Australian Banana Growers' Council
Inc.
PO Box 309
BRISBANE MARKETS QLD 4106
Ph: 07 3278 4786
Fax: 07 3278 4938
Email: abgc@abgc.org.au
8 January 2010
NSW banana growers support greater choice in
bananas for consumers to avoid waste
The issue of ‘less than perfect’ bananas is of concern to banana growers in NSW who
believe their product is overlooked or severely underpriced due to its size or
appearance.
Northern NSW grower and board member of the Australian Banana Growers’ Council
Peter Molenaar, says NSW growers are constantly battling to get recognition for their
fruit which is usually smaller than that from far north Queensland, or doesn’t meet
major supermarkets’ rigid specifications.
“We believe the smaller fruit is in fact more popular with many families as it is better
suited to children. As well, many consider that NSW bananas are sweeter as they take
longer to grow in subtropical conditions,” says Mr Molenaar.
“We struggle to get a decent wholesale price which our fruit deserves and major
supermarkets often dismiss it entirely. Perfectly good fruit from subtropical growers is
dumped sometimes when reasonable prices cannot be achieved.”
We believe that it is time that consumers had greater choice – let them have the choice
of smaller fruit or those with blemishes at a different price point.
“Growers in Carnarvon, WA, have shown it can be done and have successfully
marketed smaller ‘lunchbox’ bananas and blemished bananas as ‘smoothie’ bananas.
We need to work more closely with retailers to make these kinds of initiatives happen in
the east coast markets.”
In NSW there is less wastage compared with far northern Queensland as markets and
smaller retailers are outlets for other than ‘perfect’ bananas.
Bananas are grown in two major areas in NSW - from Stuart’s Point to Woolgoolga and
from Ballina up to the Queensland border.
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For more information: Peter Molenaar, 0407912110
or Subtropical Banana Industry Communications officer, Neville Sloss 0414562010.
NEWS 
