Through our BUS 420 class, I found out how vital bananas are to CR economy and culture. I am not the biggest fan of nanners, but I am adjusting since they are a constant in the culture.
The banana fruit grow in hanging clusters, with up to 20 fruit to a tier (called a hand), and 3-20 tiers to a bunch. The total of the hanging clusters is known as a bunch, or commercially as a "banana stem", and can weigh from 30–50 kg. Each individual fruit has a protective outer layer (a peel) with the edible fruit inside. Both skin and inner part can be eaten raw or cooked. Western cultures generally eat the inside raw and throw away the skin while some Asian cultures generally eat both the skin and inside cooked. The Plantain, a larger member of the banana family, is another commonly used fruit and can be served in a variety of ways. Ripe plantains have a sweet flavor, and can be fried in butter or baked in a honey. Green plantains are boiled in soups or can be cooked, mashed into small round cakes and fried to make patacones.
Costa Rica’s banana industry, recently ousted by tourism as the country’s number exporting industry, continues to expand to meet the demand of a growing international market. Two-third of all bananas are exported by Del Monte and Dole. Workers handle a large bunches, cut bananas off the stalks, sort, wash them and put into boxes. CR produces over 2.2 million metric tons of bananas a year, making it one of the world leaders.
The banana fruit grow in hanging clusters, with up to 20 fruit to a tier (called a hand), and 3-20 tiers to a bunch. The total of the hanging clusters is known as a bunch, or commercially as a "banana stem", and can weigh from 30–50 kg. Each individual fruit has a protective outer layer (a peel) with the edible fruit inside. Both skin and inner part can be eaten raw or cooked. Western cultures generally eat the inside raw and throw away the skin while some Asian cultures generally eat both the skin and inside cooked. The Plantain, a larger member of the banana family, is another commonly used fruit and can be served in a variety of ways. Ripe plantains have a sweet flavor, and can be fried in butter or baked in a honey. Green plantains are boiled in soups or can be cooked, mashed into small round cakes and fried to make patacones.
Costa Rica’s banana industry, recently ousted by tourism as the country’s number exporting industry, continues to expand to meet the demand of a growing international market. Two-third of all bananas are exported by Del Monte and Dole. Workers handle a large bunches, cut bananas off the stalks, sort, wash them and put into boxes. CR produces over 2.2 million metric tons of bananas a year, making it one of the world leaders.
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