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National Library of Jamaica
Loading bananas, Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica [circa 1920]
PRODUCT
Bananas
Loading bananas, Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica [circa 1920]
Image from the National Library of Jamaica Photograph Collection. Permission to reproduce this image must be obtained from the National Library of Jamaica
Further information - Bananas
Jamaica was the first country in the world to trade bananas internationally. The banana trade in Portland began in 1868.
BANANAS (Musa acuminate x balbisiana)
Banana is the common name for a fruit and also the herbaceous plants of the genus Musa which produce the commonly eaten fruit. They are native to the tropical region of Southeast Asia and Australia. Today they are cultivated throughout the tropics. Banana plants are the family Musaceae. They are cultivated primarily for their fruit, and to a lesser extent for the production of fibre and as ornamental plants. As the bananas are mainly tall, upright and fairly sturdy, they are often mistaken for trees, when truth is the main or upright stem is called a “pseudostem”, literally meaning “fake stem”, which for some species can obtain a height of up to 2-8m with leaves of up to 3.5m in length.
The banana fruit grow in hanging clusters with up to twenty fruit to a tier (called a ‘hand’) and three to twenty tiers to a bunch, or commercially as a “banana stem” and can weigh from 30 - 50kg. Each individual fruit (known as a banana or ‘finger’) has a protective outer layer (a peel or skin) with a fleshy edible inner portion. Both skin and inner part can be eaten raw or cooked. Bananas are a valuable source of Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and potassium.
The plant on which the banana trade was based, the Gros Michel was introduced in 1835 from Martinique by Jean Francois Pouyat who planted it at his Bel Air coffee plantation in the parish of St. Andrew. This fine variety spread throughout the island and from there was taken to Central America where it became established as the preferred variety. In Jamaica, the Gros Michel was at first called ‘Martnik’ or ‘Pouyat’ but later became known as the ‘Go Yark’ banana, i.e. ‘Go to New York’ meaning the fruit was the best for export. Gros Michel proved susceptible to Panama Disease and was succeeded by more hardy varieties. The most recent variety developed in Jamaica is RG1. This variety is resistant to yellow and black Sigatoka disease, tolerant to nematode infection and sturdy. It does not suffer from ‘finger drop’ like other varieties, produces a good bunch and is very tasty when boiled.
Sources
Senior, Olive, Encyclopedia of Jamaican Heritage. St. Andrew, Jamaica: Twin Guinep Publishers Ltd., 2003.
Tortello, Rebecca, Pieces of the past: a stroll down Jamaica's memory lane. Kingston: Ian Randle, 2007
Tortello, Rebecca, Pieces of the Past series - Jamaica Gleaner Online
www.jamaica-gleaner.com accessed July 2008
Loading bananas, Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica [circa 1920]
PRODUCT
Bananas
Loading bananas, Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica [circa 1920]
Image from the National Library of Jamaica Photograph Collection. Permission to reproduce this image must be obtained from the National Library of Jamaica
Further information - Bananas
Jamaica was the first country in the world to trade bananas internationally. The banana trade in Portland began in 1868.
BANANAS (Musa acuminate x balbisiana)
Banana is the common name for a fruit and also the herbaceous plants of the genus Musa which produce the commonly eaten fruit. They are native to the tropical region of Southeast Asia and Australia. Today they are cultivated throughout the tropics. Banana plants are the family Musaceae. They are cultivated primarily for their fruit, and to a lesser extent for the production of fibre and as ornamental plants. As the bananas are mainly tall, upright and fairly sturdy, they are often mistaken for trees, when truth is the main or upright stem is called a “pseudostem”, literally meaning “fake stem”, which for some species can obtain a height of up to 2-8m with leaves of up to 3.5m in length.
The banana fruit grow in hanging clusters with up to twenty fruit to a tier (called a ‘hand’) and three to twenty tiers to a bunch, or commercially as a “banana stem” and can weigh from 30 - 50kg. Each individual fruit (known as a banana or ‘finger’) has a protective outer layer (a peel or skin) with a fleshy edible inner portion. Both skin and inner part can be eaten raw or cooked. Bananas are a valuable source of Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and potassium.
The plant on which the banana trade was based, the Gros Michel was introduced in 1835 from Martinique by Jean Francois Pouyat who planted it at his Bel Air coffee plantation in the parish of St. Andrew. This fine variety spread throughout the island and from there was taken to Central America where it became established as the preferred variety. In Jamaica, the Gros Michel was at first called ‘Martnik’ or ‘Pouyat’ but later became known as the ‘Go Yark’ banana, i.e. ‘Go to New York’ meaning the fruit was the best for export. Gros Michel proved susceptible to Panama Disease and was succeeded by more hardy varieties. The most recent variety developed in Jamaica is RG1. This variety is resistant to yellow and black Sigatoka disease, tolerant to nematode infection and sturdy. It does not suffer from ‘finger drop’ like other varieties, produces a good bunch and is very tasty when boiled.
Sources
Senior, Olive, Encyclopedia of Jamaican Heritage. St. Andrew, Jamaica: Twin Guinep Publishers Ltd., 2003.
Tortello, Rebecca, Pieces of the past: a stroll down Jamaica's memory lane. Kingston: Ian Randle, 2007
Tortello, Rebecca, Pieces of the Past series - Jamaica Gleaner Online
www.jamaica-gleaner.com accessed July 2008