BANANA(Musa paradisiaca, Musa sapientum)

Scientific characteristics:
Kingdom: Plants
Department: Angiosperms
Class: Monocots
Order:Zingeberales
Family: Banana
Genus: Banana

Story:
Today, the diet of a Westerner is unthinkable without bananas, although the banana was almost the last to arrive in Europe - after cocoa, coffee and tobacco.

One of the first Europeans to appreciate the taste of bananas was Alexander the Great. In the year 327 before Christ, the great commander tasted the exotic fruit during his Indian campaign and was delighted, as the legend says.

Dozens of varieties of banana were cultivated in India, and the earliest references to this plant are found in ancient Buddhist texts dating back to the sixth century BC. The first plantations of perennial grasses of the banana family appeared around the second century BC in China. From China and India, the plant began its victorious march to other Asian countries. Arab slave traders and ivory hunters brought the banana to Africa, where the plant took root and became so widespread that the myth about the African origin of the banana still lives on.

In the early 15th century, Portuguese colonialists brought the banana to the Canary Islands and then to the New World. The Franciscan monk Tomaso de Berlanga, the future archbishop of Panama, founded the first banana plantation near his monastery on the Caribbean island of Santo Domingo in 1516. However, only slaves and cattle were fed bananas; the conquistadors did not eat the plebeian fruit, which had already spread throughout Central America.

Until 1866, the banana remained unknown to residents of North America and Europe. Travelers who visited banana countries excitedly talked about the wonderful fruit, sweet as sugar and nourishing as bread, but the banana was considered unsuitable for transportation, since it ripened even before it could be dragged along the tropical off-road to the nearest seaport.

And again, immigrants from Eastern Europe came to the aid of the sluggish colonialists. It remains to be seen how long the banana revolution would have been delayed if not for two emigrants - Samuil Zhemurai and Minor Keith.

Having visited Latin America and appreciated the commercial qualities of an unpretentious agricultural crop that produces crops all year round, they got a loan from a bank and began to build communication routes. First, a network of narrow gauge railways railways The previously inaccessible jungles of Costa Rica and Ecuador were covered, then the gigantic territories of what are now Colombia, Panama, Honduras and Guatemala.

The American premiere of the “banana for the people” took place in 1876 in Philadelphia, at an exhibition dedicated to the centennial anniversary of the declaration of independence of the United States. Each fruit was wrapped in waxed paper and cost 10 cents - the same as a liter of milk or a glass of beer. Soon, all of North America was hooked on bananas: just four years after the exhibition, the United States imported 16 million banana blossoms.

It was the so-called banana “inflorescences” that remained the unit of measurement in the banana trade until the fifties of the 20th century. A standard “inflorescence” - or, more precisely, a huge trunk dotted with banana bunches - should have contained at least three hundred fruits. In 1951, the “inflorescences” were replaced by an eighteen-kilogram flat box, which remains the standard packaging to this day.

Meanwhile, Latin America was gripped by a real banana fever. The tropical fruit, once brought by the conquistadors, turned out to be salvation for the Latin American continent. In the most remote and forgotten corners of God, plantations were laid out, electricity and telegraph lines were installed, schools for children, trading shops and bars were opened. In 1899, banana producers from Latin America united to form the United Banana Company. The company remains the world's leading exporter of bananas to this day - they are sold under the Chiquita brand.

Harry Lemke, a merchant of colonial goods from the city of Hamburg, stopped in the corner of his port warehouse and began to sniff. An unusually sweet aroma spread from behind a pile of empty tea boxes piled in the corner. Lemke ordered the boxes to be removed. Imagine the amazement of all those present when a trunk covered with fragrant, shining yellow fruits was discovered in the corner. A couple of weeks ago one of the captains brought fruit from an overseas voyage. Desperately green and tasteless, they did not make much of an impression and were thrown into the far corner. Two months later, bananas appeared in the assortment of the colonial goods store "Lemke and Sons".

The store was located on the most luxurious Hamburg promenade - the Jungfernstieg embankment, known throughout Germany as the “bride fair”. Young girls of marriageable age walked along the Alster and were not at all embarrassed to eat bananas - on the contrary, the new delicacy became the squeak of the season. IN fashion stores Banana-shaped handbags, banana-shaped scarves and shawls, and even hats decorated with papier-mâché bananas were sold.

In 1903, the first cargo ship with a refrigerated hold rolled off the stocks. It was called "Venus" and sailed between the Ecuadorian port of Guayaquil and Marseille. It was Paris that became the banana capital of Europe, and it was in Paris that the “career” of the banana as an object began modern culture. Banana has become an integral part of art salons. Salvador Dali and young Pablo Picasso appeared at the opening days with a banana in hand. Vincent Van Gogh and Henri Rousseau included bananas in their still lifes. Fashionable stores sold banana-shaped handbags and hats decorated with papier-mâché bananas. American dancer and singer Josephine Baker created a sensation with her performance in “Revue Negro” - a native of the city of Saint-Louis performed a semblance of a ritual African dance, dressed only in a skirt made of bananas. In the twenties, Josephine Baker's "banana dance" became widespread throughout Europe.

General characteristics:
Bananas are tall, sometimes gigantic herbs with powerful rhizomes and short stems. The leaves are very large, in the sheaths, which form a multilayer tube, there is a false stem. Young leaves emerge through it, and then an inflorescence resembling a huge brush. Flowers are unisexual and bisexual. The fruit is polyspermous, berry-shaped, thick-skinned; in cultivated forms it is often devoid of seeds (plants reproduce only vegetatively) and reaches 15 cm in length and 3-4 cm in diameter. Up to 300 such fruits can develop on one axis; their total weight reaches 50-60 kg. After fruiting, the above-ground part of the banana dies off.

Bananas belong to the group of sweet fruits. They are famous all over the world. Consumed raw. The fruit of a cultivated banana consists of 40% peel and 60% powdery sweet pulp; the seeds are not developed. The pulp of the fresh fruit contains 14-22% sugars, 5-8% starch, and up to 1.5% protein. The aroma of banana fruits depends on isovaleric-novo-isoamyl and acetic-isoamyl esters. The fruits are consumed fresh and dried; banana flour, canned food, marmalade, syrup, and wine are prepared from them.

Some types of banana have fruits with hard, mealy, unsweetened pulp; They are used mainly for livestock feed, and are eaten only in fried and boiled form. Textile or spinning banana is grown as a technical plant ( M. textilis), from the false trunks of which light, strong fiber is extracted, the so-called. Manila hemp (abaca), used for making marine ropes, fishing tackle, etc. Japanese banana, or decorative ( M. basjoo), grown on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and Crimea as ornamental plant. How a food and textile plant is grown in Africa Abyssinian banana (M. ensete), which is now more often placed in the genus Ensete ( E. ventricosum).

The banana is cut when it is still green. Ripening occurs on the way to the consumer country or in warehouses. Bananas are delivered to Ukraine by sea on powerful refrigerated vessels, the refrigeration units of which allow the fruit to be preserved in a state of “removable” ripeness throughout the entire transportation period.

Production:

Storage:
The shelf life is determined by the condition of the batch upon arrival at its destination and the choice of film in which the bananas are packaged. In case of using polypack film maximum term storage period is 28 days from the moment of cutting the fruits, "banavac" and "high dencity" - 40-50 days (due to the modified gas environment during transportation and storage). The safety of bananas during transportation is achieved by maintaining a constant pulp temperature at 12-14 °C. At temperatures below 10 °C, bananas spoil.

Main banana producing countries:
India, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Philippines, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Thailand, Burundi.

Banana ripeness chart:

Evenly green - normal color upon receipt

Green-yellow - ready for wholesale delivery

Yellow with green noses - good color for sale

Evenly yellow is the ideal color to sell.

Yellow with brown spots - fully ripe, maximum nutritional content, must be sold immediately.

Did you know that three out of ten bananas eaten in the world grow in Ecuador?

Ecuador is the world's main banana exporter, producing unrivaled bananas High Quality and exquisite taste.
At the same time, everything production processes carried out in accordance with international security standards environment. The good climate and fertile soils mean that plantations in Ecuador require half the fungicide cycle compared to banana production in other countries.

Bananas in Ecuador are a constant presence throughout the year, with approximately 180,000 cultivated hectares and 12% of the labor force.

The banana varieties grown in Ecuador are Veleri, Grand Cavendish, Grand Nain and Lacaten. Main markets: USA, European Union, Russia, New Zealand, Far East, Japan and Chile. Ecuador also exports processed foods such as banana puree, banana flour, dehydrated bananas and banana chips. Likewise, Ecuador offers organic bananas, also available throughout the year.

Consumer portrait:

"Bananas are eaten by both young and old, whether rich or poor"
But still, banana consumption depends on many factors - demographic, social and many others. In many ways, the culture of consumption is also determined by the country in which a person lives.

Why do we eat bananas?

Banana is the king of all tropical fruits. The peel protects the fruit from external influences, and the fruit itself has a wonderful aroma, wonderful taste and is easily digestible.

Moreover, bananas are an essential source of potassium in the diet (2000 – 4000 mg of Potassium per day). 100 grams of banana contains about 370 mg of potassium.

The effects of potassium on human physiology have been demonstrated for many years, and for this reason, bananas are the choice of many people. Due to its high content in the fruit and peel, potassium is considered the most important nutrient in bananas. Therefore, in order for the quality of the fruit to be high, careful control over the use of potassium carbonate is necessary. The harvested fruit is taken from the fields a large number of potassium To replace the loss of potassium in fields, at least 500 kg of potassium carbonate per hectare is needed, even in soils rich in potassium.

Which bananas do consumers like?

Specialists of the Expert Analytical Center for Agribusiness "AB-Center" have prepared another overview of the Russian banana market. Below are excerpts from the study. The full study plan can be found at:

Russian banana market

Volume of the Russian banana market, not taking into account carryover stocks, is comparable to the volume of banana imports into the Russian Federation. The Russian banana market is one of the largest in the world. The country is in 4th place in terms of import volume.

Banana consumption in Russia

Banana consumption per capita in Russia in 2001-2013. steadily increased and in 2013, according to estimates, reached 9.3 kg (excluding possible losses during storage). The only exception was 2009, when, due to the weakening of the national currency, volumes decreased slightly compared to 2008. In 2014 and 2015 Another round of ruble devaluation occurred, which led to a reduction in banana supplies to the Russian Federation. Banana consumption per capita dropped to 8.3 kg in 2015.

Import of bananas to Russia

Volume of banana imports to Russia in 2015 amounted to 1,222.1 thousand tons, which is 3.1% or 39.3 thousand tons less than the volumes of 2014. Over two years, supplies decreased by 8.6%, over three years the decrease was 3.1%. The value of imports in 2015 was at the level of 904.9 million USD - decreased by 4.5% compared to 2014, and by 9.0% compared to 2013.

The main supplier of bananas to Russia- Ecuador. In 2015, this country accounted for 98.5% of all banana supplies to the Russian Federation (1204.4 thousand tons). In 2014, Ecuador's share was 97.1% (1224.4 thousand tons). Import volumes for the year decreased by 1.6% or 20.0 thousand tons.

The share of Costa Rica, the second largest supplier of bananas to the Russian Federation, in the total volume of banana imports to the Russian Federation is significantly lower - only 0.8%. In 2015, compared to 2014, supplies from this country decreased by 31.9% or 4.5 thousand tons and amounted to 9.7 thousand tons.

The volume of banana imports from the Philippines decreased significantly - by 80.0% or 14.1 thousand tons to 3.5 thousand tons. The share of the Philippines in the total supply of bananas to the Russian Federation in 2015 was 0.3%.

Mexico's share in 2015 was 0.2% of total banana supplies to the Russian Federation. The volume of imports of Mexican bananas over the year increased by 92.4% to 3.0 thousand tons.

Banana supplies from Vietnam in 2015 and 2014 remained almost at the same level - 0.7 thousand tons (less than 0.1% of total imports in 2015).

The total supplies of bananas from other countries in 2015 amounted to 0.8 thousand tons or 0.1% of the total supply.

Companies supplying bananas to Russia. In 2015, 46 Russian importing companies imported bananas in relatively large volumes (1 thousand tons or more). The TOP 10 largest accounted for 76.9% of all deliveries.

Banana imports in 2016

Imports of bananas to the Russian Federation in January - February 2016 amounted to 250.6 thousand tons.

Compared to January-February of the previous year, supplies increased by 47.0% or 80.1 thousand tons, over two years the increase was 14.6% or 31.9 thousand tons, over three years deliveries increased by 5.6 % or 13.3 thousand tons, for four - by 22.1% or 45.4 thousand tons.

Banana prices

World prices for bananas. Export prices for bananas from Ecuador (FOB prices) strengthened significantly at the beginning of 2016. In February 2016, they were at the level of 1,052.4 USD/t; over the year they grew by 8.8%, over two years - by 11.2%, over three years - by 13.7%, over four years - by 0.7%.

Banana prices in Russia. Average prices for bananas imported to Russia (average statistical cost of imports) also went up at the beginning of 2016. In February 2016, they amounted to 748.3 USD/t. Compared to December 2015, the price increase was 2.5%. However, this is 0.1% lower than prices in February 2015. Compared to February 2014, the price decrease was 0.5%, compared to February 2013 - 0.7%, and 2012 - 0.3%.

A different situation is observed if these figures are converted into rubles. The average prices for bananas imported into the Russian Federation in February 2016, converted into rubles on the date of import, amounted to 57,861.2 RUB/t. Over the year, the price increase was 19.7%; from February 2014, prices for imported bananas increased by 118.4%, from February 2013 - by 154.6%, from February 2012 - by 157.9%.

Union of Banana Exporting Countries

The Union of Banana Exporting Countries (SP. Union de Paises Exportadores de Banano - UPEB) was created in 1973. Inspired by the example of OPEC, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama have teamed up in an attempt to form a community of major banana producers to coordinate exports to North American and European markets. The Philippines was the only key supplier of bananas to the US market that was not included in this union. In the 1980s Venezuela joined UPEB. The headquarters of UPEB is located in Panama City (Panama). The official languages ​​are German and English.

It should be noted that at that time bananas were supplied to Europe mainly from the former French and British colonies of the Caribbean, which had privileged access to the European market, and the largest monopolists in the US market were: United Brands Company, Standard Fruit and the Del Monte Corporation " UPEB participants proposed a special export tax - $1 for every forty-pound box of bananas exported. The monopolies opposed and threatened to abandon their activities. There was also a global glut of bananas at the time, and Ecuador, the leading producer, refused to support such a high tax. The export tax was agreed upon at $0.25.

Due to the EU's restrictive policy, which prevents the free export of bananas from the UPEB countries, a real “banana war” has broken out between the European Union and the Union of Banana Exporting Countries.

The European Union is one of the most significant importers of bananas in the world. The EU imports about the same amount of bananas as the US, which is more than three times the volume of bananas imported by the third largest banana-consuming country, Japan. Moreover, only in the EU there are tariff and quantitative restrictions on the import of bananas. European countries (England and France were especially notable for this) when importing bananas, gave preference to supplier companies from countries that were previously their colonies. This helped achieve political goals - with the help of banana purchases, those regimes that were loyal to the former metropolises were supported. But the losses were borne by transnational trading companies, most of which were based in the USA.

As a result, American companies lost approximately $190 million, and the United States imposed sanctions that cost the Europeans $500 million (German coffee producers and French manufacturers of briefcases and handbags were particularly affected).

In 1975, the European Economic Community signed an international treaty with 48 former colonies (mainly those of France and Britain). In accordance with the agreement, these countries were provided with duty-free trade in bananas within the EEC. This agreement concerned mainly African countries and the Caribbean countries: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Suriname, Somalia, etc. At the same time, bananas produced in the UPEB participating countries, as already noted, were subject to import duties and quotas . Other requirements were also introduced, for example, the import of bananas from these countries was licensed.

European authorities motivated their decision by the need to support African countries for which the export of exotic fruits is their only source of income. EU trade restrictions have become a heavy blow to the American banana business also because it is going through difficult times due to overproduction of this type of agricultural product. Today, Ecuador alone is able to satisfy 40% of Europe's banana needs.

The conflict was resolved only in April 2001, when the EU came to an agreement with the United States and Ecuador. The main agreement reached can be considered the EU's commitment to introduce, from January 1, 2006, only a tariff regime for bananas from UPEB countries without quotas and import licensing, as well as a significant reduction in the “preferential” quota (i.e. quotas for former colonies).

The UPEB countries, especially Ecuador and Costa Rica, which rank 2nd and 3rd among banana exporting countries (after the Philippines), condemned the preferential policies implemented towards former colonies in Africa. Import duties The EU were found to be unfair, and the WTO obliged the EU to bring them into line with global trade agreements. Representatives of Ecuador's banana sector have asked the EU to provide support in the fight against the campaign that violates free trade principles and to remove the system of import tariffs. They also stated that they regard the measures imposed on the import of bananas from African, Pacific and Caribbean countries as illegal and illegal.

Officially, the “banana wars” ended only after a meeting of representatives of the 35 countries involved in the dispute at the WTO summit in Geneva in July 2008. The tariff for the import of bananas into the EU is proposed to be set by 2016 at 114 euros per ton instead of the current 176. Already in 2010 prices should be lowered to 148 euros per forty-pound box.

The new “banana” agreement between UPEB and the EU was signed in 2009. According to statements by international experts, the tariff program proposed by the European Union regarding tariff rates for banana supplies is insufficient and unsatisfactory for Latin American exporters, but an official response from UPEB has not yet been received.

Today, member countries of the Union of Banana Exporters account for 50% of the world exports of this product. The decisions they make regarding the supply of bananas to the world market, in particular on conducting research into the possibility of expanding banana consumption or creating a common marketing company, can be classified as multilateral. Main markets: USA, European Union, Russia, New Zealand, Far East, Japan and Chile. UPEB countries also export processed foods such as banana puree, banana flour, dehydrated bananas and banana chips. Kro4.6. International organizations metal producers and exporters

In addition, UPEB countries offer organic bananas available throughout the year.

Today, Ecuador exports about 20% of its bananas to Russia. Russian “fruit kings” are consistently turning their companies into vertically integrated structures. Since there are practically no “free” banana plantations left in Africa and Latin America, Russian businessmen began to buy land in Ecuador.

The share of production in the cost structure of bananas does not exceed 30% on average. The rest comes from transportation (35%), customs duties (20%), costs of maintaining a permanent office in Ecuador and packaging (15%). Having our own raw material base allows us to insure ourselves against speculation in the Ecuadorian banana market. Thus, cooperation Russian business and UPEB are extremely promising.

For more details, see http://www.foodretail.ru, www.fruitnews.ru

which country is the world leader in banana cultivation and received the best answer

Answer from Irina Gromova[guru]
The leading countries in banana production are India (25% of the total world volume), China, the Philippines, Ecuador and Brazil (the latter countries each 10-11% of the total world volume).

Answer from HOLY_CRAP[expert]
Africa?

Answer from ®eaLbnb)y ko†E[guru]
Africa

Answer from Artemon Giggs[guru]
India and China, as well as the Philippines, occupy leading positions in the world

Answer from D E N V E R[guru]
The leader in the list of banana producing countries is INDIA.
In general, bananas are grown in almost all countries with a humid tropical climate, mainly in developing ones.
The islands of the Malay Archipelago are considered the birthplace of bananas. According to scientists, ancient inhabitants grew them and ate them in addition to their fish diet. Traveling through the islands of the Pacific Ocean, they stocked up on fruits known to them and thus contributed to the spread of bananas. According to another version, bananas were known in South America even before the arrival of Europeans. This version is based on the fact that the remains of banana leaves were found in Peruvian Indian tombs.
From India, bananas came after 650 to Palestine and the east coast of Africa. They were brought here by Arab merchants who actively traded in slaves and ivory. By the time Europeans began actively exploring Africa, bananas were already well known there. Bananas came to the Canary Islands from Guinea after 1402 thanks to the Portuguese, who began growing them. Fruits arrived on the island of Haiti 24 years after the discovery of America - only in 1516. Active cultural cultivation of bananas in South America spread already by the middle of the 16th century.
The cuisine of Latin American countries boasts the greatest variety of banana dishes. Here they are boiled, baked, stewed, fried in olive oil with spices, served with cheese, and even made into “honey” - a thick syrup obtained by boiling bananas for a long time. In a number of African countries, bananas, fried or stewed with other vegetables, are often served as a side dish for shrimp, tuna or other fish dishes.

Bananas are among the most popular and edible fruits in the world. They were first grown in tropical India and Southeast Asia more than 4 thousand years ago. Arab merchants brought them to North Africa and the Middle East. Portuguese sailors saw bananas as they sailed down the Atlantic coast of Africa. From Africa, bananas were brought to the Canary Islands, from where the Spaniards brought them to the New World.

What do banana plantations look like?

Although bananas grow like trees, they are actually plants consisting of stems covered with overlapping leaves. The stem or rod can be about 30 centimeters thick. Banana trees grow up to 6 meters in height and have long, wide leaves up to 20 centimeters. Banana fruits grow in clusters of 10-20 pieces. Bananas grow in well-drained soil in tropical climates with adequate rainfall. Most often, bananas grow on plantations and are cared for by hundreds of workers who cultivate and harvest the fruits for the world market. These farms sell their products to large companies such as Chiquita and Dole.

The first banana fruits grow about a year after planting. Bananas do not like low temperatures, below zero and strong winds. Diseases such as Panama and various infections in the soil can destroy a banana crop.

Harvest

Bananas are harvested green. In this state, the banana pulp is white and completely unsuitable for food. Green fruits are brought to the nearest port, where they are placed in cooling containers.

When the bananas arrive at their destination, they are unloaded onto trucks or railway cars and are taken to sellers, who store them in special cells. It takes five days for bananas to ripen and turn yellow. The pulp of a ripe banana becomes sweet.

Bananas are a dietary product

In many tropical regions of Africa, South America and Asia, bananas serve as the main food for the population. They contain a sufficient amount of useful nutrients that people really need. In addition to 75% water, banana contains sugars, proteins and vitamins, and is quite easily absorbed by the body.

Bananas are considered a healthy food all over the world. They contain potassium, which can lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease and reduce the risk of stroke. In the West, bananas are eaten as a snack between meals. In other countries they are used to make wine or beer.

Types of Bananas

There are up to a thousand various types bananas The typical commercial bananas that are most widely available are the unripe Cavendish varieties. The banana variety "Plantains" is used for cooking.

The value of banana culture

Bananas are the fourth most valuable food crop in the world after wheat, rice and corn. They are important for the economies of tropical countries. About 140 million tons of bananas are harvested annually, but only a small percentage of actual production is exported. The largest banana-producing countries actually need them themselves.

India is the world's largest banana producer, followed by Uganda, China, the Philippines, Ecuador and Brazil.

Banana trade

The banana trade currently brings the industry up to $5 billion. Companies such as Chiquita and Dole control much of the banana export industry. In Central America and the Caribbean, workers suffer from poor working conditions and low wages.

For decades, EU countries have preferred to buy bananas from Africa and the Caribbean, imposing tariffs on them. In 2009, the banana war came to an end.

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