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no more bananas?!

suzyqsuzyq Raw Newbie

So the New York Times ran an op-ed today, in which the author claims that, quite soon, we could be facing a serious banana shortage: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/opinion/18koe…

I know some people on this site have mentioned they already tend to avoid bananas because they prefer to eat foods grown closer to home. But I know plenty of other people see bananas as a cheap, convenient, and calorie dense staple.

I’ve been ambivalent about bananas for a while, but it looks like soon I may be forced into a decision!

Thoughts, anyone?

Comments

  • Morning_theftMorning_theft Raw Newbie

    Flow with it. It’s not a good idea to have a staple anyway. You’re better off having a variety. And really, bananas are a pretty empty food- aside from calories and potassium I suppose… You are always better opting for as much local as possible. If an outside source is pushing you in that direction… So be it!

  • bittbitt Raw Newbie

    very interesting article. bananas are crazy cheap so yes i eat them. but i know they are laden with ethical and enivonmental issues. so i guess it is time to face the truth. just like gas, it’s an evil we will have to soon do without!

    i bet the GE farmers are cooking up something to try to create a better more resistant banana. but i am not into GE food.

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    banana shortage, rice shortage, wheat shortage…Buying local & growing my own food appeals to me more all the time :)

  • newbienewbie Raw Newbie

    I hope that everyone understands that we won’t be without bananas – only the variety that Chiquita popularized. There was a thread on this about a week ago, but I can’t find it. We will still have other varieties, so don’t sweat it ;-)

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    But where do we get the other varieties, since that variety is the ONLY one I ever see in the stores?

  • newbienewbie Raw Newbie

    you don’t have finger bananas, red bananas, or plantains? if not, try the asian and hispanic markets

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    I thought plantains were more starchy, like a potato – and that people just use them cooked? There is a store that sells those. I saw finger bananas (I guess – they were smaller than regular bananas) once somewhere, but they were pretty expensive!

  • newbienewbie Raw Newbie

    well, you can’t have it all – cheap and available during scarcity. I’ve only seen plantains cooked too, but we could probably experiment. They might be good as a milk (with dates, cinnamon, and maybe nutmeg) or in smoothies with a few dates.

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    It’s all good – I guess the reason people are concerned (at least me) is that bananas have been a cheap source of calories for so long. I could live without them & still have a great vaiety of taste & nutrition :) But, yeah, I guess it’s good to realize the options will still be there. And the plantain milk doesn’t appeal to me – I’m not even sure if they’re safe to eat raw.

  • newbienewbie Raw Newbie

    from wiki: Plantains can be used for cooking at any stage of ripeness, and very ripe plantain can be eaten raw.

  • angie207angie207 Raw Master

    Ooh! Good to know – thanks!

  • I have been hearing the banana shortage rumor on and off for about 10 years – and so far, I haven’t noticed any change in availability. If it happens then I too will miss them – I have at least one every day. I find that they help me stay full for a little while longer. Long live the banana!!!!

  • RawKidChefRawKidChef Raw Newbie

    Order banana trees at Willis Orchards

  • RawKidChefRawKidChef Raw Newbie

    Plantains are good, but they’re not as sweet.

  • gees if every fruit has some sort of a problem with it, what else is there to eat, im thinking cooked beans, rice,quinoa,buckwheat ,lentils is a better choice. ive been eating bananas but now reading all this makes me want to stop eating them, but i still like them.

  • nooooo! I hope I never see a banana shortage day!

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