Bananas

Bananas are always a favorite, and are arguably one of the most versatile fruits to have on hand. Whether they're served fresh or made into a delicious dessert, the applications are almost endless. Learn more here about banana types and how to purchase the perfect kind for your operation.

Before purchasing, discover everything you need to know about popular banana varieties, grades and standards, and storage and handling.

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Popular Banana Varieties

Variety	Primary Applications and Attributes
Cavendish	There are more than 1,000 varieties of bananas, with the Cavendish variety being the most popular in the U.S.
Petite Bananas or Baby Bananas	Bananas are considered petite and a by-product when they fall off or are removed from the cluster.

Banana Anatomy

Banana Cluster Anatomy

Banana Finger Anatomy

Banana grading

There are no USDA grade standards for bananas. Bananas are generally categorized as Industry Grade No. 1 premium by major banana companies as part of their own growing standards. Smaller bananas sometimes are Industry Grade No. 2.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Banana Ripening Stages

Bananas are picked off the plant green, and shipped under refrigeration to wholesalers, who then ripen them
Bananas are ordered by level of ripeness
The ideal stage for delivery is typically stage 5 (yellow with green tips)
The riper the banana, the sweeter the flavor

COLOR INDEX NUMBERS FOR BANANA RIPENING

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Banana Storage and Handling

Poor temperature management causes overripe, damaged or chilled fruit, so it's crucial that bananas be handled with care.

Exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures should be minimized
Banana pulp temperatures should be maintained between 56-65℉
Typical shelf life is 3-7 days for ripened bananas, depending on conditions
Handle with care. Bananas are fragile and easily damaged or bruised when cases are dropped or thrown

Storage Tips

To speed ripening if bananas are too green, leave them in the box stacked on top of each other
To slow ripening, take the lids off the boxes, open the plastic liner and air-stack or stagger-stack the boxes to ventilate

Temp	Characteristics and Storage
Below 56℉	Induce chill damage, poor overall appearance and shrink
56-60℉	Ideal storage temperature range for bananas
Above 65℉	Accelerate ripening, shrink and shorten shelf life

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