The banana’s development into a major worldwide trade commodity has its roots in the nineteenth century. Individual merchants shipped plantains from the Caribbean to American and European markets in the early 1800s. The local market proved to be the center of commerce for the early banana trade; bananas were produced on small farms by indigenous persons. Those bananas not immediately consumed by the farmers were sold in local markets to other members of the community. Visiting merchants thus first gained access to bananas through these local marketplaces, and ship small bunches to overseas markets, and the banana’s journey of global production, trade, and consumption had begun. In 1804, plantains reached New York, and sold as novelty fruit to curious consumers. Yet, despite its entrance into the global market, the banana was not to become a major factor in commerce for another few decades.