The Perfect Fruit

Little bananas.

Why hasn’t Dole or Chiquita figured out that these little 5-inch wonders should be in every American child’s lunch box on a daily basis? Maggie and Anna discovered these when we lived in Kenya in 2008/9. They loved them. Perfect. Little hands can peel and hold one without it falling apart or teetering over. You don’t eat half and then put it in your bag only to spoil and be forgotten - until you smell that sad banana when it is too late.

There are littles ones, big ones, plantains and many varieties. Evidently, Uganda is the “Banana Republic of Africa.” More bananas are grown and consumed here in the “Pearl of Africa” than anywhere else on the continent. Uganda trails only India in terms of banana export. One source says the average Ugandan annually consumes around 600 pounds of bananas while the average American consumes only about 27 pounds.

They grow everywhere. Including outside our bedroom window. Bananas are used in dessert or eaten plain. They are also used for juice, beer, wine, flour, and cosmetics. The leaves and by-products are used for cooking, thatching, clothing and handicrafts.

And art. The unknown gentleman on the right is, I'm sure, handsome in real life but when your portrait is done in banana bark? Stunning. I am thinking of commissioning a family portrait, but maybe we'll just start with a commission of our dog. We'll call it "Banana Bingo."

Scott has tried local Waragi gin - it is made from bananas.