Del Monte single finger banana

US convenience store chain 7-Eleven has turned to fresh produce giant Fresh Del Monte to increase the shelf-life of its bananas.

Last week, Del Monte announced the creation of a plastic wrap that allows individually sold bananas to remain fresh, and yellow rather than brown, for longer.

According to Packaging Digest, 7-Eleven has now decided to test the new wrapped bananas at 27 of its stores in the Dallas area.

The company said that, if the tests prove a success, the company could carry the wrapped bananas throughout its 5,787 stores as early as the first quarter of 2010.

The retailer’s move has been criticised by environmentalists for adding a wrapper to a fruit that already has one, Packaging Digest reported.

However, it added that 7-Eleven was working closely with Fresh Del Monte to develop a biodegradable wrapper.