Selling bananas!

Huanxin Celestial

This year’s weather has been a bit unusual, with the rainy season extending into November without any sign of transitioning to the dry season. While consistent rain can be beneficial, it does have its drawbacks. One night, there was a rare and intense thunderstorm with heavy rain and strong winds. The next morning, we woke up to find that 6 or 7 of our papaya trees had been uprooted, their fruits scattered across the ground. Papaya trees grow quickly, but they have shallow, wide-spreading roots and hollow trunks, making them quite unstable. Faced with so much fallen fruit, we weren’t sure how to handle it all. We couldn’t eat it all ourselves, and even the chickens couldn’t keep up with the surplus. So, we decided to try selling some at the market.

On our first attempt, Guang and I went to a nearby town to see if we could set up a stall or find any vendors interested in buying in bulk. After scouting a few locations, we found that there were opportunities to sell, but we weren’t fully prepared and only managed to sell one papaya before heading back.

For our second attempt, Guang went alone, bringing along some bananas as well. This time, he had much better luck, selling everything in just half a day. A Thai lady who runs a shop bought most of our produce, and she seemed interested in our fruits, vegetables, and even our garden, which could mean a potential long-term customer. Although we sold at a relatively low price, at least nothing went to waste.

In previous years, the landlord usually sold the bananas from the garden, while we focused on managing and increasing the planting. But this year, she handed over the responsibility to us, likely due to a lack of time on her part. For our third outing, we prepared the day before, loading the truck with about 30 large bunches of bananas, dozens of banana flowers, and several dozen papayas. Yesterday, Guang and Huiyi went to the market together, with Huiyi wanting to get a better sense of the market demand. After a busy day, they managed to sell most of the produce, leaving only a few bananas behind. It turns out that our “Jack of all trades, Mr. Huiyi,” also has a knack for business. They’ve decided to make weekly trips to sell any surplus fruits and vegetables, which should help bring in a bit of income and prevent unnecessary waste.

Both papayas and bananas are incredibly versatile fruits. Ripe yellow papayas can be eaten as a sweet fruit, while green papayas are great for cooking, whether stir-fried or stewed. One popular dish in Thailand is the spicy and tangy green papaya salad. Bananas, on the other hand, have even more uses. Besides being a popular snack, they can be dried into banana chips or used in various dishes. The leaves can be sold, as they are often used in Thailand to wrap food. Even banana flowers and stems can be cooked into dishes. It’s amazing how these two fruits can be so useful and valuable.

2021-11-7