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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Plantain |
| Scientific name | Musa x paradisiaca |
| Family / Genus | Musaceae / — |
| Produce category | Tropical Fruit |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4232 |
| PLU — organic | 94232 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_5966 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 18.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| French Plantain (Mixed Cultivars) | 65% | The most common and widely cultivated type; long, curved, angular fruit; firm, starchy flesh; ripens from green to yellow to black. Excellent for frying, boiling, or baking at various stages of ripene |
| Horn Plantain | 12% | A sub-type of French Plantain, characterized by fewer, larger, and more angular fruits, often with a ‘horn-like’ appearance. Very starchy, excellent for savory dishes. |
| False Horn Plantain | 8% | Another sub-type of French Plantain, intermediate between true French and Horn types. Produces more fruits than Horn but fewer than true French, with good yield and robust growth. |
| Dominico | 5% | Popular in Latin American markets. Medium-sized fruit, slightly sweeter when ripe compared to other plantains, making it versatile for both savory and sweet preparations. |
| Orinoco (Burro/Bluggoe) | 4% | Often classified as a cooking banana but used similarly to plantains. Shorter, thicker, and blockier fruit with a distinct lemon-apple flavor when fully ripe. Very starchy and firm. |
| Maricongo | 3% | A robust and large plantain cultivar, particularly favored in Puerto Rico for dishes like tostones and mofongo. Known for its firm texture and good cooking qualities. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 55°F.
- Freezing point: 31.1°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 4 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | high |
| Production rate (20°C) | ? µL/kg·hr typical (0.1–10) |
| Sensitivity class | high |
| Sensitivity threshold | 0.1 ppm |
| Climacteric? | Yes |
Agent note: Plantains are climacteric and ripen significantly post-harvest. Ethylene exposure accelerates ripening. Maintain optimal temperature to control ripening rate.
Mixed-load compatibility
Ethylene producers, chilling sensitive. Incompatible with ethylene-sensitive produce and produce requiring lower temperatures.
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Increasing, driven by demographic shifts and culinary diversity
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.7 |
| Income elasticity | 0.3 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1.5 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Green | 80% |
| Ripe | 20% |
Pack sizes
- 40 lb carton
- 50 lb carton
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T23:50:00.000Z.