Gros Michel

Gros Michel, affectionately called Big Mike, was the dominant export banana of the world until the mid-twentieth century, when Panama disease devastated its plantations and forced the industry to switch to Cavendish. Long remembered for its superior flavor, Gros Michel produces larger, thicker-skinned fruit that ships exceptionally well and is widely regarded as sweeter and more intensely banana-flavored than Cavendish. It is often said that artificial banana flavoring was modeled on this variety. Though no longer commercially dominant, Gros Michel is still grown in parts of the world and cherished by enthusiasts and collectors. Its rich taste and historical importance make it a prized heirloom banana for home growers in suitable tropical climates.