Bananas undergo specific handling steps immediately after harvest to protect the fruit before reaching the washing and packing facilities.
Based on the initial post-harvest handling described, the process begins with careful selection and cutting, followed by protective measures and efficient transport.
Initial Steps in Banana Processing
Processing starts right at the point of harvest to ensure the quality and integrity of the fruit.
- Hand Harvesting: Unlike many other fruits, bananas are harvested by hand. Workers identify bunches that are ripe and ready.
- Cutting Stems: Once a bunch is selected, the stems are carefully cut down. This separates the large bunch from the plant.
- Protection from Damage: To prevent bumps and bruising during handling and transport, wet sponges are placed in between the bananas.
- Pest Control: To keep insects at bay, the harvested bananas are then covered in blue bags.
- Transport to Facility: After these initial steps, the bananas are carried by cable across the fields to be washed and packed.
These initial stages focus heavily on protecting the delicate fruit from physical damage and pests immediately after it is cut from the plant, preparing it for subsequent processing steps like washing and final packaging for distribution.
