Some Japanese regions, such as the Prefecture of Fukushima, are already producing innovative edible skin bananas, named Kirei, which, in Japanese, means beautiful. These bananas won't be cheap, as they will cost about 300 yen (almost 3 dollars) per unit.
Japan intends to start producing its own bananas as it currently has to import them, mainly from the Philippines. In fact, Japan imported 605,492 tons of bananas worth $ 277 million in 2015.
Is it safe to consume bananas from Fukushima?
Even though everything seems fine in Fukushima, the Prefecture has established a system for measuring radiation in agricultural products to guarantee their distribution and consumption.
“The prefectural governments have been carrying out the monitoring of environmental radiation of first necessity agricultural, forestry, and marine products following the 'Concepts of the implementation and lifting of objects and areas subject to the inspection and restrictions on shipments plan' established by the Response to Nuclear Emergencies Headquarters (whose general director is the prime minister),” according to the website of the prefecture of Fukushima.
The results of the monitoring are made public on the prefecture's website and updates to the press are also provided.
Bananas produced in the cold
In addition to the edible skin banana, Japan has also presented a banana variety that is grown at temperatures of -60 ºC and then replanted in warmer climates, at a temperature of nearly 30 ºC, where they defrost.
They have been baptized as Mongee Banana and their development has been carried out by the scientists of the D&T company, who have decided to imitate the cold climate on Earth 20,000 years ago when the first plants began to sprout after the winter thaw. Most banana plants need two years to reach full maturity, while the Mongee variety only needs four months.
An additional advantage is that they don't require any pesticides. In addition, researchers didn't have to perform any genetic modifications to produce them. According to the D&T Farm website, the Mongee banana peel may contain tryptophan, which some studies relate to the creation of serotonin, vitamin B6, and magnesium.
