Banana

Thanks to Dan Koeppel, I'll never walk through the produce aisle the same way again. Until I read his new book, "Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World," I had never really wondered why there were myriad varieties of apple - Royal Gala, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Macoun, McIntosh, etc. - yet just one monolithic, curved sweet yellow fruit labeled simply "bananas. " (Plantains don't count; they're green and you have to cook them before you eat them.) The reason, it turns out, is that the banana as we know it is a worldwide poster child for bio-nondiversity.

Be sure to stop by our always freewheeling Friday chat, during which we'll discuss what to expect from the Celtics and Sixers in Game 4, whether Larry Legend's Pacers can really bounce the Heat, file this week's State of the Sox report, and the usual media matters. Bring along some banana pancakes and check in below to join the fun. Chat sports and media with Chad Finn at 2:30 p.m.

Be sure to stop by our always freewheeling Friday chat, during which we'll discuss what to expect from the Celtics and Sixers in Game 4, whether Larry Legend's Pacers can really bounce the Heat, file this week's State of the Sox report, and the usual media matters. Bring along some banana pancakes and check in below to join the fun. Chat sports and media with Chad Finn at 2:30 p.m.

Chiquita Brands International Inc. slipped after the seller of bananas and other produce reported first-quarter earnings 4 cents a share, stung by charges and lower banana prices. The firm missed an estimate of 32 cents. Chiquita said revenue fell 4 percent to $793 million. One analyst cut his rating to "neutral" from "buy" due to its disappointing performance. He also doubted the company's shift toward more salad products.

Serves 4 "Banana pudding is a favorite down South," writes the late author Richard Sax in "Classic Home Desserts. " His version uses pastry cream made with low-fat milk and fewer egg yolks than most recipes. As you layer the custard and bananas, you can also add vanilla wafers (use about one-quarter of a 12-ounce package). 2 1/2 cups low-fat or whole milk 1/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar 3 eggs 1 egg yolk 1/4 cup cornstarch 1 ...

Makes 4 To avoid juggling 4 skillets on the stovetop, make 2 sandwiches at a time. The cinnamon-honey butter has a tendency to ooze out from the seams during the last stage of cooking — the more, the better. HONEY BUTTER 1/2 cup honey 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon Pinch salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 1. In a medium bowl, combine honey, cinnamon, salt, and butter.

Chiquita Brands International Inc. slipped after the seller of bananas and other produce reported first-quarter earnings 4 cents a share, stung by charges and lower banana prices. The firm missed an estimate of 32 cents. Chiquita said revenue fell 4 percent to $793 million. One analyst cut his rating to "neutral" from "buy" due to its disappointing performance. He also doubted the company's shift toward more salad products.

A fan who threw a banana at a black player during an NHL exhibition game has been fined $200. Christopher Moorhouse lobbed a banana at Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds as he was approaching Detroit Red Wings goalie Jordan Pearce during a shootout in the Sept. 22 game in London, Ontario. The 26-year-old Moorhouse pleaded guilty Monday but did not appear in court. Moorhouse was charged charged with a provincial trespassing and given 90 days to pay the fine. Police said there wasn't enough evidence to charge Moorhouse with a hate crime.

The lawyer for a man who threw a banana at a black NHL player says his client deeply regrets what he did and had no idea his actions could be seen as racist. Lawyer Faisal Joseph says Chris Moorhouse was caught up in the drama of a tense game featuring his favorite hockey team and threw the banana at the Philadelphia Flyers' Wayne Simmonds in hopes of preventing the winning goal. The Detroit Red Wings won in a shootout in the game played in London, Ontario. The lawyer says the 26-year-old Moorhouse is "mortified" and deeply remorseful.

Ontario police have charged a 26-year-old man for throwing a banana on the ice toward Philadelphia Flyers player Wayne Simmonds during an NHL preseason game. Chris Moorhouse of London, Ontario, was served a summons for engaging in a prohibited activity under the provincial trespassing act. If convicted, he faces a fine of up to $2,000. London Police Chief Brad Duncan said at a news conference Wednesday the offense did not meet the threshold of a hate crime or mischief. A banana was thrown from the stands Thursday night as Simmonds skated toward Detroit goalie...

Fictional television politicians tend to fall into one of two categories: noble or nefarious. The former category includes the likes of the folksy President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) of "The West Wing," and a recent example of the latter, Kelsey Grammer's Mayor Tom Kane, will be chewing his way through the Chicago skyline in a second season of the often-riveting Starz drama "Boss" in August. What you rarely see, and what makes HBO's new series "Veep," premiering Sunday at 10 p.m., such a treat, are politicians as regular people.

A fan who threw a banana at a black player during an NHL exhibition game has been fined $200. Christopher Moorhouse lobbed a banana at Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds as he was approaching Detroit Red Wings goalie Jordan Pearce during a shootout in the Sept. 22 game in London, Ontario. The 26-year-old Moorhouse pleaded guilty Monday but did not appear in court. Moorhouse was charged charged with a provincial trespassing and given 90 days to pay the fine. Police said there wasn't enough evidence to charge Moorhouse with a hate crime.

Food section contributor Debra Samuels, who is living in Tokyo this year, saw this banana vending machine at one of Tokyo's busiest subway stations. Debra describes the place as "busier than anything you can imagine. " A few weeks ago in New York, I watched a Japanese man try to inch his way onto a very crowded subway car. He simply could not fit inside, so he parked himself facing the car with both hands in a T to catch the door, in case it closed on him. That's what I picture when Deb says busy.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff The Chicago Tribune has an eyewitness who claims that Theo Epstein was in Chicago yesterday . In a fun detail, the man spotted in Chicago picked up a banana. Maybe that will go with the gorilla suit he wears to sneak out of Fenway Park for the last time.

The lawyer for a man who threw a banana at a black NHL player says his client deeply regrets what he did and had no idea his actions could be seen as racist. Lawyer Faisal Joseph says Chris Moorhouse was caught up in the drama of a tense game featuring his favorite hockey team and threw the banana at the Philadelphia Flyers' Wayne Simmonds in hopes of preventing the winning goal. The Detroit Red Wings won in a shootout in the game played in London, Ontario. The lawyer says the 26-year-old Moorhouse is "mortified" and deeply remorseful.

Ontario police have charged a 26-year-old man for throwing a banana on the ice toward Philadelphia Flyers player Wayne Simmonds during an NHL preseason game. Chris Moorhouse of London, Ontario, was served a summons for engaging in a prohibited activity under the provincial trespassing act. If convicted, he faces a fine of up to $2,000. London Police Chief Brad Duncan said at a news conference Wednesday the offense did not meet the threshold of a hate crime or mischief. A banana was thrown from the stands Thursday night as Simmonds skated toward Detroit goalie...

Wayne Simmonds should have been able to talk about what a fine first impression he's made on his new team. After scoring in the final minute of Philadelphia's game in London, Ontario, on Thursday night, Simmonds found the net again in a shootout — but it was what happened while he was in the process of scoring that second goal that stole all the headlines. A banana was thrown from the stands as Simmonds skated toward Detroit goalie Jordan Pearce, marring the end of an exhibition game that was played about 120 miles from Simmonds' birthplace of Scarborough, Ontario.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff The Chicago Tribune has an eyewitness who claims that Theo Epstein was in Chicago yesterday . In a fun detail, the man spotted in Chicago picked up a banana. Maybe that will go with the gorilla suit he wears to sneak out of Fenway Park for the last time.

Wayne Simmonds should have been able to talk about what a fine first impression he's made on his new team. After scoring in the final minute of Philadelphia's game in London, Ontario, on Thursday night, Simmonds found the net again in a shootout — but it was what happened while he was in the process of scoring that second goal that stole all the headlines. A banana was thrown from the stands as Simmonds skated toward Detroit goalie Jordan Pearce, marring the end of an exhibition game that was played about 120 miles from Simmonds' birthplace of Scarborough, Ontario.

Banana Republic is offering 30 percent off one full-price item and 40 percent off two full-price items online today. (Select items only; use the checkout code BRMAD30 or BRMAD40, respectively.) The discount can't be used toward shoes or bags; men's suits; Heritage, Monogram, or Timeless collection merchandise; men's Gavin, Dawson, and Emerson pants; or Chan Luu jewelry.