Bananas
Banana is the largest known herbaceous flowering plant (not a tree) and native to the Philippines.
bananas & plantains
Banana is a berry, with fruits produced in a cluster (bunch) hanging from the top of the plant. Most bananas are eaten fresh, but some - plantains - are cooked.
There are more than 1000 varieties of bananas and plantains in the world, varying in size, color, and firmness. The skin (rind) may be green, yellow, red, purple, or brown when ripe, depending on variety.
Once a stem has produced a bunch it is usually cut down, as it produces no more, to give way to new stems emerging from the base. In the Philippines, the cut juicy stem is fed to pigs.
Siquijor town market
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 roots and tubers such as taro/gabi, ginger, and turmeric can grow underneath bananas.
delicious flower
The banana flower is eaten as ‘banana blossom’ or ‘banana heart’ in salads. It is a good source of minerals and antioxidants.
banana on cue
‘Banana cue’ – as in barbecue – is a popular Filipino street snack consisting of deep fried or grilled bananas (mostly the saba variety) cooked with brown sugar and butter and served on a bamboo stick.