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I'm so glad to see this post and be reminded of the variety of banana kinds that are available in my home country. In the US, I think it's only the Cavendish an

I'm so glad to see this post and be reminded of the variety of banana kinds that are available in my home country. In the US, I think it's only the Cavendish and maybe Plantain that are commonly seen in the markets. When people say 'buy banana' in the states, we know it's to buy cavendish. But in my home country, when I asked my mother to buy banana when she goes shopping, I had to tell her what specific kind. I truly miss the variety of food and vegetables available in my home country. In the US, I will have to be rich to afford such variety of food and even then, I might not be able to access them immediately/fresh. I guess that's the price we pay for efficiency in the developed world (of food production which is more or less monoculture and corporatized).

ArtWomb 6y ago
Not sure the official varietal designation, but many latino-operated grocers in Metro NY area carry the "little banana" bunches common to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. They are memorably terrific when ripe. Tarter than the Cavendish. With a softer fruit inside. I feel we could grow more varietals of everything as American palettes expand. I've seen many types of chili peppers in farmer's markets. And I'd put the taste test to Haitian mangos arriving here in early May with the best Alphonses the Indian Subcontinent has to offer ;)
- programmertote 6y ago
  Yes! I noticed that latino grocery stores have some common varieties that are available in my home country, which is in south asia. Those 'little banana' that you are referring to is one of them, but they taste slightly different from what's available in my country (close, but not exactly the same). :) Also, for those who have never tried this before: try to make refreshing juice out of Tamarind (available in latino grocery shops) and maybe a spoon of sugar. Super delicious in the summer.
  - alistairSH 6y ago
    Also check any local Asian markets. Here in DC, we have a mix of latino, asian, and mid-eastern markets. The variety of fruits, vegetables, and seafood is great. Usually far less expensive than chain grocers too, even for "normal" items.
    - Shared404 6y ago
      There's a pretty good Asian market in Austin if anyone's looking for one in that area. Before Covid we'd drive up to Austin every few month's and resupply on curry paste and a couple other things.
- markdown 6y ago
  We call that group of small bananas "lady finger" bananas in my country. There are dozens, maybe hundreds worldwide. Some popular ones are Nam Wah, Blue Java, Ice Cream, etc
  - zem 6y ago
    the 'elaichi' banana is popular in india. https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/ever-heard-of-elaichi-bananas-the-desi-variety-that-has-less-calories-1746255 https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/ever-heard-of-elaichi-bana...
    - kranner 6y ago
      Southern India, it is not available in the North. Most North Indians who haven't travelled have no idea it exists.
      - joj123 6y ago
        +1 If any of you get a chance, try the "Najangud rasbaLe" variety often found in Mysore. It's my absolutely favorite kind of banana Edit 1: typos Edit 2: More details on what's ailing the rasbaLe and how fickle crops can be here: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/why-cultivation-karnataka-s-gi-tagged-nanjangud-rasabale-banana-has-declined-100872 https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/why-cultivation-karnat...
        kranner 6y ago
        Thanks, noted!
      - sumedh 6y ago
        That link says its available in Bihar.
        kranner 6y ago
        Oh, I’ve never seen it in Punjab though. I’ve carried bunches to Punjab (where my parents live) and it’s always a novelty there.
- rmk 6y ago
  There are many great varieties besides the Alphonso, that are popular in different parts of India. Examples include the Langda, the Malda and the Raspuri varieties. Quite different from one another and each with its own devoted following. I found Mexican mangoes to be a pale imitation of the Indian varieties. Surprisingly, the best mangoes I have tasted in America were from two huge trees in the backyard of a place we were renting in Hawaii. The trees had shed hundreds of mangoes with hundreds more on the trees themselves, and then caretakers were only too happy to see us enjoy them. Made my Hawaii trip memorable!
  - kashif 6y ago
    Malda and Langda (my fav) are quite similar. Other popular varieties are Daseri, Totapuri, Safeda, Chausa
  - jacobolus 6y ago
    > I found Mexican mangoes to be a pale imitation of the Indian varieties. Do you mean produce you bought fresh in tropical regions in Mexico e.g. at a local market stall, or produce you bought in a US supermarket, imported from Mexico by a large-scale distributor? There are great fresh mangoes available in markets in southern Mexico, tastier than the ones easily found in the US. Similar story for other tropical fruits, including bananas. The demands of long-distance shipping and wide distribution force significant compromises in most types of fresh produce. Disclaimer: I have never been to India. > best mangoes I have tasted in America were from two huge trees in the backyard ... in Hawaii Yeah now try to grow those at commercial scale and keep them as tasty weeks later after shipping them hundreds of miles across several layers of supply chain.
- kranner 6y ago
  Alphonsos are a marketing success but far from the best mangoes the Indian subcontinent has to offer. Bland and tending to sourness. This battle plays out every summer on Indian Twitter.
annoyingnoob 6y ago
Its funny how one person can make a difference. I used to visit a small banana farm in La Conchita before a mud slide destroyed it. I had never seen such a variety of bananas. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-aug-28-fo-bananas28-story.html https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-aug-28-fo-banan...
kingdomcome50 6y ago
I wouldn't be so hasty to call a lack of variety a result of efficiency. Sure that may be one factor, but it isn't trivial to ship such perishables like fruits and vegetables half way around the globe in a way that consumers are willing to pay for quality that shows up. There are some products that just can't be transported in a way that maintains the level of quality a consumer would be willing to pay for.
- mark-r 6y ago
  In the case of bananas, efficiency is precisely the problem. The Cavendish is so popular that the entire production pipeline has been hyper-optimized for it.
skynetv2 6y ago
Exactly my feelings. I miss this (http://organicbasket.in/product/chakkarakeli/ http://organicbasket.in/product/chakkarakeli/) variety the most.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
nknealk 6y ago
In the USA, we do the same thing, but with apples. Many grocery stores will carry like 10 different kinds of apples. I personally love honeycrisp and opal.
- swsieber 6y ago
  Depending on where you live local markets might do. A guy I talked to in Perry Utah mentioned 22 peach varieties.
perfectstorm 6y ago
+1. I was in Peru last year and one of the most memorable thing that happened was eating a Changalikodan banana that is only found in India (Asia?)/Latin America. I missed it so much (hard to get it in the US) that I ate like 3-4 right there in the market. We now find them at our local Mexican store but it's a hit or miss.

ArtWomb 6y ago

Not sure the official varietal designation, but many latino-operated grocers in Metro NY area carry the "little banana" bunches common to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. They are memorably terrific when ripe. Tarter than the Cavendish. With a softer fruit inside. I feel we could grow more varietals of everything as American palettes expand. I've seen many types of chili peppers in farmer's markets. And I'd put the taste test to Haitian mangos arriving here in early May with the best Alphonses the Indian Subcontinent has to offer ;)

programmertote 6y ago
Yes! I noticed that latino grocery stores have some common varieties that are available in my home country, which is in south asia. Those 'little banana' that you are referring to is one of them, but they taste slightly different from what's available in my country (close, but not exactly the same). :) Also, for those who have never tried this before: try to make refreshing juice out of Tamarind (available in latino grocery shops) and maybe a spoon of sugar. Super delicious in the summer.
- alistairSH 6y ago
  Also check any local Asian markets. Here in DC, we have a mix of latino, asian, and mid-eastern markets. The variety of fruits, vegetables, and seafood is great. Usually far less expensive than chain grocers too, even for "normal" items.
  - Shared404 6y ago
    There's a pretty good Asian market in Austin if anyone's looking for one in that area. Before Covid we'd drive up to Austin every few month's and resupply on curry paste and a couple other things.
markdown 6y ago
We call that group of small bananas "lady finger" bananas in my country. There are dozens, maybe hundreds worldwide. Some popular ones are Nam Wah, Blue Java, Ice Cream, etc
- zem 6y ago
  the 'elaichi' banana is popular in india. https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/ever-heard-of-elaichi-bananas-the-desi-variety-that-has-less-calories-1746255 https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/ever-heard-of-elaichi-bana...
  - kranner 6y ago
    Southern India, it is not available in the North. Most North Indians who haven't travelled have no idea it exists.
    - joj123 6y ago
      +1 If any of you get a chance, try the "Najangud rasbaLe" variety often found in Mysore. It's my absolutely favorite kind of banana Edit 1: typos Edit 2: More details on what's ailing the rasbaLe and how fickle crops can be here: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/why-cultivation-karnataka-s-gi-tagged-nanjangud-rasabale-banana-has-declined-100872 https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/why-cultivation-karnat...
      - kranner 6y ago
        Thanks, noted!
    - sumedh 6y ago
      That link says its available in Bihar.
      - kranner 6y ago
        Oh, I’ve never seen it in Punjab though. I’ve carried bunches to Punjab (where my parents live) and it’s always a novelty there.
rmk 6y ago
There are many great varieties besides the Alphonso, that are popular in different parts of India. Examples include the Langda, the Malda and the Raspuri varieties. Quite different from one another and each with its own devoted following. I found Mexican mangoes to be a pale imitation of the Indian varieties. Surprisingly, the best mangoes I have tasted in America were from two huge trees in the backyard of a place we were renting in Hawaii. The trees had shed hundreds of mangoes with hundreds more on the trees themselves, and then caretakers were only too happy to see us enjoy them. Made my Hawaii trip memorable!
- kashif 6y ago
  Malda and Langda (my fav) are quite similar. Other popular varieties are Daseri, Totapuri, Safeda, Chausa
- jacobolus 6y ago
  > I found Mexican mangoes to be a pale imitation of the Indian varieties. Do you mean produce you bought fresh in tropical regions in Mexico e.g. at a local market stall, or produce you bought in a US supermarket, imported from Mexico by a large-scale distributor? There are great fresh mangoes available in markets in southern Mexico, tastier than the ones easily found in the US. Similar story for other tropical fruits, including bananas. The demands of long-distance shipping and wide distribution force significant compromises in most types of fresh produce. Disclaimer: I have never been to India. > best mangoes I have tasted in America were from two huge trees in the backyard ... in Hawaii Yeah now try to grow those at commercial scale and keep them as tasty weeks later after shipping them hundreds of miles across several layers of supply chain.
kranner 6y ago
Alphonsos are a marketing success but far from the best mangoes the Indian subcontinent has to offer. Bland and tending to sourness. This battle plays out every summer on Indian Twitter.

annoyingnoob 6y ago

Its funny how one person can make a difference. I used to visit a small banana farm in La Conchita before a mud slide destroyed it. I had never seen such a variety of bananas. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-aug-28-fo-bananas28-story.html https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-aug-28-fo-banan...

kingdomcome50 6y ago

I wouldn't be so hasty to call a lack of variety a result of efficiency. Sure that may be one factor, but it isn't trivial to ship such perishables like fruits and vegetables half way around the globe in a way that consumers are willing to pay for quality that shows up. There are some products that just can't be transported in a way that maintains the level of quality a consumer would be willing to pay for.

mark-r 6y ago
In the case of bananas, efficiency is precisely the problem. The Cavendish is so popular that the entire production pipeline has been hyper-optimized for it.

skynetv2 6y ago

Exactly my feelings. I miss this (http://organicbasket.in/product/chakkarakeli/ http://organicbasket.in/product/chakkarakeli/) variety the most.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

nknealk 6y ago

In the USA, we do the same thing, but with apples. Many grocery stores will carry like 10 different kinds of apples. I personally love honeycrisp and opal.

swsieber 6y ago
Depending on where you live local markets might do. A guy I talked to in Perry Utah mentioned 22 peach varieties.

perfectstorm 6y ago

+1. I was in Peru last year and one of the most memorable thing that happened was eating a Changalikodan banana that is only found in India (Asia?)/Latin America. I missed it so much (hard to get it in the US) that I ate like 3-4 right there in the market. We now find them at our local Mexican store but it's a hit or miss.