Hortinet focuses on rebuilding the banana value chain

Until the late 1990s, bananas were big business in Malawi. The industry employed between 2 million and 3 million people and completely satisfied domestic demand. But then, the…

Current average week prices of bananas from Belize at £0.95

This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £0.95 for bananas…

"We imminently expect an improvement in the Canary banana market"

The spring brings the beginning of some long-awaited Spanish fruit seasons, which have already started with some delay in each segment. "The start of the watermelon season has been marked by the high prices and strong demand for the early production from North Africa. However, the organoleptic quality of…

Dole sponsors Disney spring run

Spring is approaching, and the Shanghai Disney Resort is adorned with beautiful spring scenery. In May of this year, Shanghai Disney Resort launched a parenting activity as a warm-up for the popular "Disney Run." Adults and children who embrace an active lifestyle gather at Disneyland to experience the joy of outdoor running.…

Untimely rain and winds damage Burhanpur banana plantations

Sudden rains, accompanied by strong winds have damaged standing banana crops in Burhanpur district on Sunday. Banana farmers in Burhanpur district suffered major losses after…

Australia's first plastic credits scheme has been launched to target banana industry waste

Australia's first plastic credits scheme has been launched to target banana industry waste. However, the recycling industry is calling for scrutiny. The program, developed by…

Ecuador sees 4.56% increase in banana exports during April 2023

During April 2023 consumers in world markets enjoyed about 5.81 million, that is an increase of 4,56%, more boxes of bananas from Ecuador compared to April last year (2022.) A total of 90.45 million boxes were shipped to their top three export markets with 31.04% going to the European Union, 24.42% to Russia…

China spent $1.18 billion to import 885,300 tons of fruit in first three months of 2023

Chinese sources explain that the country spent $1.18 billion to import 885,300 tons of fruit in the first three months of 2023, including bananas, mango, mangosteen,…

Cocaine found in banana containers at Malta Freeport

A total 270 kilograms of cocaine were intercepted by Customs in two containers loaded with bananas. These were intercepted at Malta Freeport, sailing from Ecuador to Slovenia.…

Dissolution of Ecuador's National Assembly leads to delay of FTA start with China

Ecuador’s banana and other industries have done the homework with a free trade agreement (FTA) signed with China, but now they have a slightly longer waiting period before they can enjoy the benefits. The delay comes after Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly on 17 May,…

CGIAR prepares new lab service with release of key crop reference genomes

Scientists at CGIAR are releasing 11 high quality reference genomes representing African crops targeted by the agricultural research organization. Eight banana, one cowpea and…

Empowering growers with a sustainable solution against Banana Panama Disease (TR4)

Founded in 2016, Tropic emerged in the United Kingdom, with one mission: to address the unique challenges faced by farmers in tropical regions through cutting-edge genetic innovation. With coffee being its first crop, the team at Tropic soon turned their attention to one of the world's most vital food…

Angola has led African banana production for the past eight years

Angola is the largest African producer of bananas and the seventh largest in the world, with a supply of over four million tons. National production has been at these…

Bananas from Belize at £1.06: same as last week

This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £1.06 for bananas…

Dominica to provide direct support for banana and plantain farmers

With the assistance of the World Bank Funded Emergency Agricultural Livelihoods and Climate Resilience Project of the Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy Ministry…

Banana growers along east coast of Australia get tools to guard against pests and diseases

Through a $1.7 million collaboration, banana growers along the east coast of Australia are being armed with a plethora of tools to guard against pests and diseases. Delivered…

Big laughs, bright ideas shared during Australia's 2023 banana congress

Hundreds of people involved in ensuring Australians have access to their favourite yellow fruit have met in Cairns for the 2023 Australian Banana Industry Congress. After the success of the 2021 Congress, the biennial event has returned to Australia’s banana heartland in Far North Queensland with a program…

"Peculiar markets for plantain and yuca. Excellent season for Santo Domingo yellow mango."

"The last three years, worsened also by covid-19 and the climate change, have been very complicated for plantains, with missing investments in plantations in Ecuador and Colombia. First and foremost, the investments in agrochemicals, due to rising prices," explains Giorgio Donnarumma, sales manager of…

5th Banana Fair to be held in Delfinópolis, Brazil

The Fifth Banana Fair is taking place from 31st May to 4 June in Delfinópolis, Brazil. It is organized by the Banana Producers Association (ADELBA) and SICOOB/SAROMCREDI, the…

Banana production Santa Catarina recovers and returns to 2019 levels

The banana harvest in Santa Catarina extends throughout the year, with greater concentration during the summer. This year, the good production and quality of the fruit have…

Australian banana plantation project earns Verra plastic credits

A plasoc removal project at a banana plantation in northern Queensland. Australia this week was registered under Verras plastic programme and became the second project to…

Cameroon: Plantations du Haut Penja still leads banana market in Q1 2023

Plantations du Haut Penja (PHP), the local subsidiary of French group Compagnie fruitière de Marseille, exported 42,977 tons of bananas between January and March 2023. Indeed,…

Prices for bananas from Ecuador unchanged from last week

This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £1.06 for bananas…

New air cargo route links Shenzhen and Jakarta

A new air freight route has officially opened between south China's metropolis of Shenzhen and Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. The route is operated by Central Airlines six…

Venezuela: Fusarium threatens banana and plantain crops

Venezuela faces a new threat as Fusarium tropical race 4 infects banana and plantain crops. According to a United Nations assessment, the country is already dealing with an…

Banana waste upcycling is spurring on Uganda’s circular economy

Uganda is the world's second largest producer and consumer of bananas. Unfortunately, the fruit contributes to major post-harvest and processing waste, with tons of banana…

Australia’s first genetically modified fruit sent for approval

Scientists have submitted Australia’s first genetically modified fruit – a Cavendish banana – to regulators for approval. The fruit has been engineered to withstand a deadly…

Ecuador signs agreement with China as fourth country in the region

On May 10, 2023, the Minister of Production of Ecuador, Julio José Prado, and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Wentao, have signed a trade agreement in a virtual protocol…

Prime Minister Sunak blasted for reneging on promised mass scrapping EU laws

Some 600 pieces of EU legislation are to be rolled back in the UK, but Brexiteers hoped this number would be several thousands higher. By the way, the ‘bendy banana law’ - EU…

Banana fungus detected in Venezuela may worsen hunger crisis

A resistant fungus which wilts banana and plantain plants and infects soil could worsen the food crisis in Venezuela. According to the United Nations, 6.5 million people…

Bananas from Belize at £1.06: steady compared to last week

This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £1.06 for bananas…

Ghana banana exporter Golden Exotics Limited expands operations

Golden Exotics Limited has launched its 20th anniversary with a commitment to expand its operations and contribute to the development of communities surrounding its…

Greek police seize 105 kilograms of cocaine hidden in banana shipment

On Tuesday, Greek authorities have arrested 10 people that were suspected of smuggling drugs from South America to Europe. Some 105 kilograms of cocaine were seized. The…

Iran: Annual banana imports exceed $370 mln

A total of 572,000 tons of fresh and dried banana worth $374.48 million were imported to Iran in the fiscal 2022-23 (ended March 20), registering a 5% and 7% fall in terms of…

Fusarium wilt still jeopardizes banana production in Africa

The global banana trade has skyrocketed in recent years, with an estimated export volume of 21 million tons in 2019, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the…

93.6% of Cambodian banana exports went to China

Cambodia exported 95,028.38 tons of fresh bananas in the first quarter of 2023. Of these, 88,947.92 tons (or 93.6 per cent) went to the Chinese market, according to a General…

Challenges and opportunities in the Colombian banana industry

According to Gabriel Mancilla, the owner and manager of Finca La Trinidad, the current banana season has been good in terms of prices, but the cost of fertilizers has been a major challenge for farmers. "The cost of fertilizers is very expensive due to the war in Ukraine, which has caused a significant…

Banana exports from Cameroon down 23.6% YoY in April

According to national banana association Assobacam, Cameroon's banana exports dropped by 4,319 tons YoY (-23.6%) in April 2023. This month seems to be the worst month of the…

EU average prices for bananas mostly unchanged in week 17

Week 16, average wholesale prices of bananas produced within Europe stood at €105/100 kgs in Spain. Prices in the Portugal came in at €200 per 100 kgs, while the French paid €135/100 kgs. The average wholesale prices of bananas produced within Latin America stood at €113/100 kgs in the Netherlands. Prices in the…

Sri Lanka to export organic bananas to Dubai markets weekly

Sri Lanka’s first organic sour banana harvest is to be exported to the Dubai market in the next few days. The harvesting of sour bananas of the Jaffna sour banana project,…

Ecuadorian banana producers can now use drones weighing more than 150 kilos to fumigate their crops

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DAC), via Resolution No. DGAC-DGAC-2023-0037-R, reformed the norm that regulates the operation of remotely piloted aircraft. As a…

Bananas from Belize at £1.06

This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £1.06 for bananas from Belize. Bananas…

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Portugal: Police find 4.2 tons of cocaine in banana shipment

Yesterday, Portuguese authorities announced they had seized 4.2 tons of cocaine hidden in pallets of bananas from Colombia. According to Vitor Ananias, criminal investigation coordinator at the Judiciary Police, this is the biggest cocaine seizure this year and one of the biggest in recent years. Image: Youtube The…

Ecuadorian industry sees banana recovery in the first quarter

The Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE) released data on the numbers of boxes sent to the markets. Between January, February and March, 96.03 million boxes were…

Storm flattens 40 ha of banana crops in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu

Hundreds of banana farmers were affected by the strong wind and rain that lashed Tiruppur recently. As reported on newindianexpress.com, officials estimated more than 40 ha of…

GI certification for Nong Bua Daeng hom thong bananas in Chaiyaphum

Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property has registered the Geographical Indication (GI) of the Nong Bua Daeng hom thong banana. The Nong Bua Daeng hom thong banana…

Heavy rain still affecting crops in Rayalaseema region

Heavy rainfall continually hit crops in several parts of Rayalaseema region for the past four days. Mango, papaya and banana orchards suffered major losses in Anantapur and…

Ecuadorian bananas' spot price is 40.8% higher than their minimum support price in the first quarter of the year

Ecuador exported 99.86 million boxes of bananas between January and March of 2023, i.e. 4.57% more than in the same period of 2022, but still less than the 103 million boxes it exported in the same period of 2021, according to data shared by the Acorbanec Banana Marketing and Export Association. 31.88%…

EU average prices for bananas reasonably steady in week 16

In week 16, average wholesale prices of bananas produced within Europe stood at €115/100 kgs in Spain. Prices in the Portugal came in at €200 per 100 kgs, while the French paid €135/100 kgs. The average wholesale prices of bananas produced within Latin America stood at €114/100 kgs in the Netherlands. Prices in the…

Banana industry body names new Chair

Far North Queensland grower Leon Collins will lead the Australian Banana Growers’ Council as Chair, taking over from Stephen Lowe as of 24 April 2023.Mr Lowe had been Chair…

52% of drugs seized in Ecuadorian ports between 2020 and 2023 smuggled in banana shipments

Ecuador will use the four scanners that the National Customs Service of Ecuador (SENAE) received on Monday from the US Embassy in Quito to strengthen security and drug…

Martinique opens the way to organic bananas

“We are currently in a trial period. Perhaps other farms will convert to an organic production in the coming years,” explains Ralph Renciot, manager of the Bioban farm of the Lareinty group, which holds 10% of the banana production of Martinique. Pioneer of organic farming on the island through its…

Who were the winners of the second edition of the Banana Awards?

A total of 11 companies in the banana sector were awarded on April 19 during the second edition of the Banana Awards, organized by the Association of Banana Exporters of…

“Almost a year later, we're glad to report that we've resumed weekly shipments to Switzerland”

In 2016, the organization of banana producers of the Canary Islands, Europlátano, established itself in the Swiss market via Coop Suisse, one of the most important distribution chains in the country. The process to secure the export of bananas to Switzerland was long and required a great investment of…

Bananas from Colombia at £1.08 this week

This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas from Colombia came in at £1.08…

Banana flowers might be a great meat substitute

Banana flowers (musa acuminata), also called banana blossoms or a banana heart, are mainly enjoyed in South Asian cooking. However, whether you're looking for a great meat…

Banana flip flops will have you ready for the summer

Amazon is selling the cutest Banana Flip Flops. They are made of “high quality EVA material” that is super soft and totally flexible. The banana flip flops with 1.18 inches…

The importance of postharvest ripening and testing of fresh produce

Postharvest handling of some fruits involves additional steps that are critical to their success at retail. Ripening with ethylene ensures that several of these commodities are at ideal ripeness and will properly reach a dependable, ready-to-eat stage at the right time. Ethylene is a natural plant…

Increased costs continue to pressure organic banana growers and shippers

Following a tricky winter, the supply of organic bananas is good and where it was expected to be. For Organics Unlimited, its current supply of organic bananas comes from both Mexico and Ecuador. In addition to these two countries, other areas also producing right now include Costa Rica, Colombia,…

Vietnam: Over $10 millions worth of revenues from banana exports to Japan & South Korea

Vietnamese fresh and dried banana exports to Japan and South Korea hit $6.6 million and $4.1 million respectively last year. According to Do Quoc Hung, deputy director of the…

Tropic’s non-browning gene-edited banana cleared for production in the Philippines

Tropic's non-browning bananas have the potential to significantly reduce food waste and CO2 emissions along the supply chain by more than 25%, as over 60% of exported bananas…

Jamaica still on high alert for Tropical Race 4 Disease

The Jamaican Banana Board is urging plantain and banana farmers to report any signs of the Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4) disease, as the island remains on high alert. The…

Brazil: Agri exports reach US$ 16 billion in March 2023

According to the Brazilian agribusiness trade balance data for March, exports keep growing year after year. This month, the value of goods traded abroad reached US$ 16…

'Jamaican banana and plantain growers essential for Grow Smart, Eat Smart Initiative to succeed'

According to Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pearnel Charles Jr., sustaining increased banana and plantain production is critical to the ‘Grow Smart, Eat Smart’…

“The success of a store does not rely on the price of bananas”

For a long time, bananas have been the cheapest item in the produce section, if not the entire store. However, plantations in Latin America are often affected by this news in a negative way (bad working conditions), as the price continues to be too low to cover social and environmental protection for…

Banana and plantain exports from Ecuador totaled a value of USD 709 million

Between January and February 2023, banana and plantain exports from Ecuador totaled a value of USD 709 million, according to the ECB. In cumulative terms, this sector remains…

Vietnam: XAG drones might address labor shortages in banana and durian farming

More and more Vietnamese farmers are applying the XAG P100 Agricultural Drone to the cultivation of high-value crops, such as banana and durian. With the advantage of fully…

Oslo: Again cocaine found in banana shipment

For the second time in less than three weeks, Oslo police have seized as much as 900 kilos of cocaine found in boxes of bananas believed to have originated from Ecuador. The…

Kyrgyzstan shrinks banana imports by 36% in two months

According to the National Statistical Committee, the volume of banana shipments into Kyrgyzstan declined by 36% in January-February 2023. The country imported 3,500 tons of…

Banana growers see exports declining

Production of Cavendish bananas, the main export variety, remains threatened by Fusarium wilt or Panama disease, likely dampening exports, according to the Pilipino Banana…

Bananas from Colombia at £1.10: no change from last week

This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £1.10 for bananas from Colombia,…

Governors want avocados, macadamia, bananas and potatoes on state priority list

Governors from ten counties in Central Kenya are criticizing the federal government to include several farm products in the list of support through value addition. Under the…

Has banana pricing hit its peak?

Supplies of bananas are improving. That’s a very good thing says Anthony Serafino of Exp Group, LLC. “Supply has been pretty strong but it’s going to improve going into the summer,” he says. “The growers have revved up what they need to do to keep supplies stable and that should keep pricing stable.” Stability is what’s being sought…

Tinofrutas GmbH

"We want to supply organic bananas from smallholder growers in the future"

The global trade in conventional bananas has become increasingly concentrated over the past decade. As a result, nowadays most of the bananas offered at German retailers are imported directly, which is why the general conditions for smaller fruit importers are tending to become more difficult. Santiago…

Transporting bananas by rail back on track

Thirty years ago, it was very common to transport bananas by rail in Europe. That type of transport stopped for some time, says Johan Claes, director of the Belgian New Fruit Wharf (BNFW), which focuses on the handling and logistics of mainly bananas. He notices a renewed interest because of rail…

Sri Lanka: Jaffna sour bananas to be flown to Dubai

A first batch of Jaffna organic sour bananas is set to be exported to Dubai on April 28. Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that the Ministry would export the first…

Mini symposium on Banana Quality

The banana world is continuously developing; from the field to ripening to the development of shelf-life improving techniques. As bananas are an important product for the consumer, quality is an important subject. Quality has an impact on the lives of millions of consumers. Every step in the supply chain has unique challenges…

Algeria: Minister Tayeb Zitouni announces new conditions for banana imports

A few days ago, Algerian Trade and Export Promotion Minister Tayeb Zitouni announced that importers of bananas will now be subject to a new specification. This is in response…

Colombia: Daabon Group celebrates obtaining the Fairtrade FLO seal

The Daabon Group, a Colombian company with a presence on four continents, celebrates obtaining the Fairtrade FLO seal, granted to its subsidiary CI La Samaria, in recognition…

Bananas from Colombia at £1.10

This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £1.10 for bananas from Colombia, steady…

Indian govt allows five private firms for cluster farming on 50,000 ha

The Indian government has allowed five private firms to undertake cluster farming of specific horticulture crops in about 50,000 hectares on a pilot basis. Banana, apple,…

Ecuador: 8,000+ hectares of crops lost due to rains

The rains that fell in recent weeks have damaged the crops of some 4,300 farmers in the country. By type of crop, the most affected are rice plantations, with damage to 7,975…

Ecuador negotiating lower banana import tariffs in Asian markets

The world leader in banana exports, Ecuador, is not resting on its  laurels as it seeks to enhance the trading conditions in the key growth markets of Asia. While they have access to South Korea, import tariffs  of 30% are hobbling sales growth. Ecuador has also reportedly done all the paperwork and is waiting to…

“There currently is a complete focus on price, not quality”

Banana cultivation in India has come a long way in the past few decades, says Ajay Chopra, founder of Indian fresh produce brand Wonderberry: “The Indian banana cultivation has seen a fair bit of evolution over the past two decades. For example, the change from flat irrigation technology to drip…

Andhra Pradesh sees 200-fold rise in banana export in six years

Andhra Pradesh exported only about 246 tons of bananas in 2016-17. Now, exports are set to cross the 50,000-ton mark this year. This quantum jump translates to a 200-fold…

Global banana distributor Agrofair first Dutch multinational to gain fair tax mark

AgroFair has been awarded the Fair Tax Mark, becoming the first multinational head-quartered in the Netherlands to secure accreditation to the gold standard of responsible tax…

Bananas from Colombia at £1.10: up 3% from last week

This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £1.10 for bananas from Colombia,…

Green bananas sent from Bangladesh to Malaysia by sea

After successful exports of several fruits and vegetables – including guava, watermelon, and tomato –a first shipment of green bananas is now heading for Malaysia from…

The spot price of bananas stands at 7.41 dollars while Ecuador's minimum support price stands at 6.50 dollars

The spot price of bananas is on the rise. According to the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE), the international average is 7.41 dollars, although the box has…

Dominican officials find record cocaine stash in banana shipment

Dominican anti-narcotics agents have seized more than two tons of cocaine stashed in a shipment of bananas en route from Ecuador to the Netherlands. A spokesman for the…