Gros Michel
| Gros Michel | |
|---|---|
Gros Michel bananas in various stages of ripening | |
| Species | Musa acuminata |
| Cultivar group | AAA Group |
| Cultivar | Gros Michel |
| Origin | native from Southeast Asia, selectively cultivated in Martinique, Jamaica |
Gros Michel (French pronunciation: [ɡʁo miʃɛl]), often translated and known as "Big Mike", is an export cultivar of banana and was, until the 1950s, the main variety grown. The physical properties of the Gros Michel make it an excellent export produce; its thick peel makes it resilient to bruising during transport and the dense bunches that it grows in make it easy to ship.