this post was submitted on 25 Oct 2023
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Cavendish bananas face extinction and not all experts agree on how to save it (www.businessinsider.com)
submitted 1 year ago by Mujumat@lemmy.world to c/everythingscience@lemmy.world
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[–] Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world 24 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I think it's worth pointing out that this story crops up every few years and it is always sensationalized. Not saying it couldn't be a problem but I think people read too far into it.

Among other things the Gros Michel  banana is not extinct. It is just no longer in large commercial production. It was easy to start growing Cavendish bananas then deal with the root rot.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca 18 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I'm interested to see the next flavor of banana.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I’m kind of surprised we don’t have other flavors.

I’ve seen the red minis but a bite sized fruit is not worth trying. Maybe there’s no reason these should be different than say grapes, but eating a bunch of grapes is “normal” while eating a bunch of bananas looks like a pain in the ass.

Plantains aren’t really the same and need some preparation. Again, not a convenient snack.

Give me a different banana of a similar size and A small multiple of price and I’m there. I pay at least double what I need to for beers, chocolate, ice cream, etc, so likely could be persuaded an interesting banana is worth more

[–] metallic_substance@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There are many, many varieties of banana. Most are just aren't widely exported (or exported at all)

[–] boyi@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

yeah, in my country we have more than 10 different types, some of them taste very sweet. Some are good on its own, some especially for fritter. But as you said, it's only for domsstic market, not for export.

On the contrary very hard to get Cavendish except in big shop/supermarket. I think most of canvendish are exported to the US and Europe.

[–] alvvayson@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I secretly hope we can get a GMO Gros Michel.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

There's only one flavor of banana.

Banana flavor.

You eat a banana, that's banana flavor, no matter what it tastes like ;)

[–] TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Fun fact - artificial banana flavoring tastes more like the Gros Michel banana. So when you have banana flavored candy, you are tasting what a banana used to taste like back when the Gros Michel was the dominant banana variety.

https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/why-dont-banana-candies-taste-like-real-bananas/

[–] CyanFen@lemmy.one 12 points 1 year ago

I mean an easy but not as profitable way (because profit matters more than literally anything apparently) is to stop growing bananas as a monoculture

[–] dill@lemmy.one 9 points 1 year ago (3 children)

The extinction of the George Michael was the most tragic event in recent history. I can't bear to see history repeat itself.

[–] Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

Yes 2016 was a terrible year for George Michael wasn't it

[–] TragicNotCute@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

Just gotta have faith

[–] Redkey@programming.dev 1 points 1 year ago

Those bananas meant so much to every little hungry schoolgirl.

[–] wahming@monyet.cc 2 points 1 year ago

Cavendish bananas are so bland. Wish we could get more different varieties into supermarkets worldwide.