There are many different kinds of banana grown in North America. I ate them growing up in Florida. The burro banana and the red banana come to mind. But they just aren't as cheap as the Cavendish, which is one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) fruits by weight period.

Being simultaneously soft enough to eat raw and durable enough to ship and store is really threading the needle. There are many varieties of plantain (it's hard) and many varieties of bananas that are hard to ship. The Cavendish is often the only fruit available at convenience stores, maybe alongside a few oranges, because it's just so darn convenient.