Where do bananas come from? Where do bananas from Russia come from?

Banana has long been not considered exotic on the table of the inhabitants of Russia. It can be bought in any store or fruit and vegetable market. It has become so familiar a fruit that few people are already asking the question: where do bananas come from and how did they get to our country?

What is a banana?

Banana, however strange it may sound, is considered a grass, not a tree. It ranks second in size after bamboo among all existing herbs. This is a fairly popular fruit that has spread all over the world. There is a huge number of varieties on which the shape and size of a banana depends. In general, it has an elongated cylindrical shape with a length of 3 to 40 cm and a thickness of 2-4 cm. All varieties are divided into 3 groups:

1. Fodder - low-grade varieties, grow in unpretentious conditions and go to feed cattle.
2. Canteen - larger fruits, can reach up to 50 cm in length. They are hovered, fried and produce chips from them. Such bananas are rarely exported.
3. Dessert - yellow or green, straight and faceted, up to 35 cm long. It is the dessert bananas we see on the shelves of stores.

History of appearance in Russia

In our country for a long time did not know what a banana. For the first time the USSR bought a large batch of bananas in 1938. At that time, few people suspected the beginning of the world war, and successfully completed industrialization made it possible to use part of the proceeds in currency for the purchase of exotic goods. By the end of 1939, this fruit was sold in almost all metropolitan shops, and later appeared in other regions of the USSR.

Mass purchases began around 1950. By that time, the country's economy had practically recovered after a long war, and a record economic growth rate was recorded for the first time since 1945. But the most important is that in the sphere of influence there were countries in which those bananas grow. The majority of the population of the USSR had no idea of where bananas are brought to Russia. At that time, China and Vietnam were the main supplier. Later it was replaced by Latin America, and by 1970 Ecuador already supplied about 9 thousand tons of bananas.

Where do bananas come from?

In Russia, the bulk of bananas, as before, is supplied by Ecuador - about 1 million tons per year. In this country, the ideal climate for growing bananas, and the number of plantations there is simply off scale. Some of them have already been bought by our Russian entrepreneurs, who supply their products to Russia. They bring green bananas to Russia, then they go through the procedure of gasification and get on the counter already yellow. The cost of grown bananas is low, so Ecuador is leading among suppliers. It is followed by China and Turkey.

How useful is a banana

Due to its high nutritional value, the banana refers to high-calorie dishes, but at the same time it is considered a dietary fruit. It contains a large number of enzymes, as well as malic acid. In a complex they improve digestion. Banana is rich in vitamin C, although it tastes completely acidic. Ascorbic acid is a powerful antioxidant, which slows down the aging process of the body. Vitamin A is essential for good vision, normal heart function, and B vitamins are responsible for the condition of the skin, hair and nails. It is for this reason that the banana is often incorporated into hair masks, it gives the hair a shine and prevents the splitting of the ends. Probably, therefore, chic hair is possessed by the inhabitants of the "banana countries", from where bananas are brought to Russia.

Magnesium and potassium, part of this familiar fruit for us, help the work of the heart, liver and brain. If you combine a sport lifestyle and actively include in the diet of bananas, you can easily build muscle. In addition, he is able to increase sexual activity not only in men, but also in women. In Ecuador, where bananas are brought to Russia, residents use it every day and prepare various dishes from it.

Do bananas grow in Russia?

In our country, bananas can be found not only in botanical gardens. A little to the south of the city of Sochi the most northern banana of the Basio variety grows, or it is also called Japanese. He has edible fruits of red color, but, unfortunately, in our harsh conditions they do not ripen. By winter, the green part of the grass dies off, and by spring new growth points, up to 2.5 meters long, 60 cm wide, are actively growing out of growth points. It should also be noted that over the past few years some banana varieties have been grown on the southern coast of the Crimea peninsula. Maybe in the future the supplier will be not only Ecuador, where bananas are brought to Russia, but also the Crimea?

Banana dishes

This exotic fruit, it turned out, is eaten not only in fresh form. In countries where bananas are brought to Russia , it is fried, baked and dried. In addition, for the sweet taste it was attributed to dessert products, so the banana is added to the confectionery and served with ice cream. In Latin America, pieces of fried banana - it's a familiar side dish. In Venezuela, the national dish yo-yo is considered to be a soft cheese, fixed with a wooden stick between roasted banana slices. And the inhabitants of the Philippines are preparing from the bananas ketchup with the addition of various spices.