Did You Know…
Bananas don't grow on trees!
(They grow on giant herbs that can reach 25 feet in height.)
Banana plants belong to the same family as grasses, palms and orchids. They sprout from a rootlike stem that grows underground. Bananas are produced in 9-month cycles. After harvest, the whole plant is cut back and new shoots appear. Well cared-for roots can bear fruit for years and years.
Bananas thrive in tropical and sub-tropical climates, within 30° of the Equator. They need an average temperature of 27°C and an annual rainfall of 2,000-2,500 mm.
It is believed bananas originated in Malaysia because so many varieties of bananas are found there today.
Where Do They Grow?
Bananas are the main fruit in international trade, in terms of volumes. Some of the main banana producing countries, such as India, Brazil or China, grow bananas mainly for local consumption and are hardly involved in international trade. Actually, only one banana out of five produced in the world is exported.
Producing Countries
Due to the special climatic conditions needed to grow bananas, they are mainly produced in developing countries. In 2007, approximately 130 countries produced bananas. In 2007, India, the Philippines, China and Brazil alone produced over 50% of total bananas.
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Source: FAO
Exporting Countries
World exports of bananas show a high level of concentration. The three leading banana exporter countries in 2006 (Ecuador, Costa Rica and the Philippines) supplied approximately 60% of total exports.
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Source: FAO
Importing Countries
Bananas are mainly imported by the European Union, the United States and Japan. While a very large majority of the bananas distributed in the United States come from Central and South America, most of the bananas distributed in key Asian markets come from the Philippines.
In Europe, most of the bananas distributed come from Central and South America. However, Europe also imports bananas from its producing territories such as the Canary Islands for the Spanish market, Guadeloupe and Martinique for the French market. A third source of supply comes from the so-called ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) countries.
The Fruit That Conquered Europe
An exotic rarity in Europe until the late 19th century, bananas became widely available when faster, more reliable transport succeeded in bringing the fast-ripening fruit to European markets. Today, the European Union is the world’s largest importer of bananas, followed by the United States.
Banana consumption can vary a lot from one country to another, as shown on the diagram below:
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Source: FAO
How Do Bananas Ripen?
When unloaded, bananas are transported green to a ripening facility for a period of 4 to 8 days. Now the ripening manager takes over. He “wakes up” the bananas, which have been “sleeping” during the voyage.
To ripen the bananas a natural gas called Ethylene is released into the ripening facility. Once they’re “primed,” the bananas begin to produce ethylene on their own. As they ripen, the bananas grow sweeter: starches in the pulp convert into sugar. They begin to develop their typically fruity flavor and aroma.
Ripening bananas go through 7 distinct color phases, ranging from bright green to green-tipped to full yellow to yellow with brown speckles. Each color phase has a number as shown in the picture below. Bananas ripen faster in the summer months.
How to Keep Bananas at Home
- When you bring home a bunch of bananas, you'll want to store them so they stay fresh. Take them out of the plastic produce bag and hold them at room temperature. The bananas will continue to ripen.
- Storing bananas on a banana hanger or hook is the best way to preserve the overall quality of a ripe banana. That way, it won’t develop "resting bruises."
- If your bananas are too green, put them in a paper bag to ripen. If you add an apple or tomato to the bag, the bananas will ripen even faster.