Bananas are grown in countries of hot, humid tropical temperatures. The majority of bananas are grown within 20 degrees of the equator, this is because the weather is best suited here to grow bananas. For example these countries would be Africa, Latin America, Caribbean, Pacific etc. Only 20% of all bananas grown are exported most bananas are grown in the North America area.
I have added a map from Google maps which will give you a better visual of where bananas are grown across the world.
Credits:
http://www.bananalink.org.uk/content/where-bananas-are-grown
http://www.chiquitabananas.com/banana-information/find-banana-farm-map.aspx
Friday 20 May 2016
Tuesday 17 May 2016
How bananas are made
Bananas are one of those fruits that don't have a particular growing season and are available fresh all year round. The banana plant grows from a bulb unlike most fruits which grow from seeds. It can take anywhere from 9 to 12 months from planting the bulb and when the plant will be ready to harvest. The flower tends to appear during the sixth and seventh month.
video
http://www.bananalink.org.uk/how-bananas-are-grown
Bananas need moist soil with good drainage in order to grow well for this reason most bananas that are exported have grown within 30 degrees of the equator. This is because bananas grow best in tropical regions with an average temperature of 27°C.
Banana growing is tough work and can tend to be a long strenuous process from clearly the jungle preparing the soil, ensuring the weight of the bananas is correct and then covering the bananas with plastic bags so they are protected from bugs, the wind and maintain the correct temperature.
After nine months while still green, the bananas are harvested and carefully inspected because they cannot be exported if the are bruised. If they are damaged they will be sold at local markets at a much lower price.
Bananas are then transported to the ports to be exported in large refrigerated ships. It can take up to 12 days for the bananas to reach Europe. When being transported they are kept at a cool temperature of 13° C to prolong their self life. Next they are sent to ripening rooms and from then on to the shops.
Credits
Credits
video
http://www.bananalink.org.uk/how-bananas-are-grown
Monday 16 May 2016
Types of Bananas
Across the world there are over 1000 different types of bananas that is then subdivided down into 50 different groups. I have chosen the 5 most popular bananas to go into further detail about, they are the Red Banana, Baby/Nino Banana, Burro Banana, Manzano Banana and the Cavendish Banana.
Red Banana
The Red Banana gets its name from the red colour of its banana skin and the pink flesh. These bananas are found mainly in Mexico
but have also been largely found in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Pacific Islands due to the tropical temperatures. This banana is full of vitamin C, vitamin B and potassium. Its low fat, cholesterol free, low in salt and is a source of fibre. Its is renowned for its sweet taste and creamy texture, it is slightly shorter and wider than the average banana.
Baby/Nino Banana
Baby Bananas can be found all around the world but they are native to Columbia. They are called baby bananas because they are shorter than the average banana. When you first purchase a Baby Banana it will be of a greenish hue. This just means that it is beginning to ripen, after a couple
of days the banana will become yellow and fit for consumption. The banana skin will then start to go brown although this colour is off putting I doesn't effect the flavour of the banana. This banana is full of vitamin c, vitamin b and potassium. Its also known as the ladyfinger banana the largest producers of this banana is a company called Chiquita. This banana is sold largely as a snack for children.
Burro Banana
Also known as the Chunky banana these bananas are shorter and more square than the regular banana. When ripe these bananas are yellow with black spots and have a zesty lemon tinge to their flavour. One of these bananas are only 95 calories and can restore a persons potassium amounts in a single banana. They originated from Mexico but can be found in many other countries all year round.
Manzano Banana
This banana is usually grown in Asia, South America, Mexico, Caribbean, and Africa. Its stubby and thick skinned and is also known as the Apple banana. It contains 8 amino acids that our body's cant produce. It is smaller and sweeter with an apple/strawberry flavour. These bananas turn a dark yellow when ripe and tend to ripen much faster than regular bananas. They also contain high amounts of fibre, potassium and vitamin c.
Cavendish Banana
This banana is the most well known and popular banana, I have referred to this banana as a regular banana throughout this blogpost. When buying this banana it is best to buy it slightly green and allow it to ripen. This banana can be used in numerous dishes for example pancakes, muffins and smoothies to name a few. These bananas are most likely the bananas on the shelves in your local supermarket.
Credits:
http://nutritionthetruth.blogspot.ie/2010/10/differnt-types-of-bananas.html
image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_banana https://pixabay.com/en/photos/banana%20plant/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana
https://blog.education.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/13/demise-of-the-clones/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3414918/Facing-extinction-banana-Britain-gave-world-Cavendish-species-threat-deadly-disease-sweeping-world-s-crops.htm
Red Banana
The Red Banana gets its name from the red colour of its banana skin and the pink flesh. These bananas are found mainly in Mexico
but have also been largely found in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Pacific Islands due to the tropical temperatures. This banana is full of vitamin C, vitamin B and potassium. Its low fat, cholesterol free, low in salt and is a source of fibre. Its is renowned for its sweet taste and creamy texture, it is slightly shorter and wider than the average banana. Baby/Nino Banana
Baby Bananas can be found all around the world but they are native to Columbia. They are called baby bananas because they are shorter than the average banana. When you first purchase a Baby Banana it will be of a greenish hue. This just means that it is beginning to ripen, after a couple
of days the banana will become yellow and fit for consumption. The banana skin will then start to go brown although this colour is off putting I doesn't effect the flavour of the banana. This banana is full of vitamin c, vitamin b and potassium. Its also known as the ladyfinger banana the largest producers of this banana is a company called Chiquita. This banana is sold largely as a snack for children.Burro Banana
Also known as the Chunky banana these bananas are shorter and more square than the regular banana. When ripe these bananas are yellow with black spots and have a zesty lemon tinge to their flavour. One of these bananas are only 95 calories and can restore a persons potassium amounts in a single banana. They originated from Mexico but can be found in many other countries all year round. Manzano Banana
This banana is usually grown in Asia, South America, Mexico, Caribbean, and Africa. Its stubby and thick skinned and is also known as the Apple banana. It contains 8 amino acids that our body's cant produce. It is smaller and sweeter with an apple/strawberry flavour. These bananas turn a dark yellow when ripe and tend to ripen much faster than regular bananas. They also contain high amounts of fibre, potassium and vitamin c.Cavendish Banana
Credits:
http://nutritionthetruth.blogspot.ie/2010/10/differnt-types-of-bananas.html
image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_banana https://pixabay.com/en/photos/banana%20plant/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana
https://blog.education.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/13/demise-of-the-clones/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3414918/Facing-extinction-banana-Britain-gave-world-Cavendish-species-threat-deadly-disease-sweeping-world-s-crops.htm
The history of bananas
Bananas were originally found in South East Asia in the jungles of Malaysia, Indonesia and The Philippines and also a large portion found in India. There is also proof that the first bananas originated from New Guinea in 5000 BC. The first bananas were exported from China to Palestine and then the Arabs exported them to America.
Bananas were only brought to Europe during the Renaissance in 1502. The first evidence of the introduction of bananas to Europe is from when the portugesue colonist started to harvest the banana plant in the Caribbean and Central America and then brought them home to Europe.
The first sales of banana really kicked off in 1899 when the united fruit company, an American food company started exporting bananas to Central America in particular Guatemala.
Bananas have dated back a long time and since then the production of bananas has rapidly increased. Bananas is now the most popular fruit across the world and there are now over 1000 different types of bananas to be found across the planet.
Credits:
http://www.zipmec.com/en/banana-history-production-trade-guide-fruit.html
image: http://usslave.blogspot.ie/2012/03/banana-zone.html
Bananas were only brought to Europe during the Renaissance in 1502. The first evidence of the introduction of bananas to Europe is from when the portugesue colonist started to harvest the banana plant in the Caribbean and Central America and then brought them home to Europe.
The first sales of banana really kicked off in 1899 when the united fruit company, an American food company started exporting bananas to Central America in particular Guatemala.
Bananas have dated back a long time and since then the production of bananas has rapidly increased. Bananas is now the most popular fruit across the world and there are now over 1000 different types of bananas to be found across the planet.
Credits:
http://www.zipmec.com/en/banana-history-production-trade-guide-fruit.html
image: http://usslave.blogspot.ie/2012/03/banana-zone.html
Friday 29 April 2016
Introduction
Hello and welcome to my blog about bananas. My name is Hannah and I am a fourth year student in Wesley College. On this blog I hope to post weekly and educate myself and the public in the process.
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