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Export markets are going to be defined by what can be traded in tonnages, not boutique luxury foods that are expensive and risky to ship, nor would any agricult

Export markets are going to be defined by what can be traded in tonnages, not boutique luxury foods that are expensive and risky to ship, nor would any agriculture company risk the investment to cultivate them at scale for export from Mexico

crazygringo 4y ago
They're not "boutique luxury foods", they're just normal fruit. And here in NYC a lot of the produce I buy comes from Mexico at scale, including things like ripe cherry tomatoes grown in greenhouses that are much more "luxury" than bananas. But also just everyday papayas and avocados. So given that so many fruits and vegetables are already cultivated at scale for export from Mexico, it's not clear why banana varieties are that different. To the contrary, all sorts of new fruit varieties are being invested in, grown and shipped from other countries. Just yesterday I bought cara cara navel oranges and blood oranges too from my normal average supermarket, which certainly weren't available here five years ago at an average store.
- scythe 4y ago
  There are many different kinds of banana grown in North America. I ate them growing up in Florida. The burro banana and the red banana come to mind. But they just aren't as cheap as the Cavendish, which is one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) fruits by weight period. Being simultaneously soft enough to eat raw and durable enough to ship and store is really threading the needle. There are many varieties of plantain (it's hard) and many varieties of bananas that are hard to ship. The Cavendish is often the only fruit available at convenience stores, maybe alongside a few oranges, because it's just so darn convenient.
- deeviant 4y ago
  What do you think the definition of a "boutique" fruit is, exactly? I would think it would have a lot less from being some actual boon from the gods and more a fruit in limited supply in the region of interest.

crazygringo 4y ago

They're not "boutique luxury foods", they're just normal fruit. And here in NYC a lot of the produce I buy comes from Mexico at scale, including things like ripe cherry tomatoes grown in greenhouses that are much more "luxury" than bananas. But also just everyday papayas and avocados. So given that so many fruits and vegetables are already cultivated at scale for export from Mexico, it's not clear why banana varieties are that different. To the contrary, all sorts of new fruit varieties are being invested in, grown and shipped from other countries. Just yesterday I bought cara cara navel oranges and blood oranges too from my normal average supermarket, which certainly weren't available here five years ago at an average store.

scythe 4y ago
There are many different kinds of banana grown in North America. I ate them growing up in Florida. The burro banana and the red banana come to mind. But they just aren't as cheap as the Cavendish, which is one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) fruits by weight period. Being simultaneously soft enough to eat raw and durable enough to ship and store is really threading the needle. There are many varieties of plantain (it's hard) and many varieties of bananas that are hard to ship. The Cavendish is often the only fruit available at convenience stores, maybe alongside a few oranges, because it's just so darn convenient.
deeviant 4y ago
What do you think the definition of a "boutique" fruit is, exactly? I would think it would have a lot less from being some actual boon from the gods and more a fruit in limited supply in the region of interest.