This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = banana(GDF v2.0, 3350 attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
commodity_profile_rendererv1.0.0. Source row version:knowledge_forge_gdf_v2.0_export_2026-04-06.
Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Banana |
| Scientific name | Musa acuminata |
| Family / Genus | Musaceae / Musa |
| Produce category | Tropical Fruit |
| Produce subcategory | Herbaceous Fruit |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4011 |
| PLU — organic | 94011 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_806 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 1000.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cavendish | 95% | Medium-sized fruit, sweet flavor, uniform ripening, disease-resistant to Panama disease Race 1. Yellow skin when ripe, creamy texture. Dominant global export variety. |
| Gros Michel | 0.5% | Larger fruit than Cavendish, sweeter flavor, thicker skin. Historically dominant until 1950s. Nearly extinct commercially due to Panama disease (Fusarium wilt Race 1). Limited production in areas free |
| Lady Finger (Sugar Banana) | 1.5% | Small, slender fruit, 4-5 inches long. Very sweet, creamy texture. Thin skin, delicate. Popular in Australia and Southeast Asia. Sometimes called ‘Pysang Mas’ in Malaysia. |
| Red Banana (Red Dacca) | 1% | Reddish-purple skin, cream to light pink flesh. Sweeter and softer than Cavendish when ripe. Smaller than Cavendish. Grown in Central America, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. |
| Manzano (Apple Banana) | 0.8% | Short, chubby fruit with thick skin. Distinctive apple-strawberry flavor notes. Firmer texture than Cavendish. Popular in Mexico, Central America, and Hawaii. Also called ‘Silk banana’. |
| Plantain (Cooking Banana) | 0.8% | Large, starchy fruit with lower sugar content. Thick skin, typically cooked before consumption. Multiple varieties grouped under this name. Essential staple in tropical regions. Longer shelf life unri |
| Burro Banana | 0.2% | Short, blocky shape with squared-off edges. Tangy lemon-like flavor. Firmer texture even when ripe. Popular in Mexico and Central America. Can be eaten cooked or raw. |
| Blue Java (Ice Cream Banana) | 0.1% | Silver-blue skin when unripe, pale yellow when ripe. Creamy texture resembling ice cream or custard. Vanilla-like flavor. Cold-hardy variety. Popular in Hawaii and Southeast Asia. |
| Goldfinger | 0.05% | Developed as disease-resistant alternative to Cavendish. Resistant to Panama disease and Black Sigatoka. Apple-tangy flavor. Thicker skin than Cavendish. Limited commercial adoption despite superior d |
| Nino (Baby Banana) | 0.05% | Very small fruit, 3 inches long. Intensely sweet flavor. Thin skin, delicate handling required. Popular specialty item in US markets. Premium price point due to size and flavor. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 56°F.
- Freezing point: 30.6°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 4 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_high |
| Production rate (20°C) | 20 μL/kg·hr typical (10–50) |
| Sensitivity class | high |
| Sensitivity threshold | 0.1 ppm |
| Climacteric? | Yes |
Agent note: Green bananas shipped at 56-58°F require ethylene treatment (100-150 ppm for 24-48 hrs) in controlled ripening rooms. Never store with avocados, kiwifruit, or ethylene-sensitive vegetables.
Mixed-load compatibility
tropical_climacteric_high_ethylene
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Steady with slight decline in per capita consumption (from 11.4 lbs in 2019 to 10.8 lbs in 2023) as consumers diversify fruit choices. However, absolute volume remains strong. Organic banana demand growing at 8-12% annually.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.42 |
| Income elasticity | 0.15 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.65 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Cavendish | 95% |
| Red_Banana | 2.5% |
| Plantain | 1.5% |
| Other_Specialty | 1% |
Pack sizes
- 40 lb carton (standard)
- 42 lb carton
- 50 lb carton
- Retail pre-pack 3 lb bags
- Individual clusters by count
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T22:30:00.000Z.