Slow to Ripen

[MamaSutras]

I am wondering if anyone has some insight in to this situation...

1 1/2 wks ago I purchased some "organic" bananas and permissions from Trader Joe's... They still have not ripened!

I am trying to remember from my days of living in Hawaii how long it takes for "fresh picked" green bananas to ripen... but it is escaping me. Permissions- this is only my second season eating the wonderful fruit...

My secret worry is irradiation... Does the store have to tell you if food is irraditated- would they even know?

Thanks
Amber

[greenbunny]

I have great insight into organic bananas as they are a permanent guest in this house.

Non-organic bananas are dipped in a nasty chemical whole that sinks through the skin and into the fruit and makes them ripen at a predictable, even and slow rate.

Organic bananas are a different animal. I find that if you buy organic bananas too green they might never ripen. I've had this happen most time that I bought organic bananas very green. Look for bananas that are starting to turn at least a little yellow. Also, when a normal banana looks like it would be too green, an organic banana that looks the same might be ripe. Organic bananas can go more quickly from unripe to too ripe compared to the chemicalized ones. That's why they put the chemicals on the fruits to begin with.

I don't believe that they can irradiate fruit and still call it organic, but I'm not sure about that. Even if they do, you are still better off with organic because of the dipping juice they put non-organic bananas into.

Try again withe bananas and keep on trying until you get the feel for them. Most fruits need to get to be known for awhile before you can understand how to pick good ones and how to know when they are really ripe. I've gone through this process with avocadoes and mangoes etc. When you switch from non-organic to organic bananas, you have to go through that same process.

Mama Sutra - do you really mean that until just last year you didn't eat bananas? I'm curious how that can be, especially if you lived in Hawaii!!!

Greenbunny

[sega01]

1.5 weeks seems like any awfully long time for bananas to ripen. I've read that you can put banana's in a bag along with a ripe apple; the ethlyene gas from the apple will help ripen the banana much faster. I always try to get my bananas fairly ripe. You could try putting the permissons in the bag too.

Cheers,
sega01

[DesertCats]

Hi everyone!

I'm new to this forum too.

MamaSutras, Are your bananas ripening now? I think you got your answer already... I normally buy my organic bananas when they are already starting to turn yellow.

I used to live in Hawaii until a year and a half ago! What island were you on? I was on the Big Island (Hawaii). I'm growing bananas in the desert in New Mexico now. I really miss the Hawaii bananas. We had a choice of about ten different organic varieties at the Farmer's Market. My favorites are the small apple bananas. It took me a long time to get used to the flavor of the bananas from Mexico and South America. I used to see truckloads of papaya on their way to the radiation plant... "Permissions"? Did you mean persimmons? Those are yummy too! LOL
Bonnie

[greenbunny]

Hey Cat, why did you leave Hawaii??? What was it like living on the Big Island? I've never gone to Hawaii because I thought if I did I would never leave. Isn't that silly? But I've always thought of it as paradise. People tell me that in reality there is a lot of prejudice against white people who come to the islands and lots of drugs.

I brought some of my bananas from Florida here to Texas - they're turning yellow out there in the cold and even though I have christmas lights on them to try to keep them a little warmer, I'm sure I doubt if I will ever get any bananas from them. Bananas took a whole year to grow and mature in Florida and they won't get that here. How are your bananas taking to the desert? Doesn't it get too cold in New Mexico for them too?

Greenbunny

[DesertCats]

It is too cold here for bananas. We were freezing this morning! I bring the bananas inside in the winter. I'm hoping they do so good next year that they finally produce fruit. We'll see!

We moved from Hawaii mainly due to the high cost of living. We loved it there but we wanted my husband to retire so we took some opportunities in the housing market before prices dropped too much. We really raised our standard of living by moving to New Mexico. We miss Hawaii and still own property there. We keep joking with each other that some day we may move back. It's a great place to live if you don't have to work! It does get in your blood...it is paradise after all! LOL There are lots of drug problems, especially on the Big Island. But, it's just like anywhere else, certain neighborhoods are worse than others. And, yes there is some prejudice but we still have many local friends. Hawaii is a big melting pot. I have friends there from Japan, Hawaii, North Carolina, Chicago, and Arkansas! Haoles (white people) are still a minority and you will notice some prejudice in certain jobs.

Okay, sorry,

Did the bananas ripen yet?