Microwavable Banana Goes Mainstream

Sep 07

Microwavable saba bananas, currently being exported to the United States, Australia, Korea and the Middle East, will soon make their way to the local market through a deal between Davao-based producer Sagrex Food Inc. and convenience storechain 7-11.

Trade Undersecretary Merly Cruz revealed that Sagrex and 7-11 were finalizing a contract that would have the convenience store chain carry the Sagrex microwavable saba bananas in its 500 stores nationwide. “They’re just trying to work out how the product will be packaged because 7-11 doesn’t want to use plastic. The packaging has to be biodegradable, with two bananas per pack. Once Sagrex comes up with a suitable packaging, 7-11 will start selling the product in its stores,” she said in an interview.

The microwavable saba bananas are similar to the boiled saba bananas that have become popular merienda fare in Filipino households. Instead of boiling the bananas, however, the packaged saba bananas can just be popped into a microwave oven. Cruz said this product was suitable for people with fast-paced lifestyles who want to enjoy a healthy snack but do not have enough time to boil bananas. It likewise caters to people living in condominium units or small apartments that might not have provisions for stoves. “The fast-paced lifestyle of people all over the world have prompted a demand for this type of product,” she said.

Apart from 7-11, she said another way to bring the microwavable saba bananas into the mainstream was through the Department of Education’s feeding program. She said saba bananas would be a healthier alternative to the junk food that children were now used to eating. It would be a good fit for the government feeding program as it was both healthy and affordable.

Right now, the volume of microwavable saba banana comes up to 12 tons a year at a price of around P100 a kilogram. For the 7-11 contract, she said there was no final volume and price yet.

Aside from being sold as a microwavable snack, saba bananas could also be used as extenders for burger patties and sausages, she said.

Microwavable ‘saba’ goes mainstream – Philippine Daily Inquirer (September 05, 2010)