Billions Of Bananas Are China farmer Harvested And Processed This Way | Farming Documentary
Welcome back to Trending Farm, agriculture enthusiasts! Bananas can be considered one of the few plants that humans can fully exploit every part of them, from roots, stems to flowers and fruits. How can Ecuador produce 7.16 tons of bananas in 2023 while ensuring the quality meets global export standards? Today's farming documentary will help you solve the fascinating mysteries behind the banana industry in this country of millions. Don't miss us.
To achieve a substantial yield, the banana growing process begins with digging holes about 12 inches deep and spacing them 6 to 10 feet apart to optimize seedling growth. Farmers closely monitor and manage the seedlings, ensuring weeds and small branches are removed to focus nutrients on the main trunk. They also dig trenches around the planting area to elevate the rows above the surrounding soil, facilitating drainage during rainy seasons and preventing soil erosion in flood conditions.
In Ecuador's tropical climate, bananas take about 9 to 12 months to mature. During this period, farmers prune yellow leaves and support the plants with wooden stakes to enhance their uniformity and nutrient concentration. While Ecuador grows around 300 banana varieties, the most common is Cavendish, which can be densely planted but is vulnerable to pests and diseases, necessitating pesticide applications to maintain productivity. Farmers strategically schedule pesticide spraying to combat fungi and insects like black sigatoka. To protect the fruit from small animals, they wrap banana bunches in plastic bags or large sacks, leaving the tops exposed. What other benefits do these measures provide? Stay tuned for more insights in this farming tutorial.
In this farming documentary, Trending Farm visits Dole's Bananito Farm in Costa Rica to explore the banana harvesting process. This farm combines ideal growing conditions with sustainable methods, enabling year round harvesting of premium bananas. It takes 12 to 13 weeks for bananas to mature after the fruit appears. Dole's growers measure the banana fingers to determine the optimal harvest time, which occurs six days a week. A team of three harvests the green bananas, ensuring they ripen perfectly for consumers. Protective foam padding safeguards the bananas from bruising, and the entire stems are cut with machetes. Each 65 pound bunch is then transported via an 80 mile cable car system to the packing plant, where they are washed, inspected, and packed into boxes for long distance shipping. Dole prioritizes sustainability and quality at every step to ensure premium fruit reaches the market.
Once harvested and transported to the factory, bananas go through a series of processes that transform fresh bananas into packaged dried bananas. We start with carefully selected bananas. Although they are thoroughly washed at the farm, once they reach the processing plant, the bananas are washed through jets and jets to remove any dirt that may have been present during the journey. Next, the bananas are peeled and sliced into thin, uniform slices, typically 3 to 5 mm thick. The banana slices are then placed in an industrial dryer, where they are dried at a controlled temperature, usually around 135°F (57°C), for several hours to remove moisture while retaining the fruit’s natural flavor and nutrients. Once completely dried, the banana slices are quality checked to ensure they are crisp and free of any blemishes. The dried bananas are then seasoned, if required, before being packed into airtight, moisture proof packaging to retain their freshness. Automated machinery ensures that each packet contains the correct quantity, while strict quality control measures ensure product consistency. Finally, the packaged dried bananas are boxed and prepared for distribution to markets around the world.
In addition to packaged snacks, bananas are used in popular dishes worldwide, such as banana chips and banana flour. Known as “pisang goreng” in Indonesia, banana chips are made by slicing ripe bananas, coating them in flour, and deep frying until golden and crispy. This delicacy is particularly popular in Southeast Asia, where street vendors sell about 1,000 servings daily. Banana flour, made from peeled, sliced, and dried green bananas ground into powder, is a gluten free alternative favored by health conscious consumers. In Ecuador, around 4,500 tonnes of banana flour are produced annually, underscoring its significance in local cuisine. These banana based dishes highlight the fruit's adaptability and cultural importance across regions. Curious about the prices of these items mentioned in this farming documentary? Leave a comment to discuss with us
Banana fiber production in farming documentaries is an environmentally friendly and sustainable process that transforms the banana pseudostem, a by product of banana cultivation, into valuable textiles and products. After the bananas are harvested, the thick, fibrous pseudostem is cut away and the outer layer is peeled away to expose the strong fibers inside. These fibers are soaked in water to break them down and separate them, a process that increases their strength and flexibility. Once cleaned, the fibers are dried and combed to create a smooth texture suitable for spinning into yarn. Countries such as Nepal and India are renowned for their banana fiber textiles, which are often woven into durable fabrics used for clothing, accessories and home decor.
Each part of the banana plant has different uses and brings a large source of income to people. Subscribe to Trending Farm channel and turn on the notification bell to discover more farming documentaries about this popular and useful plant.
0 $type={blogger}: