August 27: National Banana Lover’s Day

The average American consumes 28 pounds of bananas per year! And worldwide, bananas are the fourth largest fruit crop.

Bananas are high in fiber and potassium. These properties can help prevent calcium loss, ulcers, high blood pressure, and certain kinds of cancer.

Though bananas are often shown as growing on trees, the banana “tree” is actually an herb. The banana is the fruit of this herb.

The cluster of bananas sold in supermarkets is a “hand” of bananas, while the individual bananas on the hand are called fingers.

The strings that go up and down the length of bananas are called Phloem Bundles. They help distribute nutrients to every part of the growing bananas.

It is believed by many experts that bananas were the first fruit cultivated by humans.

Alexander the Great first came across bananas in India in 327 B.C.

Bananas were introduced to the United States at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Celebration, where they were sold wrapped in foil for 10 cents each.

The banana peel is edible, though perhaps not very palatable unless cooked.

About 50 percent of people who are allergic to latex are often also allergic to bananas.

India is the #1 banana producer in the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tou8-Cz8is&feature=related