EU: local banana growers cover 13% of EU supply

The EU relies on local growers for around a fifth -- or less -- of its banana needs, so the rest must be imported. Nearly all of the local production comes from Spain's Canary Islands and the French overseas territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe.

EU countries produced 641,754 tonnes of bananas in 2006, just 13 percent of overall EU supply. Output was down by 1.0 percent from the previous year.

Portugal grows bananas, in the Algarve, Azores and Madeira. Greece and Cyprus are also very small producers of the fruit.

The EU's largest single banana producer is Martinique, followed by the Canary Islands and then Guadeloupe -- although Canary Island plantations have by far the highest yields.

Source: za.today.reuters.com