The future of bananas has generated a bunch of excitement. And the above song lyric may very well be prophetic:.Yes ? banana export is a four billion dollar a year industry that is seriously threatened by a wind borne disease called Black Sigatoka;.No - Sigatoka is not the end of the banana, but perhaps the end of the supermarket variety known as the Cavendish.
Some say rumors regarding the Banana's demise are exaggerated, other experts think not.The problem with the banana is each Cavendish is genetically identical. They are sweet, yellow, easy to peel and sterile, and this lack of genetic diversity puts them at risk of extinction. Banana growers must also contend with other diseases such as cigar-end rot, fusarium wilt and bunchy-top virus.How will that affect banana lovers? The average American eats 26 pounds of the fruit a year.
Which seems like a simple snack when to compared to other parts of the world. In some countries of Africa each person consumes 45 pounds a month. For those in other countries the future of banana is of grave concern.
Banana production is the fourth most economically important food export in the world next to wheat, rice and corn.There are over 180 varieties of banana including plantains, which are important in cooking in many countries, but the Cavendish remains king. In California, rare fruit growers are producing many tasty varieties of the fruit including, Lady Finger, Cuban Red, Gros Michel, Ice Cream and others.
While the demise of the Cavendish banana may or may not be exaggerated, one thing for sure is the banana has an exciting future. Yes we have many other new and tasty bananas to try.
.Harry Ehrentraut is a speech writer and public speaker, and now enjoys writing articles.By: Harry Ehrentraut
