The ‘pandemic’ destroying the world’s favorite fruit (the Cavendish Banana)

BBC ^ | 2024 | Louise Gray

[ProtectOurFreedom]

This has happened to so many man-made cultivars of fruit -- grapes and pineapples come to mind. Huge plantations of one genetically identical organism get wiped out. It's also happened to ornamental plants like Dutch Elms and right now with the ancient oaks in California with the fungus that causes Sudden Oak Death.

Today's plantations are all the "Cavendish" variety. Other articles say that the previous Gros Michel (‘Big Mike’) variety was larger and tastier. I don't think I've ever had a Gros Michel banana.

[Macoozie]

Just like the Spuds they gang produce for French fries, we are offered ONE kind.

Ya gotta search out all the others.

But they’re out there.
And tasty as can be too!

Spud offerings have gotten better. More Apple varieties too

[Larry Lucido]

I believe the cavendish bananas were supposed to be wiped out 20 years ago. And yes, we have no bananas.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Yes, the Cavendish has been affected by the “Panama Disease” for several decades, but it was contained. The extent of the disease has grown exponentially the past decade and is now in more than 20 countries. Entire plantations get wiped out. The only “cure” is to uproot and destroy the diseased plantations. We do the same thing today with chicken and cattle diseases.

[Billthedrill]

We do the same thing today with chicken and cattle diseases.

We do indeed. Which is why my hopes went up when the people at the Democrat convention started coming down with CoVid. They should have taken out the whole herd and started over.

[Honorary Serb]

The MIT Banana Lounge!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PybYoXGhAw

[butlerweave]

Supermarket has lots even on sale ,LOL

[hanamizu]

I don’t think I’ve ever had a Gros Michel banana.

---

That’s what we had when I was a lad growing up. The artificial ‘banana flavoring’ was based on the taste of the Gros Michel. Much tastier than the Cavendish.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

LOLOL!! You made my day with that one!

[wildcard_redneck]

The fungus that kills frogs was spread worldwide by biologists studying the problem, the “scientists” were the main vector of the fungus which was traveling on their boots and clothes. It is possible the banana fungus is also being spread on the boots and clothing of the scientists studying it.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The Senior Pranks at CalTech were a lot better than that!

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The botanists in California also think the Sudden Oak Death fungus is largely spread on boots as well.

Whenever you are hiking in an ancient oak grove, you will see signs to stay on the trail and keep your boots clean.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Almost an hour and no Obama-related jokes about the Big Mike banana?

[null and void]

Nope. Not going there.

[Yardstick]

Here’s a guy giving a very analytical taste comparison of the Cavendish versus the Gros Michel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqLNNgyiJdY

He also reviews a variety that may be a replacement for the Cavendish in the future:

[mabarker1]

TR3B ?

[metmom]

Same thing happened that caused the Irish potato famine.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Well, I DID make “Big Mike” bold. But that was just a hint.

[Albion Wilde]

Sounds like the Irish potato famine — overdependence on one cultivar.

[NorthMountain]

None of us really want to think about Big Mike’s banana ...