moms:
This isn't just something trendy to think about for cooks or career chefs. You and I eat every day, probably 2 or 3 times. If we are conscious about our choices for those meals, we can make one mental move stretch into 1000 individual actions over a year - and get used to the change in routine probably quicker than the travel time of a South American banana. And those choices adds up to something significant.

UPDATE 2/28: Umbra dishes on funny looking organic Bananas at Grist.