The Far North’s $1.3 billion industry could be under threat.
The Australian Banana Growers Council slamming a review into banana imports that could threaten the industry.
94 percent of Aussie bananas are grown in the Far North – with Philippine imports under review.
The grower’s lobby saying this would open our fruit to the possibility of getting fruit diseases that could cripple the industry.
The body says imports are unnecessary and pose unacceptable risks to our growers, our industry, and our communities.
ABGC CEO, Leanne Erakovic, said imports were unnecessary and would place the nation’s banana industry under unacceptable threat.
“We have never needed to import bananas, and we don’t need to start now. Australian growers produce more than enough high-quality fruit to supply the entire domestic market,” Ms Erakovic said.
“That entire production could be put at risk through the entry of exotic diseases if overseas-grown bananas are brought into Australia.”
The industry directly supports more than 540 growers and 18,000 workers, whose livelihoods depend on secure, sustainable production.
The body says their position remains that Australian growers produce more than enough high-quality fruit to supply the entire domestic market, year-round and allowing bananas from overseas opens the door to exotic diseases that could devastate farms, families, and regional communities.
