FRUIT AND FACTS
JUNE 18, 2021
facts about banana and the industry
Banana is one of the most popular fruit in the world. The average person could consume 100 bananas in a year. The banana industry plays a huge role in the economic health of banana exporting countries.
More than 150 countries grow bananas. They grow in the tropics, which means the largest banana plantations are located in West Africa, China, the Caribbean and Latin America – where the majority of bananas are exported from. Ecuador is the world’s largest banana exporter.
Some multinational companies largely controlled the banana industry in the Latin America. Companies like Dole, Chiquita and Del Monte controlling 63 percent of the world’s banana trade. These companies have their own banana chain industry, from plantation to distribution networks. This makes them being able to sell the fruit at a very low price.
Most of the bananas are the Cavendish variety that make up the large number, however there are almost 1.000 varieties of bananas all over the globe.
In Indonesia there are some popular varieties such as King Banana, Golden Banana, Ambon Banana and Kepok Banana to name a few. Fried banana is one of the most popular snack in this tropic country. The snack is often paired with hot tea or coffee in the afternoon for companion.
And for the health benefits here are 10 facts about bananas :
- If you drop bananas in water it will float because they are less dense in comparison.
- Bananas are loaded with potassium that aids in maintaining nerve and muscle function, therefore bananas are great for pre-workout snacks.
- Bananas grow on plants that are officially considered an herb.
- The pre-1960s’ bananas, the Gros Michael, have been wiped out by “the panama disease. The bananas we eat today, the Cavendish, are a different variant.
- The banana is actually classified as a berry.
- Bananas contains amino acid, tryptophan and Vitamin B6 that helps the body produce serotonin. So it could be considered as a mood enhancer.
- Due to high potassium and low salt content, bananas can help lower blood pressure and protect heart.
- The inside of a banana peel can help relieve itching and inflammation, such as from bug bit or poison ivy.
- Believe it or not, the genetic similarity between a human and a banana is 60%.
- One of the most popular fruits in the American diet are bananas.
In addition, bananas are also an ideal prebiotic because of their high fiber content. Studies have shown that eating bananas, in particular, can increase the amount of the good bifidobacteria in your gut.
If you need a refresher on prebiotics, the fiber in bananas are the types that stimulate the microorganisms in your digestive tract and are essential for fueling probiotics.
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