Banana is inarguably the most commonly eaten fruit the world over. It is pretty hard to present attested facts, but fairly reliable estimates and studies mention that the yearly consumption of the different varieties of bananas in the world crosses 55 million tons! Bananas feature in all sorts of diets, from the quick morning fruit breakfast to the evening fruit salad. There are as many as 400 different banana varieties enjoyed by people from across the globe. The Cavendish banana is the most commonly consumed variant of bananas in the United States, and there are not many people who do not like the sweet and creamy flavour of these bananas. For others who do not mind experimenting, there are many banana recipes that can be tried out, involving cooking, baking, roasting and even frying bananas.
Of the scores of banana species in the world, mostly thrive in humid and tropical regions. Warm climate is a basic necessity for the right growth of bananas. Also, banana plantations are water intensive, and this is precisely why the tropical regions are ideally suited for banana growth. It follows that more than a hundred tropical countries of the world are involved in extensive banana cultivation. The primary objective of growing bananas is to use the sweet dessert fruit, although banana fiber and banana wine have become popular of lately. Also, some growers recognize banana plantations as sources of ornamental plants as well. That said, the popularity of the banana fruit is ample reason for most countries of the world to persist in improving the banana yields.
Bananas find extensive cultivation in many South and South-east Asian countries. The warmth of the climate prevalent in these countries serves well in yielding a healthy banana output. India has been a leading producer of bananas, bagging over one fourth of the world productions for many years on a trot. Philippines and China are the second and third placed on the chart of the world’s largest banana producing countries, but far behind the average annual produce from India. Though bananas enjoy widespread popularity in the United States, the production of the fruit is not exactly large scale in the country. Hawaii is the only major banana producer in the United States. Costa Rica in Central America does manage a place in the top 10 list of the largest banana producers, and is a part of the group of nations occasionally referred to as the ‘banana republic.’