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…

“The Canary Islands banana only generates 120.71 grams of CO₂ per kilo; much less than other crops”

In a banana farm in La Orotava (Tenerife), ALDI presented its initiative to value the work on sustainability of Canarian producers and good practices in the cultivation of bananas in the Canary Islands; an action that is part of its Sustainability Plan for 2023. The company has worked with La fast,…

Lidl in Germany to pay price premium for Fairtrade bananas

The German discount retailer Lidl commented on paying a price premium and so called "living wage" for bananas: “Lidl is currently implementing another milestone within its banana range: In cooperation with Fairtrade and the global Fairtrade certification company Flocert, the company will be the first…

In week 11, Peruvian banana shipments experienced a 34% year-on-year increase

Last week, Peruvian fresh banana exports finally ended the six-week streak in which shipments were lower than in the previous season. “In week 11, Peru exported 5,467 tons of…

Ecuador sees -99.17 percent drop in banana exports to Ukraine due to Russian war

Ecuador's banana exports to Ukraine fell by -99.17% or 1.55 million boxes less in February 2023 compared to the month just before the  Russian invasion started a year ago in February 2022. Only 13 060 boxes were sent to Ukraine this February compared to last year’s 1,566,944 boxes, which clearly shows the…

Banana production increased in several Central and South American countries

The nations of Colombia and Costa Rica have increased their banana production post-CAFTA-DR. Bar chart showing banana production growth or decline in Guatemala, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Honduras after the introduction of free trade agreements with the United States.   Source: ers.usda.gov

Lidl bananas at 0.95 euro cents kg not sustainable says LATAM banana producers

Latin American banana producing countries are unhappy at the latest -35% price reduction in a recent promotion by German retailer Lidl. The week of March 13, the German retail…

Jamaican growers encouraged to implement measures against TR4 disease

Jamaica’s Banana Board is urging farmers to implement measures to protect their holdings against the TR4 disease. Fusarium odoratissimum, more commonly known as the TR4…

Bananas from Colombia at £1.07

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 £1.07 for bananas from Colombia. Bananas from Ivory…

Pakistan: Prices of fruits and vegetables hit record high during Ramadan

In Pakistan, prices of fruits and vegetables have skyrocketed, getting out of reach of the common citizens. The prices of all vegetables including potatoes, onion, tomatoes,…

"The producers are the ones whose margins are getting smaller and smaller"

Of all the challenges facing banana growers in Latin America today, including Fusarium TR4 and climate change, the most profound problem is the lack of fair pricing, said the Guatemalan spokesperson for the Latin American Banana Task Force, Julio Mérida. “It is the issue of the day. If we don’t find a…

Total EU banana production forecast for 2023 stands at 382.938 tons

The EU banana production forecast for 2023 stands at 230.000 tons for Spain, 134.902 tons for France (Martinique and Guadeloupe), 1.496 tons for Cyprus and 925 tons for Greece. The 2022 prices of banana produced in the EU and marketed outside their region of production (prices at the first port of unloading…

Pineapples and bananas among most exported products from Costa Rica in 2022

Fresh tropical pineapples and bananas were among the products most exported by Costa Rica in 2022, according to the annual data on Foreign Trade from the National Institute of…

Jamaica: Banana and plantain farmers able to benefit from Catastrophe Fund

Commercial banana and plantain farmers in Jamaica will be able to benefit from the $38-million Catastrophe Fund established by the Banana Board. The fund supports the recovery…

Ecuadorian banana exporter sees 68% volume increase in first two months of 2023

Freskbana S.A., a banana exporting company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, reported: “Exceptional 68% sales growth in the first two months of 2023. We plan to expand our operations, and we are busy with an ongoing process of implementing the ISO 9001:2015 quality management system,” states Gaetano Leone,…

400,000 banana trees damaged by storm in the north of Santa Catarina

On 26 February, a storm caused severe damage to banana cultivation in the north of Santa Catarina. According to a survey by Epagri, the main municipalities affected were Luiz…

Lambunao municipality sets out to revive banana industry

Banana is the One Town, One Product of Lambunao municipality, as tagged by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Local Economic Development and Investments Promotion…

Ecuador banana industry not affected by earthquake, heavy rain slows production

The 6.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Ecuador and parts of the North of Peru, this past weekend (Saturday, 18 March 2023) did not affect banana production, producers and exports say. Instead, heavy rains destroyed infrastructure and reduced production somewhat as efforts to repair the damage are under…

Dole supplies bananas to the Wuxi Marathon

The 2023 Wuxi Marathon started on March 19th at Taihu Lake. Dole, a century-old fruit brand, has provided healthy fruit and vegetable energy support for the "Cherry Blossom Marathon" for seven consecutive years, helping 33,000 runners to compete on the banks of Lihu Lake. Since 2016, Dole has partnered…

Colombian police seize over 1.6 tons of cocaine in banana shipment

Colombian Anti-Narcotics Police Director, Colonel Edgar Cárdenas, has announced the discovery of more than 1.6 tons of cocaine hidden among a shipment of bananas en route to…

Bananas from Colombia 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 from Colombia. Bananas from Costa…

Ecuador exports up in January 2023

Sales represented USD 1,475 million and constitute 63% of total exports, the Federation of Exporters of Ecuador (Fedexpor) stated. They also had a volume growth of 11%, which…

South African market feels effects of flooded banana fields in Mozambique

Banana availability in South Africa has tightened as a result of the flooding in the southern parts of Mozambique last month. Up to 75% of the bananas sold at Gauteng’s municipal markets come from Mozambique and Eswatini. The destruction wrought by the inexhaustible cyclone Freddy was concentrated in the…

Tradition of planting silver bananas continues in Monte Alegre

With the support of the Government of Pará, farmers in Monte Alegre in the Lower Amazon are returning to planting silver bananas (Musa spp. Família Musaceae) after almost 30…

Dominican Republic to host banana producers from Latin America

Banana producers from Latin America, as well as from the Caribbean and Africa, will meet from April 17 to 22 in Punta Cana, in the eastern Dominican Republic. Organized by the…

Cambodian fresh banana exports to China improve in Q1

According to Longmate Agriculture CEO Hun Lak, Cambodia's fresh banana exports to regional markets in the first quarter of the year have improved compared to 2022, mainly due…

Colombia banana exports down 2.7% in 2022 due to rains and war in Ukraine

Colombia’s banana exports fell 2.7% to 108 million 20-kilogram boxes last year, the head of banana growers’ association told Reuters on Tuesday, citing inclement, rainy…

Filipino banana sector badly in need of government support

Guatemala has recently stripped the Philippines of its status as the world’s second-largest exporter of bananas. Based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of…

Ugandan presidium set up to protect the Ndiizi banana

Uganda is one of the leading consumers of bananas globally. For centuries, farmers have selected and preserved more than 80 varieties of bananas and plantains all with…

Bananas from Costa Rica at £1.05: 4% drop 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 £1.05 for bananas from Costa…

Banana of Guadeloupe and Martinique at the Paris Agricultural Show 2023

Usually present in the “overseas” area of the Paris Agricultural Show, the banana of Guadeloupe and Martinique was located in the “plant crop” area this time. After two years of absence, this change has allowed the French banana to gain visibility alongside the interprofession and all professionals of…

Tunisian Minister of Commerce delays fixing sales prices of apples and bananas

Less than 24 hours after the announcement that it would set out to fix the prices of apples and bananas on the Tunisian market, the Ministry of Commerce backpedaled. The…

Government tackles leaf spot disease of banana and plantain on Dominica

According to Agriculture Minister Roland Royer, the Dominican government is reviewing the treatment for Black Sigatoka, a leaf spot disease of banana and plantain plants…

Cameroon banana exports down, mainly due to poor performance by market leader

According to data from banana association Assobacam, Cameroonian banana exporters sold a total of 16,185 tons of fruits in February 2023. Compared to the 16,525 tons sold over…

Representatives of the global banana industry will meet again to analyze new trade routes and challenges

After four years of absence, the banana sector will hold the 9th International Banana Congress this year. Representatives of the banana sector will meet at the event to discuss and analyze the new routes of the banana industry, analyze the sector's challenges, and carry out business. The National Banana Corporation…

Bananas from Costa Rica at £1.09 per kg

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 £1.09 for bananas…

Banana Link welcomes UK retailer commitment

This week, nine major UK retailers have made a public commitment to close the living wage gap in their banana supply chains. Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl GB, Marks and Spencer,…

Jordanian consumer protection society calls for more imports due to soaring banana prices

Jordan’s National Society for Consumer Protection (NSCP) has called on the Ministry of Agriculture to allow the import of adequate quantities of bananas to meet market demand,…

Indonesian Trade minister looks to boost exports of horti products

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan is pushing for an increase in the exports of Indonesian horticultural products by providing assistance to entrepreneurs experiencing…

Fresh produce packaging that reduces losses and waste in ambient conditions

Fresh produce packaging that can extend the shelf life of products in ambient conditions, thereby decreasing food waste, remains the focus for Post-Harvest Solutions. The company, founded in Israel in 2004, to provide packaging solutions to the fresh produce sector is known for their Zoepac range of…

UK supermarkets work together to close living wage gap in banana supply chain

Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl GB, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose have joined forces to commit to a living wage for banana workers in their…

Đồng Nai banana exports to surge by 25% to half million tons

Đồng Nai, Vietnam’s top banana exporting province, is expected to ship over 500,000 tons of the fruit this year, 25 per cent higher than last year. According to Nguyễn Thị…

"The proportion of high-quality supply is small, so the price of imported Vietnamese bananas varies"

With the continuous growth of market demand, China's banana imports have shown an increasing trend in recent years. Currently, Vietnam is China's second-largest banana import market, after the Philippines. From October to November every year, Vietnamese bananas start to go on the market, and the…