Devastating weather conditions experienced over the past month are expected to affect the quality and supply of bananas from far north Queensland, according to long-time farmer Diane Sciacca. Sciacca, with 40 years of banana farming experience, is hopeful that consumers will empathize with the industry's plight and offer their support.
Last month's Tropical Cyclone Jasper brought record rainfall and flooding, disrupting supply chains in Australia's largest banana-growing region. The majority of Australia's bananas are farmed in Tully, Innisfail, Lakeland, and Atherton Tablelands in far north Queensland, accounting for 94% of the country's banana cultivation.
Sciacca notes that trucks are taking twice as long to navigate rural roads, severely damaged or closed due to recent storms. Coupled with persistent rainfall and strong winds, the quality of bananas may be compromised. She emphasizes the importance of consumers understanding these added costs.
Sciacca also highlights the potential for quality issues with bananas in the coming weeks due to flooding and bag rub, a condition where protective bags rub against the fruit, causing skin abrasions. She hopes for retailer support to help manage variations in quality that don't affect the eating quality of the bananas.
Source: bluemountainsgazette.com.au