Written by Kelsey Manning, Director
Photo courtesy of Chico Natural Foods.
What is yellow, sweet, and versatile? That’s right! GROW Program bananas! GROW (Giving Resources and Opportunities to Workers) is a nonprofit program founded by Organics Unlimited to support underserved agricultural communities in Mexico and Ecuador. GROW label bananas are ethically sourced, fairly traded and 100% organic. The Moscow Food Coop is proud to support this program by sourcing 100% organic Cavendish bananas from GROW. The mission behind Organics Unlimited is to provide the best quality organic bananas and tropical fruits in a socially responsible way. Alongside quality stands the commitment to serving customers and the community. Through the GROW program, we have provided over $2 million in services to those most in need. These include dental, vision, education, clean drinking water, access to higher education and more.
So, what makes bananas and this organization so special? For starters, bananas pack a punch with nutrients and vitamins ranging from fiber to potassium to vitamins B6 and C. As bananas ripen, the starch in the fruit turns to sugar. Therefore, the riper the banana, the sweeter it will taste. At Organics Unlimited, bananas are ready for market by using ethylene gas, a substance naturally produced by fruits that accelerates the normal process of fruit maturation. Temperature monitoring during ripening is critical to keep bananas between 58 degrees and 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Relative air humidity during ripening is also critical and must be kept over 85%. Ripening programs usually run from 4 to 8 days. The temperature inside the ripening room is initially high and then is lowered to slow the ripening. The color of the peel is used as an indicator of ripening progression. Most ripening facilities take the fruit out of the ripening rooms and ship to retailers at color stage 3.5 on the Banana Color Guide Chart. Knowing GROW Bananas help provide more than only personal nutrition is all the more reason to pick up one of our colorful, vitamin-rich fruits! Tell us how you like to eat bananas!
Learn more about GROW label bananas:
https://www.organicsunlimited.com/sustainability/
https://www.organicsunlimited.com/bananas-more/