Banana is King of Tropical Fruit
Tara A. Spears
The once exotic banana has become a staple food in the diets of many people around the world. It can be eaten in a variety of ways, including in smoothies, salads, and desserts, but also baked or fried. Did you know that the banana is the third most produced fruit in Mexico? In the coastal state of Nayarit, there are approximately 30 thousand agriculture workers that are involved with the growing, harvesting, and transporting of bananas. Mexico is ranked as the number 10 in world banana production. (gov.mx.agricultura)
A few years ago, I wrote about including banana trees in your home landscaping. (Views from My Tropical Garden – Banana Trees.) While I love the foliage, it was simply too much of a good thing with 200 bananas each tree ready at the same time, and having four trees. I removed them and planted smaller flowering plants. Recently I read that the farm worker receives about only 3% of the sales price, with the rest of the profit going to transporters and retailers. That prompted me to look at bananas in a different way and share that perspective in an article.
Banana farm workers have become a strategic pillar for the national economy, employing nearly seven million people within the country and maintaining significant growth, with this segment of the agri-food production representing 8.1% of the national GDP, according to the Secretariat of Agriculture. Working on the banana plantations requires strength, stamina, and heat tolerance. Each stem, containing 5-7 rings of bananas, weighs an average of 25-50 kilos!
Bananas, plantains, are grown most frequently in the country’s tropical coastal areas. There are 14 types of banana that grow here but locally you will typically find the Cavendish, Macho, or Tabasco. Plantanos range in color from bright green when unripe to nearly black when overripe. The growing of bananas is environmentally friendly the last few years as producers try to reduce the carbon footprint.
Mexican banana plantations achieve remarkable yields, and their productivity is above the world’s average, with 30 metric tons per hectare, according to the federal agency. The large plantation managers are trending to initiate sustainability methods to provide a steady source of income, using water-efficient methods and minimizing pesticide use, ensuring the preservation of the environment and the well-being of the local community.
Storing bananas incorrectly can lead to premature ripening, turning them brown and mushy in no time. The key to maintaining their freshness lies in appropriate preservation techniques. Over the years, scientists and agriculturists have found several methods to extend the life of this fruit, maximizing their value.
Here are several factors that can affect the speed at which your bananas ripen: 1. If it’s warm, the bananas will ripen faster. 2. If it’s cool, the bananas will ripen slower. 3. Humidity also plays a significant role in banana ripening. High humidity speeds up the ripening process, while low humidity slows it down. 4. Light can also influence the banana ripening process. More light means faster ripening, while less light slows it down.
Bananas are an excellent choice if you’re interested in adding more healthy fruits to your diet yet they don’t hurt your wallet. The following list of popular Mexican banana dishes are available throughout the country and you can google the dish name to get a recipe to prepare at home. Chicken Cooked in Avocado and Banana Leaves: Pílte de Pollo; Banana Bread: Panqué de Plátano; Mexican filled plantain croquettes: Croquetas de platano rellenos; Mexican plantains with vanilla cream: Postre de platanos con vainilla; Mashed plantains with pork rinds: Machuca de platano con chicharrones; Mexican plantain empanadas with picadillo: Empanadas de plátano; Yucatan style plantain soup: Sopa de platano yucateca; and Crunchy Mexican plantain fritters: Aranitas.
The next time you bite into a sweet banana, remember that there is a determined and hard-working laborer behind it. For you, a banana in a store is a healthy snack but for thousands of Mexican agricultural workers, it feeds his/her family.