Banana

It has been a tough 12 months for the global banana sector. Climate instability – as well as the El Niño phenomenon in Latin America – continues to disrupt the export industry, lowering production and impacting product quality.  read more

Banana producer Fyffes is anticipating a solid year in 2024, despite the challenges in the economic and climatic conditions. “Our investment in environment and social sustainability means we are poised to meet and exceed stakeholder and customer expectations, especially considering the
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A spider monkey in Costa Rica made headlines after a video of it snatching a banana from a store in La Cruz, Guanacaste, went viral. This incident at Corcovado National Park highlights the issue of wildlife-human interactions. Local authorities, specifically the Guanacaste Conservation Area
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In 2023, Dominican banana exports were affected by high temperatures and pests, representing an additional challenge for producers who are still recovering from the damage caused by the hurricanes that hit the country eight years ago. According to the Central Bank, foreign sales up until
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Agritech firm Innoterra says it has identified a new variety of banana that is resistant to TR4, a disease that has devastated significant areas of production worldwide in the past few years. read more

Just a few hours before the end of the first month of the year, the number of signed contracts for banana exports in the remainder of 2024 had hardly experienced significant changes. On January 19, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Danilo Palacios, announced that 58% of the
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Australian scientists will collaborate with global researchers to make it quicker and easier to develop new banana, custard apple, papaya, passionfruit and pineapple varieties for Australian growers and consumers.  read more

In 2023, MSC recorded a 23.59% share of Ecuador's banana box shipments, surpassing its closest competitor, Maersk, which recorded a 23.16% share. read more

Over the week, the Primorsky Krai in Russia received 6,000 tons of fresh vegetables and fruits from various countries, as reported by the press service of the Rosselkhoznadzor. read more

Australian scientists will be collaborating with their global counterparts to make it quicker and easier to develop new banana, custard apple, papaya, passionfruit and pineapple varieties for Australian growers and consumers. read more

Over the past six years, Fairtrade banana volumes have increased by 466 percent in Canada and 15 percent in the United States. “Today, we estimate that one in three organic bananas in Canada are Fairtrade, while the total Fairtrade market share of conventional and organic combined is estimated
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Authorities in the UK have successfully dismantled a drug smuggling operation that concealed £10 million worth of cocaine within banana boxes. The illicit cargo, originating from the Dominican Republic, was intercepted in two separate shipments at Portsmouth International Port on January 20 and 26. read more

The African Fruit Company (AFC), based in Hamburg, has announced the formation of a subsidiary. "With the establishment of the 'South American Fruit Company (SFC)', we are expanding and optimizing our offerings for our customers along the supply chain," says Stefan Heine, one of the two managing
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Banana peels are gaining popularity as a natural teeth whitening solution. The idea is that nutrients like potassium and magnesium in the peels can help remove stains and whiten teeth. However, the potassium content in banana peels is quite low, and there's limited scientific evidence supporting
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Agritech firm Innoterra says it has identified a new variety of banana that is resistant to both TR4, a disease that has devastated significant areas of production worldwide in the past few years. read more

It’s one year since they started with bananas, and now in this special episode of Fruitbox, Franka Rodriguez and Michael Fellner of the Aldi South Group talk to Chris White about how Aldi South is making some big changes to how they’re procuring pineapples. And they reveal
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An invasive parasite is hampering banana exports from the Dominican Republic. The banana rust mite, (Eriophyidae), which was observed for the first time in the Caribbean in 2020, causes brown stripes to appear on leaves and lesions on the skin of the fruit. read more

The Korean Senior Citizens Association of Cambodia (KSCAC) and its South Korean partners are eyeing investment opportunities in seven Cambodian agricultural products for export to Korea and China. read more

Once considered one of the safest countries in South America, Ecuador has descended into drug gang violence in the past few years. And unfortunately for the banana sector, exporters of the fruit find themselves at the frontline of the country’s battle with the narcos. read more

In more ways than one, the Ecuadorean banana industry now finds itself at a crossroads. On the one hand, this is a time of great promise: 36-year-old Daniel Noboa, the son and heir of banana magnate Alvaro Noboa, was recently elected president, raising hopes the government will prioritise the
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