 The banana grows in almost every tropical country, on a giant herb, which is probably the largest plant without a woody stem. A bunch of bananas is technically called a "hand" and each fruit is a "finger." They have a remarkably high yield per acre, making it our least expensive fruit. The US consumes about 60 percent of the world's banana crop, coming primarily from Central & South America.
Health Benefits: They have a high sugar content (about 17 to 19 percent) and are richer in minerals than any soft fruit except strawberries. They have twice as much vitamin C as apples and a high caloric value, but are low in carbohydrates and protein.
from Rebecca Wood's The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia |
