"You can't fool nature." Sochi boasted of its first banana harvest, prompting consumers to inquire about production costs.
The first experimental bananas have ripened at two Sochi farms. Farmers claim they are tastier and healthier than imported varieties.
The first banana harvest was recently harvested at the 100 Hectares and Achigvarskoye Ozero farmsteads. The greenhouses maintained the climate typical for bananas—high temperatures and humidity. A total of 14 banana varieties were planted, including Blue Java, Red, Black, White, Golden, and Cavendish—the variety Russians are accustomed to seeing on store shelves. It was the first to ripen.
"The main difference between our bananas and imported ones is that they ripen fully in the greenhouse, not while in transit. They turn yellow on the fourth day after harvesting and are completely ready for consumption. This gives them a more vibrant flavor and more valuable nutrients."- explained farmer "100 hectares" Andrey Platonov.
Farmers say that if the experiment is successful, Russians will have year-round access to the vitamins in their own bananas. And in response to sensitive questions about climate and survival, they cite the example of fresh cucumbers, which were considered a delicacy in winter during Soviet times, now available year-round.
"What's the production cost?" "Domestic tomatoes are more expensive than imported ones. Bananas will probably be worth as much as gold." "You can't fool nature and physics. Growing bananas and other exotic fruits will cost us more, no matter what.", — potential consumers began to reason.
Farmers are not yet disclosing the price of Russian bananas—this information is likely classified until the experiment is fully completed.
Last July, the Cabinet of Ministers added bananas to the list of domestic agricultural products. Officials and members of parliament assured that this would eventually create an independent sub-sector with state support. Not only bananas, but also lemons, kiwis, figs, feijoas, and papayas, which are already being grown in experimental greenhouses, can be grown.
Incidentally, the history of the Russian banana is complex and intricate. The first seedling of this overseas fruit brought Back in 1754, for Count Pyotr Shuvalov's greenhouses. Bananas began to be purchased en masse for the USSR in the middle of the last century.
