You can now eat a whole banana, skin and all, if you’re into that sort of thing

Whatever will we think of next?

Further proof that we are living in a golden age of discovery comes from Japan, where farmers have conjured up a banana that you can eat without having to peel the skin. That's right - no longer will we have to waste approximately four seconds of our time removing the skin from a banana in order to feast on the potassium-loaded goodness within. The 'Mongee' - pronounced Mon-gay, which is slang for 'incredible' in Japanese before you get any other ideas - was developed at D&T Farm and first went on sale last year in Okayama. It is brought to life by the "freeze thaw awakening method", where banana trees are planted and grown in an environment kept at -60 degrees - regular bananas usually enjoy temperatures of around 26 degrees - before being thawed and replanted. This change in temperature allows the plants to grow rapidly, leaving the fruit with a lettuce-like texture fit for chomping right into with reckless abandon. The official Mongee banana website - or 'Monkey' banana if you prefer - highlights the fruit's nutritional qualities, as well as pointing out a positive effect on the brain. "The banana peel is an excellent ingredient that can richly contain substances called 'tryptophan' which is a raw material of "serotonin" that stabilises the mind and has a sleeping action, and also can ingest vitamin B 6 and magnesium related to the synthesis of serotonin at the same time," it reads. Speaking of the iconic yellow foodstuff, a reminder that Fyffes Banana Ltd in Swords are seeking a Senior Banana Ripener to join their team. If that's you, click this here link...