Bananas

- Scientific name is Musa
- One of many varieties of plantains
- 400 banana varieties
- Grown in 107 countries
- Cavendish: banana most eaten in U.S.
- 27 pounds: consumption per American per year
- Grown in tropical climates
- High in fiber and potassium

Bananas are a very popular fruit around the world, due to their sweetness and ease of peeling. The most popular type in the early 1900s was the "Gros Michael", larger and sweeter than the ones eaten in America and Europe today. It was largely wiped out by Panama disease, a root fungus, due to its lack of genetic diversity. The current and popular Cavendish, is under attack by the same disease, also due to its lack of genetic diversity. Fruit farmers are looking for new varieties to replace it.
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Featured Video: Banana Quick Bread

This video is very easy to follow and provides precise measurements for all ingredients. Whenever you have bananas that have gone a bit too ripe, peel them and freeze them. You will always have some bananas on hand for baking.

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Bananas on Amazon
- Lipper International 1056 Chrome-and-Beechwood Banana Hanger - $9.99
  
  This Lipper International Chrome and Beechwood Banana Hanger helps keep your fruit lasting longer as well as making your kitchen look great. Just place your bananas on this hanger...
  
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- Bananagrams - $14.95
  
  Bananagrams is a fast and fun word game that requires no pencil, paper or board. All you need is a table. One hand can be played in as little as five minutes. It is a great for fam...
  
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- The Wiggles: Go Bananas! - $14.98
  
  In their latest adventure, The Wiggles Go Bananas! the fab four of fun have recorded some of their most catchy and infectious songs to date. Even pop superstar Kylie Minogue has do...
  
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- Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World - $16.00
  
  In the vein of the bestselling Salt and Cod, a gripping chronicle of the myth, mystery, and uncertain fate of the world’s most popular fruit In this fascinating ...
  
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Bananas Questions

I love Banana Bread - Where did you get the recipe? 5 Answers

The classic recipe that I always had growing up, the one that people at bake sales and picnics raved about, was the one in the Betty Crocker cookbook. Others c... read more

Where can I find the recipe for Gfree banana cake? 1 Answer

There's a few versions on this link: http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080721032302AARQq9H read more

Anybody got a good banana bread recipe? 1 Answer

This is the absolute best ever banana bread! Combine: 1 1/2 cups of flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Set aside. Beat 4 mashed... read more

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Bananas News
- EU Hopes For Banana Deal In Next Week
  
  The agreement would lower tariffs on bananas from outside the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific region, which for years has benefited from preferential rates in ... (November 18, 2009)
  New York Times
- WTO farm talks edge forward on safeguard, tropicals
  
  The most sensitive one is bananas, where Latin American producers are demanding the European Union cuts tariffs which discriminate against their fruit in ... (November 20, 2009)
  Forbes
- Schneider: Determining banana peels' origin a slippery subject
  
  OKEMOS - My daughter has been talking about the mysterious banana peel pile for a couple of years now. She and two of her friends have been contemplating ... (November 20, 2009)
  Lansing State Journal
- Video: Richard Dawkins Calls Prominent Creationist 'Banana Man'
  
  During lectures and in interviews, Dawkins has called Comfort the 'Banana Man' because of Comfort's well-known Creationism skit. On September 29, 2009, ... (November 19, 2009)
  PR Newswire (press release)
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