By Juliana Kim
Puerto Rico's plantains — a key staple in residents' diets — were among the crops hit so hard by Hurricane Fiona that the island likely won't be able to produce any for the upcoming holiday season.
Ramón González Beiró, the secretary of the Puerto Rico's department of agriculture, announced that the vast majority of fields were lost due to the storm's heavy downpour and will take months to be restored, several Puerto Rican news outlets reported. Banana, papaya and coffee fields were also battered by the storm. He estimated the island's agricultural industry will lose about $100 million.
NPR has reached out to the secretary and will update when we get a comment.
Cities, towns and villages throughout Puerto Rico are assessing the destruction caused by Fiona. Over 800,000 customers still don't have electricity nearly a week after the storm, according to utility companies' reports tracked by PowerOutage.
The role of plantains
Plantains serve as an important starch to many Latino communities. They are cherished for their versatility in cooking and are an essential ingredient to dishes like mofongo and pasteles.
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