The Problem with Bananas

I have long complained about "fresh" fruits and vegetables found in grocery stores with the onset of shortened days and frigid weather. Most of the produce trucked or flown a thousand miles and more to local stores. Strawberries come to mind, grapes, green beans, tomatoes, too. The list gets long.

Winter drags its feet at this time of year, making it difficult to visualize farmer's markets emerging on concrete still suffused with February cold. Meanwhile, I will have to rely on the consistency of bananas. With a caveat.


The Problem with Bananas


No matter how fresh
or firm they feel
as soon as I turn my back
brown spots pop up
on the sunny yellow fruit.

Before you know it
the guilty decision
not to bake banana bread
once again
dooms an entire bunch.



Marilyn Aschoff Mellor