Banana production in the United States facts for kids
The United States doesn't grow many bananas for sale, even though Americans eat about 26 pounds of bananas per person each year! Most of the bananas we eat come from other countries, mainly Central and South America. Large fruit companies like Dole and Chiquita bring these bananas into the US.
History of Bananas in the US
The very first commercial banana farm in the United States was started in Florida, near Silver Lake, in 1876. Over time, many smaller, independent banana farms popped up in different parts of the country. Some of these farms were located surprisingly far north, reaching into the southern Midwest and near the Ohio River.
This northern area is usually where the warm, subtropical climate of the US ends. Places like Cincinnati, Ohio, and cities further east such as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New York City, and coastal parts of southern New England were the northernmost spots where bananas could grow. It was much harder to grow bananas further west, in places like central Missouri or northern Kansas, because of big temperature changes and drier weather.
Many other states have also been popular for growing bananas on independent farms. These include Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, North Carolina, Hawaii, Virginia, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Maryland. Florida has always been a key state for both small and large banana growers.
Bananas have even been grown in the Pacific Northwest, in parts of Washington, Oregon, and some sheltered valleys in southern Idaho. In the 1970s, types of bananas like Ice Cream and Cavendish were commonly grown in the Appalachian mountains, especially in valleys in eastern Tennessee and northern Georgia.
Where Bananas Grow Now
Today, Hawaii is the biggest banana producer in the United States, followed by Florida. However, banana farming in Hawaii has been decreasing. In 2000, Hawaii produced over 13,000 metric tons of bananas, but by 2010, it was down to about 8,000 metric tons. Hawaii mostly grows the common Cavendish banana and the Hawaiian apple banana. These are usually sold in local markets because it costs a lot to grow them there.
Florida is the main US state that exports bananas. They mostly grow Thai bananas and cooking bananas, like the Bluggoe type. Banana farms in Florida cover about 500 acres and are worth around 2 million US dollars. Farmers in Florida, Texas, California, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia are also looking into growing organic and special types of bananas.
Many other states still have independent banana farms. These farms usually sell their bananas locally. These states include Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Arizona, and California. They grow many different kinds of bananas, such as Cavendish, Bluggoe, Ice Cream, Goldfinger, Lady Finger, Red Dacca, Latundan, Pisano Awak, and Balbisinia.
In some parts of the US, like Texas, Louisiana, California, Arizona, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and coastal North Carolina, the climate is warm enough for banana trees to grow year after year, almost like a big plantation. In other areas, like northern Arkansas, southern Missouri, mountain Tennessee, southern Kansas, the far southern Midwest, and along the Ohio River, banana growing is more seasonal.
Bananas are also grown commercially in US territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa.
