🤔 Today's Trivia Question:

What is the Most Consumed Fruit in the World?

Correct Answer: D) Bananas

🍌 Bananas: The World's Favorite Fruit and How They Reach Your Table

Do you have a favorite fruit?

Some people prefer strawberries or grapes, while others enjoy oranges, cherries, watermelons, or pineapples. However, when it comes to the world as a whole, one fruit stands above all others — and it doesn't even grow on a tree! The banana, of course!

Over 100 billion bananas are consumed worldwide each year. India, China, Brazil, and Indonesia account for half of that consumption. Bananas make up approximately 75% of the annual tropical fruit trade, making them the world's most exported fruit. Ecuador is the top banana exporter, while the United States imports the most bananas.

Bananas grow in tropical and subtropical regions around the globe. Botanically classified as a berry, bananas grow on large plants that resemble big bushes. The name "banana" comes from the Arabic word "banan," which means finger. A group of bananas is called a bunch, and it takes about nine months to grow a complete bunch, which can include as many as 170 bananas.

Fortunately for banana lovers everywhere, bananas grow year-round and are plentiful. Today, about 150 countries cultivate nearly 1,000 different varieties of bananas. If you frequently eat bananas at home, you know they must be eaten quickly once they ripen. Their tendency to ripen and brown rapidly makes global distribution a bit tricky.

Most bananas are grown on large farms and harvested while still green. To prevent ripening during shipping, they're transported in refrigerated containers. Upon arrival in the destination country, bananas are trucked to special ripening facilities. These facilities use advanced technology to control exposure to air, humidity, temperature, and ethylene gas, a natural ripening agent.

To start the ripening process, ethylene gas is pumped into storage rooms full of bananas and left to circulate overnight. This gas triggers ripening, which is then slowed by removing the ethylene gas and lowering the temperature. As soon as bananas begin to show a hint of yellow, they're ready to ship to local stores. They will continue to ripen during transit and storage, so the ripeness of bananas can vary greatly depending on your location.