Banana production in Iceland facts for kids
Even though Iceland is mostly known for fishing, tourism, and making aluminum, growing fruits and vegetables in greenhouses is also becoming a big part of its economy. Believe it or not, this used to include growing bananas for sale!
The first bananas in Iceland were grown in 1941. After World War II, people started growing bananas to sell. This was possible because Iceland had recently found a way to use cheap heat from the Earth to warm greenhouses. Also, fruit brought in from other countries was very expensive. So, from 1945 until around 1958 or 1959, bananas were grown and sold in Iceland. However, in 1960, the government stopped charging extra taxes on fruit brought in from other countries. This made imported bananas much cheaper, and the bananas grown in Iceland couldn't compete. They soon disappeared from stores. Bananas grew much slower in Iceland because there wasn't as much sunlight. It took two years for bananas to grow there, but only a few months in warmer places near the equator.
The Banana Myth: Is Iceland Europe's Biggest Banana Grower?
You might have heard a fun story that Iceland grows more bananas than any other country in Europe. This is a popular myth that has appeared in books and even on TV shows like the BBC quiz programme QI.
But this story isn't true! According to the FAO, the biggest banana producers in Europe are actually France (in places like Martinique and Guadeloupe) and Spain (especially in the Canary Islands). Other European countries that grow some bananas include Portugal (on Madeira), Greece (mostly in southern Crete), Cyprus, Turkey, and Italy.
Where Are Iceland's Bananas Now?
Today, Iceland imports almost all the bananas people eat. Each person in Iceland eats about 18 kilograms of bananas every year!
Even though they aren't sold in stores, a small number of banana plants still grow in greenhouses in Iceland. These plants produce fruit every year. The Agricultural University of Iceland has the last banana farm. It has about 600 to 700 banana plants in its special tropical greenhouse. These plants were given to the university when other banana farms closed down. The bananas grown there are eaten by the students and staff at the university and are not sold to the public.
