Panama is a major exporter of bananas. The majority of our bananas go to Europe. The bananas they sell to the rest of us here in Panama are those not good enough for export, but they're still better than anything you lot buy in your local Super. They are ripe and tasty! So I was a bit surprised when I read this article yesterday. I also heard a report on the same subject on NPR (I listen to KQED-FM, just like I did back in Berkeley. Thanks, iTunes!) that morning. I wasn't so surprised by the idea of selling single, ripe bananas; that makes a lot of sense. I was surprised when the reporter on the radio said that the individual bananas sold at the same price as candy bars: "$.75 to $.99." Now, I'll admit, I haven't bought a candy bar in ages (and I mean geological ages), but I really didn't know that estadoünidense were paying that much for a candy bar. Sheesh! Waddaya hand out on Hallowe'en now? You'd save money giving away nickles! The article in the newspaper claimed that bananas sell for $.69 per pound. I've been in Panama too long; we pay about $.10 per pound. If the Lovely Mona were to purchase $.69 worth of bananas, we'd be swimming in them! If she buys too many right now she consumes the majority of them in smoothies. We also make ice cream from them. ¿"Ice cream from bananas" you ask? Yes! I don't consume much refined sugar anymore, and we have this great raw-food-vegan recipe. Slice several bananas, freeze them overnight. Take them out of the freezer for five minutes then run them through the food processor or liquidora until they have a creamy, whipped consistency. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon or pour on organic maple syrup and eat! ¡Qué rico!
So, ever wonder why cashews cost so much? Well, we grow those here in Panama, too. They look like this when they are growing.
See? One cashew per fruit! It takes a mess o' dem for one lousy can at yer local Piggly-Wiggly. We buy them for a dollar a bag at intersections while waiting for the traffic light to change. If they don't roast them enough ya could die!!! I loves da risk!!!So, you learned a lot about fruit and nuts on Easter Tuesday.
6 comments:
Leonardo Ricardo is experiencing difficulty posting comments, so I'll post this comment he sent via email:
Melons, ain't we got melons...I pay 3 for less than 80 cents U.S...then there are their friends at the Pinapple establishment...piles of pineapples, er, walls of pinapples...one big juicy ripe one is about 60 cents...wanna talk Sandias (watermelons)? We've got em...seedless or traditional...the traditional ones look like oversized bowling balls and the seedless are all ball with no bowling! Sandias are less than ONE dollars with "huesos" or TWO for around $l.50 for seedless...all of the above are lucious...trust me, I'm a melon addict...do you have to watch your melon intake too? Leonardo Ricardo (who can't log in)
I believe it is important for you folks to learn about the fruit of Central America!!
That fruit the cashew nuts grow on have an odd taste. It's used to make a sweet drink. Personally, I like a couple added to my smoothies. I usually end up with a bunch of nuts that I can't open because it takes fire and the smoke, from what I've heard, is terrible.
"I listen to KQED-FM, just like I did back in Berkeley. Thanks, iTunes!"
And, if I miss Morning Edition entirely, I go to KQED because they are just starting in at 9.00 EDT. It's a godsend (also when the local public radio station is doing its pledge drive). What's particularly funny to this Vermonter is to hear the weather and traffic reports.
Omigod, we should form a community of KQED-ers in exile! I don't listen every day, but like Caminante, if I need my morning news and the hour is late, I just fire up the computer, where I have KQED bookmarked, and zip, there it is, streaming away live. The traffic reports make me laugh too. (Note to Caminante, is there a reason you don't have a comments section on your blog? Were you getting trolls?) (Note to Leonardo: Melons!! Waaaaah! I miss the Berkeley Farmers' Market! Melon heaven, though just in the summer.)
Padre - I love all tropical fruits and nuts.
Cashews, melons, and bananas are among my favorites.
Padre, I am thinking that I probably have never eaten a tree-ripened banana. I'll bet they're delicious.
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