The Banana Story      

Bananas have been around for thousands of years and the history of the banana is a fascinating one. Bananas were originally found in South East Asia, then they were carried to neighbouring lands by travellers and traders. And what's more, bananas do not grow on trees - the banana plant is in fact the worlds largest herb!  Banana consumption has increased and in some countries twice as many bananas are eaten each year today than were eaten just 10 years ago.

Growing practices have improved over the years to keep up with the growth in demand. The fruit is cut whilst still green and shipped in special refrigerated vessels which use temperature control systems to keep the bananas fresh and reduce the speed at which the bananas ripen. The invention of steam ships, and a little later, of refrigeration, allowed large amounts of bananas to survive the long voyage to Ireland. Upon arrival at journey's end, the bananas are ripened in special ripening centres, ready for sale in supermarkets and grocery shops.