Bananas
Banana is the largest known herbaceous flowering plant (in other words not a tree) and native to the Philippines.
bananas & plantains
Banana is botanically a berry, produced in a cluster (bunch) hanging from the top of the plant. Most are eaten fresh, but some - the "plantains" - are cooked. Bananas vary in size, color, and firmness. The rind (skin) may be green, yellow, red, purple, or brown when ripe, depending on variety.
Once a stem has produced its one bunch it is usually cut down, as it produces no more and gives way to new stems emerging from the base. The juicy trunk is often fed to pigs.
1000+ varieties…
There are apparently more than 1000 varieties of bananas and plantains in the world. We are currently growing half a dozen varieties including tondan, san pablo, saba, lakatan, latundan, morado (purple in Spanish), and plan to plant as many different native varieties as we can find. The photo is from Siquijor town market. with many several varieties of banana and plantains on offer.
integrated farming
Bananas mix well with other crops and trees such as papaya and coconuts. They can provide shade for young cacao and coffee plants. And root crops such as taro/gabi, ginger, turmeric easily grow underneath bananas.
delicious flower
The flower blossoms into bananas, but can also be eaten as ‘banana blossom’ or ‘banana heart’. It is delicious and a good source of minerals and antioxidants. Young flowers are used in salads, or cooked with pork and coconut cream. Like so many other of nature’s own products it is good for you as part of a varied and balanced diet.
banana on cue
‘Banana cue’ (‘cue’ as in barbecue) is a popular filipino snack and street food. It is a sweet and filling snack of fried, deep fried or grilled bananas (typically the saba variety) cooked with brown sugar and served on a bamboo stick. It is ‘Lami kaayo’ (very tasty), but watch your sugar intake.