How Many Bananas Do you Know?

by Dr. Lois Englberger

There are 55 names of bananas in Pohnpei, as recorded in 1991 by Bill Raynor, The Nature Conservancy. One group of 93 College of Micronesia (COM) Pohnpei Campus students demonstrated in the year 2002 that they knew 8 different bananas on average, one student listing 19 kinds.

This year in Fran Chaine's Health Science class SC101 at the COM Pohnpei Campus, 18 students were asked to write down all the names of banana varieties that they knew (without talking to each other). Selino Santos from Kitti topped the class with 16 varieties. Still no study has been done to find out the average number of banana varieties that Pohnpei adults can list, although commentators suggest that older people have a greater knowledge of the local foods.

Is it important to know a variety of bananas? And is it important to grow and eat a variety of bananas and other local foods?

There are only a few bananas sold regularly at the local market: Utin Menihla, Utin Ruk, and Inasio. Yet with a variety of different bananas, you would have a variety of tastes.

Also there is a variety in nutrient content and potential health benefits in the different varieties (See KP article May 15-28, 2003). Akadahn, Akadahn Weitahta, Ihpali, Karat, Mangat, Taiwang, Utin Kerenis , and Utin Yap have a much higher provitamin A carotenoid content than the commonly marketed bananas.

The above listed varieties can be prepared in many recipes, acceptable for different age groups, including infants and adults. So it makes sense to promote the production and use of the nutrient-rich tested varieties to eat and enjoy with family members.

Adelino Lorens, Pohnpei Chief of Agriculture, started a project in March 2003 documenting traditional local food crops with support by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. Apparently there are a number of bananas with multiple names in Pohnpei, such as Uht Rais which is also called Kudud. Ilario may be the same as Dukuru, and Utin Guam may be the same as Utin Menihla.

Yet there are also distinct differences among the same bananas. There are three kinds of Karat, the vitamin A-rich traditional weaning food. Karat Pako has an oblong fruit with rough skin and the bunch and finger (the name for an individual banana fruit) are markedly larger. Karat Pwehu also has an oblong-shaped finger but the skin is smooth, and Karat Kole, which is much rarer than the other Karat, has a round shaped finger.

Remember.. "variety is the spice of life!" A variety of bananas can provide good taste and enjoyment, and also health benefits, including protection against diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, and vitamin A deficiency.