Category: Magazine Articles

Growers in the Cassowary Coast are facing a long road to recovery after suffering catastrophic damage from a recent cyclonic storm. It could take some up to 12 months to return to full production and is another blow after battling ongoing worker shortages due to…

A new Industry Transition Leader has commenced building a framework for the future management of Panama TR4.  Geoff Wilson was recently appointed to forge a pathway for industry to continue the control and containment of Panama TR4 beyond 2023. He joins the Australian Banana Growers’ Council…

The Australian Banana Growers’ Council has farewelled Director Jade Buchanan, who has stepped down after more than three years of service to the Board. During that time, Ms Buchanan has been a valued member of the board, representing the interests of growers and contributing additional time…

In February this year, Western Australia’s Sweeter Banana Cooperative put out a simple call to action: buy all the local bananas you can. Perfect tropical conditions and a COVID-19 lockdown in Perth (coming right at the end of the summer school holidays) had led to…

While there have been just five commercial banana farms confirmed with Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) since March 2015, the disease continues to spread in the Tully Valley. The number of plants confirmed with TR4, and the number of sites where these plants have been…

Stephen Lowe, Chair At the end of 2020, I think most growers had high hopes that 2021 would somehow wave a magic wand and bring with it some positive prosperity, to counteract a year we’d all rather forget. After a tumultuous 12 months that included a pandemic,…

Banana Freckle on Cavendish Under the Microscope profiles the industry’s emerging and exotic diseases. This month we profile the Banana Freckle Disease.What is Banana Freckle Disease?Freckle is caused by a fungus called Phyllosticta cavendishii which affects a wide range of bananas including Cavendish. Freckle affects…