Bananas are among the most important food crops on the planet. A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus Musa that are native to Southeast Asia and grown in many of the warmer areas of the world.

Bananas are a healthy source of fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and various antioxidants and phytonutrients.

In some countries, bananas used for cooking may be called "plantains", distinguishing them from dessert bananas.