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By HELEN W. SMITH
Rlffuannock New* Contributing Writer
Did you know Americans consume over 25 pounds of bananas per person per year? . . . bananas are thought to be the earth’s first fruit?. .. there is no such thing as a banana tree?... bananas have almost no fat or sodium? . . . bananas are a good source of potassium? . . . bananas are available all year round - they are harvested every day of the year?
The life of a banana
Most people do not realize that bananas are not grown on trees but are actually grown on plants that are giant herbs, which are of the same family as lilies and orchids. The stalk of these plants is composed of soft, overlapping leaves and can grow as high as 25 feet, making the banana plant the largest on Earth without a woody stem. This perennial plant does not grow from a seed either, since sprouts form from the same root, called a rhizome, year after year. The banana plant thrives in tropical weather with an average temperature of 80 degrees and an annual rainfall of 78-98 inches. Moist soil with good drainage is a must. Bananas are bursting with good
nutrition
Bananas have a well-deserved reputation for their good supply of nutrients - but few people realize
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