Category: Australian Bananas Magazine

Young growers want to be part of the banana industry and are the industry’s strength, according to the recipient of the industry’s highest honour. Tully grower Patrick Leahy received a Life Membership of the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) at the industry’s Awards Of Honour…

The largest emergency plant pest response underway in Australia, the $26 million National Banana Freckle Eradication Program, is now in its second phase following the removal of banana plants from Northern Territory eradication zones. Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) Chief Executive Officer Jim Pekin visited…

Meet the ABGC’s two new Queensland directors: Costas General Manager Banana Category Ben Franklin and Tablelands and Lakeland grower Paul Inderbitzin. Ben Franklin Tell us about your background in bananas. I started in the fresh produce industry as a teenager working part time in the…

Changes to biosecurity arrangements impacting on the banana industry will be made by mid-2016 as part of the State Government’s new Biosecurity Act. The changes are part of the government’s introduction of a “General Biosecurity Obligation” (GBO) which places an obligation on all members of…

Workshops are showing North Queensland banana growers how to defend their properties against Panama disease. ABGC Communications Manager Rhyll Cronin reports. If you know the comic book story of The Incredible Hulk, you already know a bit about why Panama TR4 can be so bad.…

ABGC Chief Executive Officer Jim Pekin reports on the work of the banana industry’s peak body. Occasionally growers ask “what does ABGC do? ”The two-second answer is “ABGC is the national banana industry development organisation”. We provide a range of banana-specific services to growers. ABGC…

Converted shipping containers, cattle tags, specially designed spray nozzles and catwalks are just some of the items innovative banana growers are using to protect their farms from Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4). Banana growers met at the industry’s first TR4 day at Wangan in North…