Go Bananas!
Bananas made their way west from Asia by traveling with Arab conquerors as long ago as 300 BC, and they have been growing in popularity ever since.
Banana bread was first developed and started to become popular back in the 1930’s, during the Great Depression. American housewives of the era started making the recipe as a way of not letting overripe bananas to go to waste.
The first printed recipe for Banana bread appeared in Pillsbury’s Balanced Recipes cookbook, which was published in 1933.
Following that, the idea was popularized by Chiquita Banana’s Recipe Book which was released in 1950. Banana bread is actually more like a cake in both texture and flavor. It does not contain any yeast, nor does it need to rise.
During the years of Banana Bread popularity, you would have likely purchased your bananas at the Yakima Fruit Stand ….
Yakima Fruit Market
Ripe fruit is ready for customers in this 1940s view of Yakima Fruit Market, a branch of the popular Bothell market founded by Ken and Marie Lynch in 1922. The market was succeeded by J&J Fruit in 1949. The site is occupied now by Les Schwab Tire Company.
Photo from the Bothell Citizen
