Frozen Banana Suppliers in Costa Rica
Bananas are undoubtedly one of the healthiest fruits and are sought after by people to add to their daily diet due to the large amount of nutrients it has. Whether you are an athlete or a more sedentary person, it is a fruit that you must have in your day to day. If you are looking for information on bananas or are looking for potential suppliers of frozen bananas, you are in the right place.
In this article you will find some characteristics of this great fruit, curiosities, health benefits and how to find suppliers of frozen bananas in Costa Rica.
The banana and its characteristics
Potassium is one of the natural nutrients that must be in the daily intake of children and adults, but according to research done by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, less than 2% of adults meet the recommended daily amount of 4700mg of potassium, a nutrient that we can find in bananas.
Although it is one of the most common fruits worldwide, consuming bananas has been mythologized, as it is considered as a fruit that despite having nutrients that provide benefits to our health, makes the body volume increase and therefore many we avoid consuming it.
When compared to an apple, it has 4 times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, 3 times the phosphorus, 5 times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the highest value foods you can find.
Some of the main benefits of bananas are the following:
1. Fights against high blood pressure
This unique tropical fruit contains large amounts of potassium and not salt, making it the ideal fruit to combat high blood pressure.
2. Improves mood
According to studies, this fruit contains “triptophan”, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, which is known for its relaxing effects that improve mood and make you feel happier.
3. Stimulates the production of hemoglobin
The high iron content of bananas stimulates the production of hemoglobin in the blood and helps to resolve cases of anemia.
4. Prevents premenstrual symptoms
Forget the pills and eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels that can affect your mood.
5. Increase concentration
A recent investigation revealed that the potassium contained in the fruit helps students in the learning process, giving them greater ability to concentrate.
6. Helps avoid constipation
A high-fiber diet that includes bananas can help restore your bowel movement, helping you resolve your stomach problems without resorting to laxatives
7. Cures hangovers
One of the quickest ways to cure a hangover is to drink a banana smoothie, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach, and with the help of the honey, restores the blood sugar levels, while the milk calms and rehydrates your system.
8. Fight intestinal disorders
Banana is used as part of the diet to combat intestinal disorders due to its soft and smooth texture. It is the only raw fruit that can be ingested without distress in chronic cases. It also neutralizes excess acid and reduces irritation by coating the stomach lining,
9. Avoid the risk of Strokes
According to research from “The New England Journal of Medicine”: Eating bananas regularly as an integral part of our diet can reduce the risk of death from strokes by as much as 40%.
10. Fight stress
Potassium is a vital mineral that helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain, and regulates the body’s water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate increases, and therefore our potassium level decreases. This level can be regulated with the help of a snack rich in potassium that contains Bananas.
The Banana in Costa Rica
Bananas in Costa Rica are one of the most popular fruits both locally and internationally. Banana activity is an economic and social engine for the country, it generates around 40 thousand direct jobs and 100 thousand indirect ones. In provinces like Limón, 76% of the local workforce is generated in banana production.
Costa Rica is one of the 3 most important banana exporting countries in the world, managing to place around 120 million boxes a year, which represents close to $ 1 billion in annual currency.
In the country you can find mainly 3 types of varieties of this fruit. The varieties are distributed in different areas of the national territory, mainly in the Caribbean region; They are adapted to the edaphic, climatic and relief conditions of each productive zone.
In Costa Rica, the variety most found is the Cavendish, which is used to a greater extent by transnationals for export. The other varieties are Creole banana or Gross Michel; Gave or “Guineo” are used by small producers.
Frozen bananas: suppliers and uses
If you are looking to buy frozen bananas or are looking for a supplier of frozen bananas, here you can find some recommendations to know how to search or find the best option.
Being one of the most important countries in the export of bananas, you can find both small, medium and large banana-producing farms. Some of the best known are Del Monte, like the pineapple, and the Acon company and even the Earth University that is recognized for its excellent quality and green certifications helping the environment and production free of harmful or excessive fertilizers.
Bananas, being a very delicate fruit, both in ripening and complicated handling, can be problematic when it comes to exporting or even handling locally. Reaching a destination in Asia or far from where the raw material comes from can become complicated and expensive.
For these reasons, frozen is a great alternative for both bananas and so many fruits.
Frozen bananas are usually produced industrially by a system called IQF, the main objective of which is to extend the useful life of the fruit. However, when frozen by this system or also by a less technical freezing, it can only be used for shakes, smoothies, ice creams, yogurts, preserves, pulps or concentrates.
This occurs since during the process the fiber of the product is broken by the crystals that are formed and therefore its texture and properties of fresh fruit tend to be lost. This is also one of the keys to being able to find frozen fruit suppliers in Costa Rica and in other parts of the world since it is necessary to know the characteristics of the fruit.
An antioxidant mixture of acids is always added to this product that prevents oxidation in this type of product.
Among the presentations that can be found, are the banana slices of different thicknesses depending on the use they have. Common sizes are 1.2cm, 1.4cm and 1.6cm thick.
On this subject, an integral freezing system called Prime Freezing System was developed that avoids fiber breakage of the product during freezing, allowing it to maintain its fresh properties when thawed. This means, the shelf life can be extended like any frozen fruit, but it can also be used for fresh fruit when defrosting since its flavor, texture, colors, and smells remain intact.
This will allow more fruit to arrive, more easily and fresh fruit around the world, reducing food waste, costs and improving people’s lifestyles.
