Rumors of the bananas' death have been greatly exaggerated?
Found this today thanks to the wonder of Google News:
Banana Shortage? Nothing to Worry About (Medicine Hat News)
This of course misunderstands (or maybe just ignores) the biggest threat posed by banana diseases. Pesticides and cultural practices can probably preserve banana production for those of us in developed countries, where a few cents difference in price doesn't even register. But bananas are also a staple crop for millions of people, many of whom are already in a very precarious position. Even a slight decrease in yield could mean going hungry, or it could also mean the elimination of the what little surplus they had to barter or sell to buy other supplies, pay for schooling or medicine, etc.
(Sorry I haven't been around--just been distracted.)
posted by Evil Fruit Lord @ 4:11 PM
(Janick & Moore)
(Janick & Moore)
(USDA)
(Deppe)
(Pollan)
(Hancock)
(Ray)
(Gollner)
(Jackson)
(Reich)
(Bowling)
(Trehane)
(Singh)
(Stuppy & Kesseler)
(Staub)
(Gordon)
(Boning)
(Juniper)
(Yepsen)
(Stilphen)
(Koeppel)
(Chapman)
(Gough)
(Gough)
(Barney & Hummer)
(Lazslo)
(McGovern)
(DeWolf)
(Sullivan)
(Munson)
(Brantley)
(Freinkel)
(Taylor)
(Train)
(Levin)
(Levin)
(Kleinberg)
(Darrow)
(Hancock)
(Maas, ed.)
(Ashton)
(Smith)
(Pringle)
(Campbell)
(Sharma)
(Musselman)
8 Comments:
Banana, the fruit is extremely nutritious and also used for medicinal purposes. We always use proper pesticides etc. for huge production.
Any truth to a fruit pest that has grown immune to some pesticides specifically for banana?
I notice that the bananas I purchase from the supermarket look great but ripen very quickly and do not have the full taste that they used to have. I definitely see an issue with bananas, regardless.
There are some other varieties of bananas out there if you look hard enough. There's a banana that I've seen called finger or apple banana that has a very small fruit and is ripe when the peel is more or less black. It has a nice creamy texture when it's ripe and a very golden yellow color. I've also seen red bananas that are about 1/2 the size of the typical cavendish, but I've never had a ripe one. Perhaps they are for cooking.
Of course there is the plantain too. A very worthy fruit. Greener ones can be friend into crispy discs that taste like an exotic french fry. Ripe (black skin) can be sauteed in oil with some spices and are very desert-like. Think Bananas foster.
I welcome more variety in our banana. It think if that happened though, the price would go up considerably and perhaps it would drop in overall popularity, which may or may not be a good thing.
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Bananas are one of my favorite fruits. I might even get myself a ice cream maker, and make banana treats.
Bananas are my favorite! I just wish they were a bit more sturdy. There is nothing worse than a brown banana. Luckily, brown bananas are great for smoothies and banana bread.
BTW, apple bananas are fantastic. If you get the chance, I strongly encourage you to try them.
This is a fruit that I guilty consume because of its mileage but the point of local economics is a good one An important post, thank you.
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