North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[boyd manges <bmanges@yahoo.com>]

when I was in college I spent 6 months doing field
anthropology in an indigenous region of costa rica
(mid 70's).  The Bri-bri had a huge variety of plant
material and typically had 5 or 6 varieties of bananas
growing near their houses not including ornamental
varieties or plantains.  The favorite was either the
finger bananas or the high quality "chiquita" banana
(not the dull cavendish).  I was quite happy to find
the same variety in stores in the states, but it seems
they have disappeared for the past 5 or 6 years and
now Chiquita (brand) bananas seem to be bland, sharp
angled huge Cavendishs...however, we can get finger
(baby) bananas, reds and plantains on a regular basis
and occaisionally apple bananas here in Petoskey. I
just miss the rounder, medium sized bananas of the
70's, they had a lot of flavor when when picked green
and counterripened.  I can't imagine any of them for
pot culture, however, they grew about 15 feet tall and
in clump diameter!

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Exclusive Video Premiere - Britney Spears
http://launch.yahoo.com/promos/britneyspears/