Re: Chiquita Prices
 

at $5.40 a case for 40 lbs there's not really a lot of markup on these is there? I think I'll stick with selling tomatoes at the farmers market....

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

It's very odd but in places I have not seen Chiquita bananas for a while I've started seeing them. As well as Dole. I guess it really is all about the least amount of money. I'd really like to know if there was a way to believe the PLUs about what plants they are using but nothing ever says. So they could be Grand Nain, Robusta, Williams....what else? I'm drawing a blank. Aren't there five commercial cavendish bananas that are used that all essentially look and taste the same?

At least, that's how I've read things here and there.

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

I think Chiquita is still trying to recover from poor weather 11-12 months ago and I think they also had some issue with their reefer shipper going bankrupt.

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

Tommy,

I think 'Valerie' might be the other you are thinking of.

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

I'm thinking there's something odd going on, because we're getting bananas right now that look like smaller French Horns, and they are just too big to eat in one sitting, but they taste like a plantain if you don't get them completely ripened with black spots. Terrible, because it seems whatever the crop is being hauled in right now, must be one of those failed FHIA projects like what happened to the Russet potato back in the 80's. Bland and gigantic. Sad.

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

Those big monstrosities don't really taste that great ripe, but it is like 8"+ of pure blandness. They do however taste pretty good baked

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

Rhetorical question: Why is it so hard to get good tasting bananas?

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

Found these at Wal-Mart last night for .49 cents a #.
Guatamalan & Honduran Bananas...

~Cheryl

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

I still think that something has changed with the way bananas are (mis)handled during transport and storage. I think the long term refrigerated storage hurts their flavor.

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

There's that, and there's also the increased spraying schedule in the South American and a few of the Central American plantations. Sigatoka has been a big problem this year for everybody, especially coastally, and they've basically tripled up their spraying regimens. Which of course affects fruit flavour - mmmm, fungicides!

Equally, for the Ecuadorean crops especially, the protracted labour dispute has led to the hiring of unskilled banana workers, so the rate of mishandling and crop bruising has gone up exponentially.

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

I have noticed more bruising on the fruit this year compared to last.

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

I've also seen a lot of improperly cooled fruit with the gray peel. You bring up a good point about fungicides though. Azoxystrobin has only been used within the last decade or so, and not only is it used during the season but it is used postharvest.


I'll have to try to find Organic and Conventional bananas from the same country to see if there is a taste difference

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

Interesting. Yesterday they were 69 cents / Lb at Wal-Mart in central FL, same as they were @ Publix late last week. (which surprised me)


I've noticed the opposite. Must be someone in the supply chain your way is ham fisted.

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

Doles bananas were 64 cents at Wal-Mart yesterday here in the suburbs of Little Rock. They never carry Chiquita anywhere around here.

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

I went to Whole Foods last night

Chiquita from Guatemala $0.69
Earth University from Costa Rica $0.69
Organic Chiquita from Ecuador $0.99


Also, while no means scientific the organic bananas actually tasted like Bananas, which was in contrast to the rather dull taste of the conventional banana. Granted it didn't taste like the Cavendish fruit that I grow, but it was a near approximation. I'm quite pleased.

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

These Chiquitas are probably cheap, and probably not organic.....

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

LOLOLOL! I want one. Then again, I also want a pair of these.

Re: Chiquita Prices
 

Wow. Me too, I want one.