Organic Banana Project

“Are you down with O.B.P.?  Yeah - you know me.  Who’s down with O.B.P.”  Ahh - what a classic song that brings me back to the early 90’s.  Its time to talk bananas (no, I’m not just happy to see you - get your mind out of the gutter!).  Lets start off the OBP - or Dole’s organic bananas, to be more specific.  If you’ve never bought them, they have this sticker on them where you can lookup where they’re farmed.  You go to DoleOrganic.com and find your farm number from the sticker (mine is 060 today).  Then you can learn different facts about the farm, who certified it organic, and see pictures (although - would I really know if they’re really pictures of the actual farm?  I’m taking their word this time).  The farm my specific banana came from is called “Esmeralda.”  It’s in Hondoras and has been certified organic since 1996.  Needless to say, I’m not on a locavore diet by eating bananas.  My worms do love the pesticide-free peels, though

If you’re not aware, the standard banana in the grocery store is choc-full-o-pesticides.  The pesticides are sprayed via crop dusters.  The workers harvesting the bananas often aren’t even told that the planes are coming and they have to duck-and-cover to avoid what they can.  The pesticides then wash into the soil and into rivers, etc.  It’s a lovely industry.  But wait - that’s not all - call now and you get…. “New pesticides are applied to the bunches after they are placed on a conveyer belt. The new pesticides, either thiabendazole or imazalil, are applied to prevent “crown rot,” a fungus that attacks the extremities of the banana bunch. ” 

Organic bananas aren’t that much more expensive and they’re worth it with all of those pesticides.  “But I don’t eat the peel?” you say.  Do you really think that porous peel keeps all of the toxins out of the fruit you’re eating?  Think again.  Sure they’re better than peaches or strawberries or apples, but vote with your dollars and buy organic when you can…and local…but there aren’t many banana trees in Chicago for me to choose from.

Source: Mindfully.org, my banana peel