Banana production during the third quarter of 2017 was estimated at 2.38 million metric tons which was 3.4 percent higher than 2.30 million metric tons of same quarter of 2016. This could be attributed to the following reasons increase in area harvested and bearing hills as a result of expansion of cavendish banana plantation farms controlled by Lapanday Foods Corporation, Sumifru Corporation, Dole Food Company, Inc., and Del Monte Foods, Inc in\r\nSOCCSKSARGEN (Sultan Kudarat), Northern Mindanao (Bukidnon) and Davao Region (Davao Norte); bigger bunches harvested in SOCCSKSARGEN (North and South Cotabato) due to sufficient rainfall; and increase in number of bearing hills harvested in Caraga (Agusan Sur and Surigao Sur) due to application of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).