Banana production in the United States

Commercial banana production in the United States is relatively limited in scale and economic impact. While Americans eat 26 pounds (12 kg) of bananas per person per year, the vast majority of the fruit is imported from other countries, chiefly Central and South America, where the US has previously occupied areas containing banana plantations, and controlled the importation of bananas via various fruit companies, such as Dole and Chiquita.[1]

History

The first commercial banana farm in the United States was established in Florida, near Silver Lake, in 1876, but the climate wasn’t hot enough. Instead, production exploded in the Caribbean, and the Boston-based United Fruit Co.[2][3]

Current production

Total banana production in the USA peaked at 13,154 tonnes in 2010 and has decreased to 3,992 tonnes in 2017.[4] Hawaii is by far the largest banana producer in the United States, followed by Florida. Hawaii produces mainly the conventional Cavendish assortment and the Hawaiian apple banana, which are sold in the local markets due to high employment and land expenses. The chief US banana exporter is Florida, which produces mostly Thai and cooking bananas (Bluggoe type). In addition, US banana producers are looking for opportunities in the organic and specialty segments of the banana market in Florida, Texas, and Georgia.[5] Banana cultivation in Florida has been about 500 acres, valued at roughly 2 million US $.

Bananas are also grown commercially in Puerto Rico,[6] Guam, and American Samoa.[7]

See also

Banana#Modern cultivation

References
  1. In the USA, bananas are the fruit that is consumed ... clui.org
  3. Rooted in America: Foodlore of Popular Fruits and Vegetables books.google.com
  4. "FAOSTAT". FAOSTAT. FAO. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  5. Title:Introduction also US Banana Production edis.ifas.ufl.edu
  6. "Irrigation info" (PDF). www.ars.usda.gov.
  7. "Crop profile" (PDF). ipmdata.ipmcenters.org.
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