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04-02-2015, 12:30 PM
An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:
I was once told that its the best value for money of anything one can purchase at the store, which may be true considering it is cheap and nutrient-packed. Was also told that it ripens too quickly when kept in the fridge, and shouldn't be stored together with other fruits because it emits ethylene, which causes fruits to ripen. In any case, here are some more facts about bananas. Have fun.
Cheers!
http://budgetcooking.about.com/od/Bu...et-test-392518 (http://budgetcooking.about.com/od/Budget-Cooking-101/fl/5-Things-to-Know-About-Bananas.htm?utm_source=zergnet&utm_medium=tcg&utm_campaign=zergnet-test-392518)
5 Things to Know About Bananas
By Dora Villarosa
Budget Cooking Expert
1. The Cavendish is Top Banana. While there are more than 500 varieties of bananas on the planet, the most popular is the Cavendish, which accounts for 95 percent of the global banana exports. The Cavendish soared to its status as top banana in the 1950’s, when it was found to be resistant to strains of Panama disease, which had damaged the crop of the Gros Michel, which was the most popular banana at the time. In recent years, Black Sigatoka disease has raised heightened alarm by harming crops of the Cavendish banana, leading some experts to believe that it may soon be time for another banana variety to take center stage.
2. Bananas are Big Business. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, bananas are the 8th most important food crop in the world, and make up a global industry of more than $8 billion in annual trade. Bananas are grown in more than 150 countries, which produce over a hundred million tons a year. The US is the top importer of bananas in the world, importing almost 4 million tons per year (over 65% of American households buy bananas every week, making bananas the most popular fresh fruit in the US). The Produce Marketing Association estimates that each American consumes about 28 pounds of bananas, or 80 medium bananas per year. Banana Republic didn’t always signify khaki-clad prepsters – the term was used to describe Central American countries whose economies and politics were highly dependent on the (often corrupt) banana business.
3. Bananas treat you right. Bananas pack tons of nutrition power bite for bite. They are popular with athletes for the quick boost of energy they give. Despite their rich and sweet flavor, a medium sized banana only has about 90 calories. Bananas are high in vitamins C, B6, dietary fiber, and potassium. Potassium is especially good for keeping high blood pressure in check and reducing risk of stroke. Bananas are helpful with muscle cramps, including cluster headaches. If you suffer from leg cramps or other muscular cramps while sleeping, keep a banana on your bedside table for quick relief. Bananas also protect the stomach lining from inflammation, and are recommended by doctors for patients recovering from gastrointestinal difficulties such as ulcers, colitis, or stomach flu. Frozen bananas can offer relief to teething infants. Banana peels are useful, as well, and can be used to treat itchy insect bites.
4. It’s actually a giant herb. The world’s most popular fruit isn’t a fruit at all, but the world’s biggest herb. Most people think bananas grow on trees, because banana plants often grow to be from 16-30 ft tall. Banana plants are grown from a rhizome or sucker, which is a fat, bulblike root that springs up at the base of the mother plant. Banana plants take about 15 months to mature, and each plant produces one 50 pound bunch of bananas. Each bunch includes several “hands” of about a dozen bananas (fingers). It takes two workers to harvest bananas from the plant. A “cutter” cuts down the plant with a machete while the “backer” hunches over and waits for the stem to land on his shoulder. Once the backer is holding the weight of the bananas, the cutter cuts the stem and the backer takes the fruit to an overhead cable which then takes it to a processing plant.
5. History and Pop Culture. Most experts believe that the banana originated thousands of years ago in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, where wild varieties of bananas can still be found. Bananas play an important part in the ancient art and mythology of many cultures, especially among Hindus, Buddhists, and Hawaiians (whose legend states that because of its phallic shape, it could only be eaten by men). Bananas hold an especially esteemed position in the Koran, in which the banana plant is the original forbidden fruit on the Tree of Paradise. Bananas also have a more light-hearted place in pop culture, including the iconic Miss Chiquita animated commercial featuring a catchy, silly tune.
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://singsupplies.com/showthread.php?199728-Bananas&goto=newpost).
I was once told that its the best value for money of anything one can purchase at the store, which may be true considering it is cheap and nutrient-packed. Was also told that it ripens too quickly when kept in the fridge, and shouldn't be stored together with other fruits because it emits ethylene, which causes fruits to ripen. In any case, here are some more facts about bananas. Have fun.
Cheers!
http://budgetcooking.about.com/od/Bu...et-test-392518 (http://budgetcooking.about.com/od/Budget-Cooking-101/fl/5-Things-to-Know-About-Bananas.htm?utm_source=zergnet&utm_medium=tcg&utm_campaign=zergnet-test-392518)
5 Things to Know About Bananas
By Dora Villarosa
Budget Cooking Expert
1. The Cavendish is Top Banana. While there are more than 500 varieties of bananas on the planet, the most popular is the Cavendish, which accounts for 95 percent of the global banana exports. The Cavendish soared to its status as top banana in the 1950’s, when it was found to be resistant to strains of Panama disease, which had damaged the crop of the Gros Michel, which was the most popular banana at the time. In recent years, Black Sigatoka disease has raised heightened alarm by harming crops of the Cavendish banana, leading some experts to believe that it may soon be time for another banana variety to take center stage.
2. Bananas are Big Business. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, bananas are the 8th most important food crop in the world, and make up a global industry of more than $8 billion in annual trade. Bananas are grown in more than 150 countries, which produce over a hundred million tons a year. The US is the top importer of bananas in the world, importing almost 4 million tons per year (over 65% of American households buy bananas every week, making bananas the most popular fresh fruit in the US). The Produce Marketing Association estimates that each American consumes about 28 pounds of bananas, or 80 medium bananas per year. Banana Republic didn’t always signify khaki-clad prepsters – the term was used to describe Central American countries whose economies and politics were highly dependent on the (often corrupt) banana business.
3. Bananas treat you right. Bananas pack tons of nutrition power bite for bite. They are popular with athletes for the quick boost of energy they give. Despite their rich and sweet flavor, a medium sized banana only has about 90 calories. Bananas are high in vitamins C, B6, dietary fiber, and potassium. Potassium is especially good for keeping high blood pressure in check and reducing risk of stroke. Bananas are helpful with muscle cramps, including cluster headaches. If you suffer from leg cramps or other muscular cramps while sleeping, keep a banana on your bedside table for quick relief. Bananas also protect the stomach lining from inflammation, and are recommended by doctors for patients recovering from gastrointestinal difficulties such as ulcers, colitis, or stomach flu. Frozen bananas can offer relief to teething infants. Banana peels are useful, as well, and can be used to treat itchy insect bites.
4. It’s actually a giant herb. The world’s most popular fruit isn’t a fruit at all, but the world’s biggest herb. Most people think bananas grow on trees, because banana plants often grow to be from 16-30 ft tall. Banana plants are grown from a rhizome or sucker, which is a fat, bulblike root that springs up at the base of the mother plant. Banana plants take about 15 months to mature, and each plant produces one 50 pound bunch of bananas. Each bunch includes several “hands” of about a dozen bananas (fingers). It takes two workers to harvest bananas from the plant. A “cutter” cuts down the plant with a machete while the “backer” hunches over and waits for the stem to land on his shoulder. Once the backer is holding the weight of the bananas, the cutter cuts the stem and the backer takes the fruit to an overhead cable which then takes it to a processing plant.
5. History and Pop Culture. Most experts believe that the banana originated thousands of years ago in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, where wild varieties of bananas can still be found. Bananas play an important part in the ancient art and mythology of many cultures, especially among Hindus, Buddhists, and Hawaiians (whose legend states that because of its phallic shape, it could only be eaten by men). Bananas hold an especially esteemed position in the Koran, in which the banana plant is the original forbidden fruit on the Tree of Paradise. Bananas also have a more light-hearted place in pop culture, including the iconic Miss Chiquita animated commercial featuring a catchy, silly tune.
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://singsupplies.com/showthread.php?199728-Bananas&goto=newpost).