cultivated

In Japan as well, bananas are mainly cultivated in warm regions such as Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefectures. Recently, more farmers on Honshu—such as in the colder prefectures of Akita and Niigata, as well as Hyogo and Okayama—have been increasing cultivation through their own innovative methods.

not

We don’t see seeds in the bananas we usually eat, but wild bananas are packed with seeds about the size of adzuki beans. The reason we don’t find seeds in the bananas we normally eat is that they’ve been bred into seedless varieties.

August 7

Banana Day is on August 7. It was established by the Japan Banana Importers Association to promote banana consumption. Because of the wordplay where “banana” corresponds to 87, this date has become popularly known as Banana Day each year.

India

In 2021, the country with the highest banana production in the world was India. Leveraging its warm climate and vast land, India produces a large quantity of bananas every year. Following India, China ranks second in production, Indonesia ranks third, and Brazil ranks fourth.

So as not to import pests along with bananas

In fact, importing ripe yellow bananas is prohibited by law. The reason is that ripe yellow bananas may be infested with pests. These pests are said to have the potential to harm Japanese crops, so bananas are imported while they are still green to prevent this.

Hang in a cool, well-ventilated place

Bananas are sensitive to cold, and their skins turn black if you put them in the refrigerator. Placing them directly on a desk or table also stresses the side that’s in contact, causing browning and softening of the flesh. Hanging them in a cool, well-ventilated place helps prevent damage and keeps them fresh longer.

Musaceae

Bananas belong to the Musaceae family and are herbaceous plants. Although we enjoy bananas as a fruit, it’s surprising to learn they’re actually in the grass group. They look like trees, but what seems to be a trunk is a pseudostem formed by many overlapping leaves.