On The Land
23 April, 2022
Banana growers urge consumers to buy a #nana4afarmer
LOCALS are being urged to eat more bananas to support growers who are currently enduring a time of unprecedented challenges, including low returns, escalating farm input costs, Covid consumer buying challenges, worker shortages and weather events.
Already battling through long periods of poor market prices, the arrival of Covid put an unprecedented level of pressure on almost every Australian banana business as labour was thrown into turmoil – and continues to impact operations – while weather events have also taken their toll.
More recently, global economic pressures have also dramatically driven up farm input costs, including escalating the price of fertiliser, chemicals, freight and fuel.
On top of this, a recent two-week heatwave in Far North Queensland’s growing region, caused a number of issues with fruit quality, with some growers forced to destroy the worst affected crops.
As a result, the industry has launched a social media campaign #nana4afarmer to encourage consumers to keep buying bananas – and more of them.
“We urge consumers to please continue to show your support and buy a #nana4afarmer,” Australian Banana Growers’ Council chair Stephen Lowe said.
“Just adding a couple extra bananas in your shopping basket will make a considerable difference to our growers who continue to toil away to provide you with Australia’s number one supermarket fruit.”
