Greener Living
Rotten Bananas in a Scorching India Expose Climate's Food Cost
India wastes more food than almost any other country partly because of spotty refrigeration. Climate change is making the problem worse.
Unsold bananas at a market in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, on May 10. Though production of grains, fruits and vegetables is increasing, refrigeration is still inadequate across the supply chain in India.
Photographer: Anindito Mukherjee/BloombergEarly each morning in the Indian city of Bhubaneswar, wholesaler Gadadhara Mohanty waits anxiously for trucks carrying bananas to a food market from a few hundred kilometers away. With no refrigeration in his storeroom, a single-day delay in selling the bananas can reduce the value of his stockpile by at least 10%.
When they arrive, he will sort through bushels and inspect the skins for signs of decay.