Plantains

Commodity Overview

Plantain sales have grown slowly but steadily over the past few years. This member of the banana family has long been popular with ethnic populations, but it is gaining ground with other shoppers as well. Promote it well and it can add to your bottom line.

PLUs

4235 plantain

Retail Price Data is based on USDA Specialty Crops Market News surveys. Data collection ends on the report date and encompasses ad pricing good from the Saturday before the report release date through the following Friday. Weekly data - from over 400 retailers, comprising more than 30,000 individual stores with online weekly advertised features - covers over 250 produce items. Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

USDA Specialty Crops Market News publishes FOB and Movement data on a daily and weekly basis. Pricing and volume information is aggregated by commodity and published weekly, subject to any source-data adjustments. Commodity data is further processed based on origin (domestic vs imports) and type (regular vs. organic). Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

Facts

Although plantains may not be familiar to everyone, they do offer some familiar health benefits. Plantains are a good source of vitamin C, which leads to a robust immune system and helps prevent cancer. They contain potassium, which can help lower blood pressure. Fiber is plentiful in plantains. Fiber aids in digestion. Plantains contain vitamin A, which can help prevent eye diseases.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the following nutrient content descriptors for plantains: fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, a good source of fiber, a good source of vitamin C, and a good source of potassium.

Sales Strategies

Plantains cross-merchandise well with other traditional Hispanic foods like tomatillos, salsa ingredients and tortilla shells.
Plantains are available year-round so include them in promotions across the calendar.
Fall: Promote making plantain chips as a great addition to school lunches.
Winter: Encourage consumers to think of plantains as a hearty side dish for winter meals.
Spring: Include plantains in Cinco de Mayo promotions.
Summer: Add plantains to grilling promotions. Plantains make a refreshing grilled side dish for summertime meals.
Sampling is key to introducing plantains to consumers who are unfamiliar with the fruit.

Dynamic Displays

Like bananas, plantains can bruise easily. Be careful when placing them on the display and avoid stacking.
Educate consumers that plantains turn black when ripe so they won’t mistake them for spoiled fruit.
Display plantains with other tropicals, especially bananas. However, clearly label them so consumers don’t confuse them with bananas.
Consider offering larger quantities of plantains if your area caters to Hispanic or Caribbean shoppers.
Include recipes and preparation tips on your display to make sure consumers know plantains should be cooked and not eaten raw.

Food Service

Fry plantains and serve them as chips or in strips as a side dish.
Bake plantains and serve them with butter and chili sauce.
Use plantains as a side dish for Mexican entrees.
Grilled plantains make a unique side dish.
Add plantain chips to your children’s menu as a healthier substitute for fries.

In the Backroom

Shipping
25-lb. boxes/cartons 50-lb. boxes/cartons RPC -- 6416, 6419, 6420

Grades
Plantains are subject to no official U.S. grade standards.

Handling
Temperature: 45-55 F (7-13 C) Relative humidity: 90% Mist: No Typical shelf life: 21 days Ethylene sensitive. Do not store or transport with commodities that produce ethylene. Susceptible to chilling injury if kept below 45 F (7 C) for seven days.

Schwartz, Ben B., & Sons, Inc.

Overview (12) (0) (5)

Business Type:

Trucking

Location HQ:

Detroit, 48209-2977 Michigan

Phone:

+1 313-841-8300

Fax:

+1 313-841-1253

Website:

www.benbdetroit.com

Commodities:

Berries (3), Deciduous Fruit (1), Melons (1), Stone Fruit (1), Tropical Fruit (2), Cooking Vegetables (2)

Tropical Specialists LLC

Overview (2) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Shipper

Location HQ:

Doral, 33172 Florida

Phone:

+1 305-456-4997

Fax:

+1 305-456-6251

Website:

www.tropicalspecialists.com

Commodities:

Tropical Fruit (4), Specialties (4)

ALK Trading Corp

Overview (5) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Importer

Location HQ:

Doral, 33126 Florida

Phone:

+1 504-493-0846,+1 702-970-0157

Website:

alkfresh.com

Commodities:

Citrus (1), Deciduous Fruit (2), Tropical Fruit (1), Specialties (6)

Sunterra Distribution LLC

Overview (3) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Dallas, 75201 Texas

Phone:

+1 469-547-6161

Website:

www.sunterraproduce.com

Commodities:

Berries (10)

Coosemans LA Inc

Overview (9) (8) (5)

Business Type:

Shipper

Location HQ:

Los Angeles, 90021 California

Phone:

+1 213-689-1551

Fax:

+1 213-689-1583

Website:

www.coosemansla.com

Commodities:

Berries (5), Citrus (3), Deciduous Fruit (2)

M. Levin and Company, Inc.

Overview (3) (0) (12)

Business Type:

Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Philadelphia, 19153 Pennsylvania

Phone:

+1 215-336-2900

Fax:

+1 215-755-6757

Website:

www.mlevinco.com

Commodities:

Berries (6), Citrus (4)

JW Farms Organic Inc

Overview (1) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Watsonville, 95076-4838 California

Phone:

+1 831-288-0505

Fax:

+1 831-288-0575

Website:

jwfarms.com

Commodities:

Berries (10)

A & Z Produce

Overview (3) (0) (10)

Business Type:

Broker

Location HQ:

North Salt Lake, 84054 Utah

Phone:

+1 801-359-2081

Fax:

+1 801-532-3859

Website:

www.azproduce.net

Commodities:

Berries (6), Deciduous Fruit (4)

Valley Fruit and Produce/Continental Export

Overview (1) (1) (11)

Business Type:

Exporter

Location HQ:

Los Angeles, 90021-1616 California

Phone:

+1 213-627-8736 - Ext. 1330

Website:

www.valleyproduce.com

Commodities:

Berries (6), Citrus (4)

Our Members have paid for their listing to appear here. So, you want to be awesome, too? Contact our Customer Success Team

Exp Group LLC

Overview (10) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Exporter, Importer, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

North Bergen, 07047 New Jersey

Citrus:

Lemons, Limes, Oranges

Melons:

Watermelon

Tropical Fruit:

Avocados, Hass Avocados, Bananas, Carambola, Coconuts, Mangoes

ALK Trading Corp

Overview (5) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Importer, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Doral, 33126 Florida

Citrus:

Clementines / Mandarins / Tangerines

Deciduous Fruit:

Apples, Pears

Tropical Fruit:

Bananas

Specialties:

Calabaza, Chayote, Ginger Root, Malanga, Name, Dragon Fruit

JW Farms Organic Inc

Overview (1) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Watsonville, 95076-4838 California

Berries:

Strawberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Gold Raspberries, Red Raspberries, Specialty Berries, Red Currants, Kiwiberries

Schwartz, Ben B., & Sons, Inc.

Overview (12) (0) (5)

Business Type:

Broker, Importer, Wholesaler, Trucking

Location HQ:

Detroit, 48209-2977 Michigan

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Strawberries

Deciduous Fruit:

Pomegranates

Melons:

Cantaloupe

Stone Fruit:

Apricots

Tropical Fruit:

Carambola, Plantains

Cooking Vegetables:

Celery Root, Leeks

Farmacopia Farms LLC

Overview (2) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Grower, Shipper

Location HQ:

Montgomery, 77356 Texas

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Red Raspberries, Strawberries

Citrus:

Limes

Deciduous Fruit:

Apples, Figs, Grapes, Green Grapes

Esscalo HQ

Overview (3) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Broker, Exporter, Importer

Location HQ:

San Antonio, 78258 Texas

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Strawberries

Deciduous Fruit:

Pomegranates

Tropical Fruit:

Carambola, Plantains

Cooking Vegetables:

Celery Root, Leeks, Parsley Root

A & Z Produce

Overview (3) (0) (10)

Business Type:

Broker, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

North Salt Lake, 84054 Utah

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Gold Raspberries, Red Raspberries, Strawberries

Deciduous Fruit:

Koru Apples, Cosmic Crisp® Apples, Envy™ Apples, Jazz™ Apples

20294448_651938245002289_1800784212888594763_n

LA Produce Distributors

Overview (3) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Los Angeles, 90021 California

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Specialty Berries

Citrus:

Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes, Oranges

Coosemans LA Inc

Overview (9) (8) (5)

Business Type:

Shipper, Importer

Location HQ:

Los Angeles, 90021 California

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Strawberries

Citrus:

Lemons, Limes, Oranges

Deciduous Fruit:

Apples, Asian Pears

Valley Fruit and Produce/Continental Export

Overview (1) (1) (11)

Business Type:

Exporter, Shipper, Importer, Processor

Location HQ:

Los Angeles, 90021-1616 California

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Specialty Berries

Citrus:

Grapefruit, Lemons, Oranges, Clementines / Mandarins / Tangerines

Plantains

Plantains

Commodity Overview

PLUs

Facts

Sales Strategies

Dynamic Displays

Food Service

In the Backroom

Become a Member Today