Going Bananas: How a Tropical Treat Became the World's Favorite Fruit

Gastropod

Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley

Science, Food, History, Arts

4.7 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 13 May 2025

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1870, a strange fruit arrived on the docks in New Jersey, starting an industry that would change the world. That fruit was a banana, and, although it was a staple food in tropical regions, most Americans had never tried one. Today, a century and a half later, even the most depressing gas station, corner store, or hotel breakfast buffet in the land has bananas on offer. This week, we’re exploring the story of how humans transformed a tiny berry full of tooth-breaking seeds into the soft, yellow, suggestively-shaped fruits we know and love. Listen in now for the funny but tragic story that involves the invention of the cruise ship vacation, a Brazilian beauty and her iconic tutti-frutti hat, and the creation of the first "banana republic." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This plant that we see here and these plants have changed the world
0:10.0	in ways that are difficult to express in a single interview.
0:15.0	From the landscapes to the history of entire countries, to cultures, to the way in which we interact with nature,
0:25.1	and have had effects all the way into the political systems of countries,
0:31.5	and traces that are still with us.
0:35.4	Ooh, it's 20 questions time.
0:38.4	What plant is this that has basically shaped everything?
0:42.7	Cynthia, what's my first clue?
0:44.3	I have a hint that might only work if you went to an American summer camp,
0:47.7	and it is this chant slash song.
0:51.1	I like tight-ite.
0:52.1	I like tight-eight.
0:53.2	I like tight-eight. I like tight-ite. I like tight-ite. I like tight-ite. Iples and
0:55.3	I did not grow up here and your summer camping is not helping me. Truly, this is a foreign
1:04.9	culture to me. I never even heard of us more till I was in my 30s. Okay, then, how about
1:09.8	this clue from the Minions movies?
1:15.9	Okay, I did not see the Minions movies, but it sounds like the Beach Boys inhaled a helium balloon.
1:23.7	And what on earth does that have to do with the plant? Let's try this clue.
1:28.2	Babies are often started on them as food, and they like to smash the fruit into their faces as they eat.
1:34.1	Oh, yeah, I have got this. It's clearly the banana.
1:38.6	What's my prize?
1:39.4	A gastropod episode, all about bananas.
	...

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