Alexander the Great saw bananas on an expedition to India. Shortly after the discovery of America, the banana was brought from the Canary Islands to the New World, where it was first established in Hispaniola and soon spread to other islands and the mainland. Cultivation increased until it became a staple foodstuff in many regions, and in the 19th century it began to appear in the markets of the United States. Banana plants thrive naturally on deep, loose, well-drained soils in humid tropical climates, and they are grown successfully under irrigation in such semiarid regions as the southern side of Jamaica. Frequent pruning is required to remove surplus growth and prevent crowding in a banana plantation.
Bananas are rich in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
The stalk and fiber can be made into quality paper products, cloth, rope, bags, and other handicraft items. Banana can also be used as a feed supplement for livestock feeding. Three hundred or more such bunches may be produced annually on one acre of land. Though most commonly eaten fresh, bananas may be fried or mashed and chilled in pies or puddings. They may also be used to flavour muffins, cakes, or breads.