The banana you know and love is in trouble.

A variety called the Cavendish, which makes up the majority of banana imports around the world (and is America's most popular food), is being publicly mourned from the UK to our own Tech Insider newsroom.

The problem is a strain of fungus that infects the roots of a banana tree and keeps the plant from taking in nutrients and water.

History seems to be repeating itself. The bananas your grandparents ate were a variety called Gros Michel, which apparently make bananas at your grocery store seem unbearably bland by comparison.

So what was so great about the Gros Michel, and how did we get here?