Freakonomics radio: The Most Interesting Fruit in the World (Ep. 375)

About this episode

The episode discusses the history and current challenges of banana production, including a deadly fungus threatening the most popular variety.

From Freakonomics radio: The banana used to be a luxury good. Now it’s the most popular fruit in the U.S. and elsewhere. But the production efficiencies that made it so cheap have also made it vulnerable to a deadly fungus that may wipe out the one variety most of us eat. Scientists do have a way to save it — but will Big Banana let them?

People in this episode

Host: Professor Daniel Ludwinski

Topics covered

• banana production
• agriculture
• fungus threat
• food economics
• Big Banana

Keywords

• banana
• fungus
• production efficiency
• agriculture
• Freakonomics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Freakonomics radio

Products: banana

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