Each year, on April (19) the world observes National Banana Day to celebrate the many health benefits associated with the fruits and their versatility.

Banana is a staple in many Jamaican households mainly because of their sweet taste. Banana is one of the most versatile fruits because they can be used to make several delicious treats such as bread, puddings, porridge and other delectable dishes.

The fruit originated in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific around 8000 to 5000 BCE and was later distributed across the tropics.

The Gros Micheal variety of bananas was brought to the island in 1820 by Jean Francois Pouyet, a French botanist born in Haiti.

Jamaica was the first commercial producer of bananas in the Western Hemisphere which dates back to 1866 when the country’s export trade began.

Fun facts about bananas

• Banana plants are giant herbs .

• Bananas have been cultivated for the past 10,000 years or so in Southeast Asia. From there it moved to West Asia and Africa.
• Bananas do not grow from seeds but from bulbs or rhizomes.
• There are 1000 different varieties of bananas growing around the world
• Bananas can grow up to 15 metres
• The Cavendish-type banana is the most commercialized variety, accounting for around 47 per cent of global production.
• Approximately 50 billion tonnes of Cavendish bananas are produced globally every year.

Varieties of bananas cultivated in Jamaica

• Robusta
• Williams (Ziv)
• Grand Nain
• Lacatan
• Gros Michel
• Silk (Chinese, Apple and Thousand Fingers

Nutritional benefits of banana

• Bananas are a good source of Vitamin B6 which helps to produce red blood cells in the body
• Bananas are a good source of potassium which helps to lower blood pressure and improve heart health.
• Bananas also contain Vitamin C which helps to protect the body against cell and tissue damage.
• Bananas can assist with indigestion
• Bananas are a good source of energy