2. From Flower to Fruit: The Development of Bananas
An amazing metamorphosis starts as the bloom of the banana plant shows. Known as “hands,” the flower clusters loop around the stem to create what would eventually be the banana bunch. Usually consisting of 10 to 20 bananas, each hand represents technically a berry.Contrary to common assumption, the bananas climb upward towards the heavens as they mature. The distinctive curve we link with bananas only shows later in their growth. Farmers actively tend to the developing fruit during this period to guard against sunlight and bugs.The practice of “bagging”—that is, covering emerging bunches with perforated plastic bags—is one amazing feature of banana development. This ritual has several uses: it keeps the temperature constant, shields the fruit from birds and insects, and may even affect the skin tone of the banana.The bananas begin as tiny, green fingers and over several months they progressively get bigger. They are loaded in starch at this period, which when the fruit ripens will eventually turn into sugar. Fascinatingly, years of selective breeding have produced sterile, seedless commercial bananas. This feature appeals to consumers more since it signifies that all of a given type of bananas are genetically identical clones.Farmers get ready for the vital next stage, harvesting, as the bananas reach their full size yet remain green. This timing is crucial since bananas left too long may become overripe before they reach consumers while those picked too early will not acquire suitable taste.
