The banana stem or bunch contain 56-14 hands (clusters of single bananas on the stem) and weighs 30-130 lb (13.6 – 59 kg). The stem is harvested when the single bananas are mature but green. The tree is the cut down. Bananas handled mainly as a fresh fruit and shipped from the growing area while still green. At one time, bananas were shipped as bunches, on the stem but today, they are handled mostly as hands or groups of single bananas, cuts from the stem and packed in plastic-lined boxes.
They may be treated with fumigants prior to boxing and should be precooled to 57 – 62 F. Bananas are subject to a chilling injury if held below 55 F: low temperatures kill certain surface cells and prevent normal ripening. Nor should bananas be held for extended periods at temperatures above 70 F; they must therefore be shipped under controlled temperatures. Bananas are ripened at 58 – 64 F, but the process can be accelerated by subjecting the fruit to ethylene gas.Bananas after Harvesting
