Author: Amy Spear

By Lea Coghlan When Mike McGrath tasted a frozen chocolate banana at a school fete in Mission Beach several years ago, it was a holy grail moment. “It was amazing,” Mr McGrath recalled. “It was an average home-made version, but I remember thinking … I have found a…

Fourth generation farmer Shayne Cini on the bank of the South Johnstone River which runs beside his banana farm at Wangan. By Lea Coghlan Just like farming, looking after the environment runs through Shayne Cini’s veins. Together with wife Blaise and daughters Kari and Eden, the fourth-generation…

Earlier this year the Banana Strategic Agrochemical Review Process (SARP) was conducted through desktop audit and industry liaison to: • Assess the importance of the diseases, insects and weeds that can affect each industry • Evaluate the availability and effectiveness of fungicides, insecticides and herbicides (pesticides) in…

Lakeland is a step closer to realising longterm water security with the Queensland Government making the first milestone payment towards the Lakeland Irrigation Area Business Case. In June, the Government paid the $10 million for the detailed business case for a new dam on the Palmer…

A global pandemic may seem a complete world away from a disease that threatens Australia’s banana industry. However, on-farm responses by banana growers’ to COVID, compared to efforts to continue to control Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4), have some distinct parallels. By Sonia Campbell When…

Avid home baker Scarlett Cheesman with her winning banana bread recipe. By Lea Coghlan  When Scarlett Cheesman pulled together her award-winning National Banana Day Banana Bread Bake-off entry it was the first time she had created the masterpiece.  An accomplished banana bread baker, Scarlett’s entry…

Despite the COVID-19 health pandemic, the Australian banana industry still managed to celebrate its national day – National Banana Day on May 1. Growers from around Australia contributed videos and photos featuring banana growers which were uploaded to the ABGC Facebook page throughout the day. The response…