Of Bananas

The 1878 edition of A Domestic Cyclopídia of Practical Information, published by Henry Holt & Company, explained to eager readers the uses for the banana:  “It is eaten raw, either alone or cut in slices with sugar and cream, or wine and orange juice. It is also roasted, fried or boiled, and is made into fritters,  preserves, and marmalades… They are found in our markets from March  to October.”

Of the banana, it was said: “No other product of the vegetable kingdom affords so much nutriment from a given space of ground as the banana”¦” Today in the U.S., bananas are imported from Central or South America year-round.  Guatemala and Ecuador grow bananas in opposite seasons,  and while you can cultivate bananas in certain parts of the U.S.  (the humid and tropical South and even some specific microclimates in California), there are no “locally grown” bananas of significant volume.

Bananas are brought to us on ships while still green and are exposed to ethylene gas (a harmless plant hormone, both naturally occurring and synthetically produced, used in the ripening process for many vegetables and fruits). Bananas are transported and stored in their green state at around 57 °F  before being exposed to ethylene in controlled ripening rooms. Bananas are exceptionally delicate, and their ripeness can change quickly due to temperature and humidity. We at The FruitGuys want you to know that if we ever deliver a banana that has ripened too quickly or that you’re not satisfied with, please contact us so we can replace it or credit you for it. At this time of year in colder areas of the country,  we may exclude bananas from mixes when extreme cold hits (they can turn black very quickly when exposed to cold even for a short while). We always strive to work with local growers when season and availability permit and bananas are an exception to this rule, so if you prefer no bananas in your mix, please let us know.

If you have a chance, check out my new blog on inc.com with articles on business innovation and inspiration.  And as always, visit fruitguys.com/mix to check out what’s in your case this week and where it came from.

Enjoy and Be Fruitful! – Chris Mittelstaedt chiefbanana@fruitguys.com