REVEALED: Why do some bananas in supermarkets have red wax tips?
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During your trip to the fruit aisle in supermarkets, you may have noticed that a number of bananas have a bright red-coloured wax on their tip.
Have you ever bought some and wondered why?
Turns out, this is not just a marketing ploy – there is actually a whole other reason why some bananas in supermarkets are marked with bright red tips.
The reason why some bananas are marked with a bright red wax at their tips is to indicate that these are fruits grown on banana plantations in Northern Queensland that use fewer chemicals and have created working farm ecosystems, supposedly reducing the impact on the environment.
This type of farming is called the Ecoganic farming method which was started by Frank and Dianne Sciacca.
The red wax on bananas indicates that the fruits are grown without the use of harsh chemicals. Credit: Verdemode.
The Sciacca's have been in the banana-farming industry for 30 years now, but it was 15 years ago when they completely changed their operations.
Since the chemicals that they have been using ever since were not working anymore (plus, it became very costly for them), they decided to follow the methods banana farmers used 60 years ago.
Their methods now include:
- eliminating insecticides, miticides, nematicides and any fertiliser that kills organisms in the soil
- cutting herbicide use by 25%
- applying fungicides sparingly
- planting trees and shrubs to provide food and shelter for native animals
- providing a network of dams, drains and grassed areas to prevent runoff to the sea and the Great Barrier Reef
- allowing grasses and weeds to remain to provide flowers and habitats for insects and other small animals
To differentiate their eco-products in the produce section of Australian supermarkets, the couple's company, Pacific Coast Produce, hand-dips their bananas into hot, food-grade wax at the time of packing at the farm.
This way, when Aussies see the classic bright red wax tip on bananas, they know that these fruits were farmed in harmony with nature, without relying on harmful chemicals.
"We choose to harness everything nature gives us to grow our bananas slowly and with respect," said Frank.
"This respect shows up in the product and you can taste the difference."
You might be asking what is the difference between a red wax tipped banana and a regular one.
According to Frank, the lack of harsh chemicals used in the growing process results in a superior flavoursome banana that tastes sweeter and creamier compared to others.
A medium-sized red wax tipped banana also contains less than 100 calories than the regular one, and is said to be naturally high in Vitamin B6 and potassium with slow-release low GI carbohydrates for longer-lasting energy.
In short, these are healthier and more environmentally friendly than your average bananas! Plus, they can be purchased at leading supermarkets nationwide and only cost a few cents more per kilogram.
Make sure to pick some up on your next grocery run, members! And if you already have a bunch of them in your home already, here are some quick and healthy recipes to use them for:
Credit: Simply Quinoa.
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