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Bananas
How They Are Grown & Harvested
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Bananas don't grow on trees! They grow on herb plants. In fact, banana plants are the world’s largest herb! Banana plants have no wood fiber. They are a member of the lily family.
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To grow, bananas require warm tropical sun, rich soil, and plenty of water.
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Bananas begin to form inside a large bud that grows upward from the roots of the plant.
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As the bud grows, its petals open, revealing a bunch of bananas called a “hand.” Each hand has about 20 “fingers.”
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A bag is placed over the stem of bananas as they develop. These bags protect the fruit from birds, insects, and damage that can be caused by heavy winds. In addition, the bags create a warm microclimate, which speeds the bananas’ growth.
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When the fruit reaches the desired harvest age, workers harvest the fruit by cutting the stem from the plant. One worker will cut the stem while another gently lowers the stem onto his shoulder.
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Bananas are always harvested while they are still green.
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The stems are then hooked to a series of cables that lead from the fields to the packing plant.
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At the packing plant, workers check the quality of the plants. The bunches or “hands” of bananas are then cut from the stem and placed in wash tanks to remove dust and field heat.
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The hands are then cut into clusters, inspected for a second time, and then they are washed again. |
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