The biggest market for plantains is the local market where Dominicans consume more than two billion each year. The fruit, a member of the banana family, is eaten at any stage of its development, whether green, ripe or very ripe, and is a favorite among locals and foreigners alike. Whether it is the mashed “mangu” with onions made even more famous by former President Mejia, or the fried green plantains known as “tostones” and consumed with every dish in the Dominican cookbook, the plantain rules. <\/p>\n
According to Evaristo Rubens from Hoy newspaper, plantains are also being industrially processed into snacks, while exports are only a small fraction of the total production. According to the Dominican Republic Center for Exports and Investments (CEI-RD) in 2000 the country exported over 8,000 tons of plantains and in 2009 just over 5,000 tons. The Dominican exports go to the United States, Japan, Spain and Germany. <\/p>\n
Over 50,000 people are involved in the production of the plantain crop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The biggest market for plantains is the local market where Dominicans consume more than two billion each year. The fruit, a member of the banana family, is eaten at any stage of its development, whether green, ripe or very ripe, and is a favorite among locals and foreigners alike. Whether it is the mashed “mangu” … <\/p>\n