Banana processing

Abstract

The development of the banana export industry at the end of the 19th century has resulted in a surplus of fruit in producer countries. This is because of the high standards imposed on the appearance of fruit by importing countries resulting in a high proportion of the fruit being judged not to be of export quality. In recent decades this surplus has tended to increase due to increasing production from established and new producer countries and the changes in post-harvest practices some 30 years ago, which enabled fruit to be transported as hands rather than bunches.