Plantains and Cassava
Introduction:
Plantains (members of the banana family), represent the number one fruit crop in the world, both in terms of production and commerce. Plantains are herbaceous plants which grow vigorously. Varieties of bananas vary in the size of the plant and the fruits, plant morphology, quality of the fruits and in the resistance to diseases and insects, yet most varieties cultivated are hybrids among these species. For the different ways of participating in food: cooked (green or ripe) or as fresh fruits; For its dual function: food and medicine; For having mitigated the hunger to the human being for centuries and to have conquered the world, the species of Banana -Plantain is considered the king of the vegetables. Bananas and plantains represent the number one fruit crop in the world, both in terms of production and commerce. Plantains are herbaceous plants which grow vigorously. Varieties of bananas vary in the size of the plant and the fruits, plant morphology, quality of the fruits and in the resistance to diseases and insects, yet most varieties cultivated are hybrids among these species.
History:
This can be transformed into ice cream, candy, cakes and other presentations. Plantain chips as well as plantain desserts are in very high demand in all parts of the world, making plantains an extremely versatile food. It is also very commonly used for medicinal purposes, noting its high nutritional and caloric value. Not only the fruits are used in the plantains, but also the plant as such, the phytopharmaceuticals derived from it have therapeutic properties due to the active principles they contain, among them: phenols, tannins, amines, nucleosides and organic acids. The fruit pulp contains serotonin and dopamine, as well as
The plantains seem to have been an herb of particular importance to the Anglo-Saxons, both medicinally and magically. The Anglo-Saxon “Nine Herbs Charm” mentions plantain or “waybread” as effective against “the loathly foe roaming over the land”. Plantain also appears as one of the three herbs making up the ointment used in the charm Wiþ Færstice (“Against a Sudden Pain”), one of the best-known spells against the ailments variously known as elf-shot, witch-shot, troll-shot, u.s.w.; and the culprits in this spell are likewise described as riding over the land. The roots of smooth plantain (probably plantago major) are included in the Leechdom recipe to cure someone who has the elfsogoþu (either “alf-hiccup...
In his introduction, Soluri introduces his idea of the banana as a symbol, something that he repeats throughout the book. I believe this is one of his strongest arguments. To him, the banana is a symbol of the "distance" (2) between those who grow the banana and those who consume. According to Soluri, while the actual fruit lost its exoticism
Monoculture is the attempt to control a crop to maximize yield. Polyculture is the acknowledgement of nature’s control and the attempt to grow successful crops through changing the process of growing plants based on the ecological system around them. The people who grew early potatoes on the Andes grew a wide variety of different potato species so that not all of them were likely to be susceptible to the same disease (Pollan 131). Pollan’s discussion of these methods leans heavily toward the idea that even though monoculture is simpler and more profitable, it is an inferior method to polyculture that is mainly still in use to feed the capitalistic machine of the global food industry. Pollan contrasts the potato with other manipulated products such as beer, cheese, apples, and marijuana by claiming that the potato remains different in how the scientists working with it have dealt with it (133).
Old World crops such as wheat, barley, rice, and turnips had not traveled west across the Atlantic. Some of the New World crops that hav...
Even though bananas may simply look like a fruit, they signify a wide variety of environmental, economic, social, and political problems. The banana trade injustices in the global trade market, symbolizes economic imperialism, and the worldwide spread of the agricultural economy. Bananas are also number four on the list of staple crops in the world and one of the major profit makers in supermarkets, making them vital for economic and global food security. Being one of the many first tropical fruits to be exported, bananas were a cheap way to bring “the tropics” to North America and Europe. Bananas have become such a widespread, inexpensive grocery item that we often forget where they come from and how they got here.
Avocado is originated in southern Mexico before coming to California in 19th century. In the past Avocado was introduced by Judge RB, Ord of Santa Barbara when he brought a tree from Mexico. Moreover, “Avocados were unfamiliar to most Americans until the mid-1900s, when growers of the subtropical fruit successfully convinced many Americans to try it”. More and more farmers as well as growers in California in 1900s saw the potential of Avocado for commercial activities and since then, many Avocados have been hunted for its varieties.
“Although bananas may only look like a fruit, they represent a wide variety of environmental, economic, social and political problems. The banana trade symbolises economic imperialism, injustices in the global trade market, and the globalisation of the agricultural economy. Bananas are also number four on the list of staple crops in the world and one of the biggest profit makers in supermarkets, making them critical for economic and global food security. As one of the first tropical fruits to be exported, bananas were a cheap way to bring “the tropics” to North America and Europe. Bananas have become such a common, inexpensive grocery item that
The broad range of topographical elevations has encouraged agricultural expansion whose diverse production of food constitutes an important part of the Colombian economy. The agricultural sector contributed 14% of GDP, excluding coffee, with a production worth almost 11 billion US. In the hot lowlands of the Caribbean heartland, the inter-montages valleys, and the savannas of Orinoquia, there are immense plantations of bananas, sugar cane, rice, cotton, soybeans and sorghum, and large cattle farms that produce meat and dairy products. (Sited Dennis Hanratty)
Soluri, John Banana Cultures: Agriculture, Consumption, & Environmental Change in Honduras & the United States. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2005.
First, bananas are grown in large monocultures that enable the large-scale production but cause a bunch of environmental problems. Second, the large companies are concentrating on marketing and distribution. In this way, they exacerbate the situation of the dependence of the producing countries such as Colombia and create social problems.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Lafourie, J. (2012). Agricultores muy asustados por TLC con Estados Unidos. Dinero.com. Retrieved from http://www.dinero.com/negocios/articulo/agricultores-muy-asustados-tlc-estados-unidos/151296
Although bananas only look like a fruit, they symbolize a wide variety of environmental, economic, social, and political problems. When a person purchases bananas, they surely don’t think about how the bananas got there, and about all the problems it causes on its way there. Bananas also cause a lot of poverty, crime, and globalization.
A staple crop is a food that makes up the dominant part of a populations diet. These crops included Potatoes, Oca, which is a highly productive perennial plant with waxy, brightly colored tubers, Ulluco (oo-yoo-ko) a primarily grown vegetable, but also used as a leaf vegetable; the tuber is the primary part; they are like potatoes, waxy outside but various colors like red, orange, and yellow and the leaf is used and is similar to spinach, Quinoa (keen-wah), which is a protein packed grain that resemble little seeds, Corn, Beans, Barley (which is used in soup and stews; known as being like brown rice on steroids) and Wheat. “Chairo” is a traditional stew they eat. It is made up of Chuno (potato starch), onions, carrots, potatoes, white corn, beef and wheat kernels. It contains herbs such as coriander and other spices.
“Most bananas come from Central and South America; other important producing areas are in Africa and southern Asia.” (Science Online) Those bananas are then transferred around the world for humans’ pleasure. Most people love to eat this sweet treat, however, most don’t understand really what a banana is. Bananas are thought to be a fruit, nonetheless, bananas are actually not.
After the discovery of America, new food plants became known to European people. The pineapple symbolizes balmy tropical lands and leisurely life on tropical islands. The pineapple, as well as other agricultural crops such as maize, potatoes, beans, peanuts, and tobacco, originated in America and were unknown to people of the old World.