A variety trial conducted over the past year by University of Guam Cooperative Extension & Outreach tested five varieties of bananas: ‘Fiji,’ ‘Blue Java,’ ‘Macao,’ ‘Manila,’ and ‘Saba.’

From planting to harvest to see which have ideal characteristics for being grown commercially in Guam. The study found that ‘Fiji’ and ‘Saba’ would be ideal for expanded production in Guam due to their highly marketable qualities, favorable yields, and ability to be sustainably produced in Guam’s conditions without the use of pesticides.

‘Fiji,’ originally from Saipan, is an attractive and sweet variety of banana that is distinguished by its rapid growth, its short timeframe from flowering to harvest of about three to four months, and its tolerance to local insect pests and diseases.

“At present, consumers in Guam prefer two local dessert bananas, ‘Manila’ and ‘Macao.’ but these varieties are slow-growing and very susceptible to diseases. ‘Fiji,’ on the other hand, is quick to produce and is tolerant of diseases,” said extension horticulturalist Robert F. Bevacqua, who conducted the trial.

‘Saba’ also performed well in the variety trial for commercial production purposes. It exhibited vigorous growth, robust fruit size, disease resistance, and tolerance to adverse conditions, such as drought or flooding.

The plant is also very sturdy and could be used as a windbreak for other crops, like papaya. It has a longer timespan to harvest than other varieties of about five to six months.

‘Saba,’ sometimes called ‘Palau,’ is a common variety of banana plant in Guam that is originally from the Philippines. It is versatile as both a cooking and a dessert banana, able to be eaten raw, boiled, fried as banana lumpia, steamed, or cooked in coconut milk.

An upcoming Banana Field Day event hosted by UOG Cooperative Extension & Outreach on Saturday, May 10, will provide a unique opportunity for farmers and gardeners to acquire a known ‘Saba’ or ‘Fiji’ plant or one of the other types in the variety trial.

The hands-on workshop will focus specifically on banana plant propagation. Individual banana plants only produce fruit once.

The Banana Field Day will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Inalåjan Research & Education Center, one of UOG’s three Land Grant experiment stations on the island.

Registration will be capped at 40 and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

A $10 registration fee, payable at the door, includes one banana sucker for each participant to take home and plant.

To register, visit https://url.uog.edu/banana-may-2025 or contact Glenda Hall at (671) 735-2080.