YES, we have Bananas!
If you have perused the Scott Street Tomato House website at all, then you know about our large “ripening rooms” for produce. Bananas are the main fruit that can be found in ripening rooms. As most consumers know, bananas can ripen very quickly. For optimum freshness, bananas are shipped green, and then ripened before being shipped to customers.
Nutrition Facts for Bananas
Many years ago, a grower touted that the banana was the world’s most perfect fruit. The grower backed up the claims by showing that the fruit needed no refrigeration, didn’t need to be washed before consuming and best of all was chocked full of nutrients.
But what nutrients are in a banana? Most know bananas are a good source of potassium. An average banana contains over 422mg of potassium, or 12% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). Bananas are also a good source of Vitamin C and Vitamin B-6. Protein (1.3 grams) and Fiber (3.1 grams), as well as amino acids are also in bananas. The nutrition of a banana does change as it ripens. The starch in the banana converts to sugar as it ripens. This increases the amount of amino acids in the banana, and does cause a small amount of nutrient loss. The high glycemic index of bananas make them easy to digest.
Bananas in Recipes 
Bananas are very versatile when using them in recipes. Frozen bananas can be used in smoothies and nothing tastes better on a hot day than a frozen banana covered in chocolate! Bananas can be sautéed with brown sugar and butter, then used as a topping for cake or ice cream. Bananas are a great addition to a fruit salad; to keep them from browning too quickly, you can dip them in lemon juice!
Bananas have many talents: They are tasty when eaten alone as a snack, or can be used in recipes frozen, warmed, or at room temperature. With their high nutritional value, a banana could not be classified as an “empty calorie snack.” Has this blog made you crave a banana? I hope so–for your good health!