What is the most popular fruit in the world?
Bananas are often called the world's most popular fruit, eaten by billions of people. If tomatoes are counted as a fruit, they are the most produced fruit by weight.
Bananas are grown in more than 130 countries and are a staple food in parts of Africa and Latin America. They are cheap, easy to peel, naturally packaged and available all year round. Most bananas sold in supermarkets are a single variety called Cavendish, which is threatened by a fungal disease called Panama disease.
Botanically, tomatoes are fruits because they develop from a flower and contain seeds. Global tomato production is around 190 million tonnes a year, more than bananas. Watermelons, apples and oranges are also among the most produced fruits in the world.
Fruit around the world
Favorite fruits vary by region. Mangoes are hugely popular in South Asia, where India is the largest producer. Apples dominate in many cooler countries, and China produces about half of the world's apples. Citrus fruits like oranges are widely grown in Brazil, the US and Mediterranean countries.
Did You Know?
Bananas are technically berries, while strawberries are not, according to botanists' definitions.