tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38860625039797739992011-11-27T19:51:38.282-05:00Banana Trade FocusDavid Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.comBlogger1451100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-39822788381722997592010-03-22T17:46:00.002-04:002010-03-22T17:48:31.675-04:00Philippines: Banana yields droppingBusiness World, 17 Mar 2010 - "Aside from water conservation and installation of irrigation system, we are just praying for divine intervention," Stephen A. Antig, president of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, said in an interview here yesterday. He said his own company even encouraged daily rosaries among workers as the industry is already at the end of its ropes to David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-75678293126150323622010-03-22T17:40:00.001-04:002010-03-22T17:42:36.459-04:00EU Adopts Support Package for Banana Exporters from African, Caribbean and Pacific StatesFlexNews, 17 March 2010 - Today, the Commission adopted a Euro 190 million support package for banana exporters from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states. This proposal was part of the historic Geneva Agreement on Trade in Bananas.Read moreDavid Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-54242544269677978952010-02-03T16:40:00.000-05:002010-02-03T16:41:08.562-05:00Dole Food Q4 profit up, amends credit facilitiesReuters - 2 Feb 2010Dole Food Co Inc's (DOLE.N) fourth-quarter profit before taxes and interest jumped 49 percent, and the fruit and vegetable producer said it sold three manufacturing plants in Latin America to pay down debt. ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-91893027558517035712010-02-03T16:38:00.000-05:002010-02-03T16:39:16.099-05:00Jamaica: Disease hits banana sectorThe Gleaner - 2 Feb 2010Agriculture officials have confirmed that black sigatoka, a dangerous fungal disease, has been discovered in St Lucia and threatens the struggling banana industry ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-75974543456380938812010-02-03T04:47:00.000-05:002010-02-03T04:48:47.359-05:00EU: Agreement Takes Bananas out of Tropical Products DebateICTSD - Feb 2010On 15 December, the European Union announced that agreement had at long last been reached with Latin American banana exporters on tariff cuts, thus signalling an end to the WTO’s most protracted dispute. A broader deal on the treatment of tropical products, however, remains controversial. ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-10307265955520729812010-01-29T11:55:00.001-05:002010-01-29T12:03:12.528-05:00Europe - Banana survey week 4CIRADThe balance of the North European markets seems to be strengthening. The improving demand trend has continued in Germany and France, and extended to the United Kingdom. Hence, thanks to growing demand while imports from dollar sources have remained moderate, prices have been revised upward in Germany and the United Kingdom. In France, despite higher import levels and export demand David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-37897707855607611962010-01-29T11:13:00.001-05:002010-01-29T11:14:56.971-05:00Philippines: Expert: Aerial spraying in bananas in Mindanao meets international standardsBusinessMirror - 28 Jan 2010“How you should spray the target and keep the pesticide on the banana crop is the purpose of spraying in the first place. We then looked to the ground sprayer; it would spray closer to the homes that people live. And I believe that --- ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-58673913158052686782010-01-22T10:56:00.000-05:002010-01-22T10:57:07.718-05:00Prices of bananas, tea soar in Britainexpressbuzz - 21 Jan 2010Last month bananas were 22.9 per cent more expensive than in December 2008, while the cost of a box of tea bags had increased by almost five per cent over the same period.The price of bananas – the biggest selling food item in UK supermarkets – was subtly increased by retailers who reset prices to a higher level following a ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-28276860916892475392010-01-21T19:25:00.000-05:002010-01-21T19:26:37.532-05:00USA: Dole Launches Banana Diet PromotionDole Food Company - 4 Jan 2010Dole Fresh Fruit Company, a subsidiary of Dole Food Company, Inc., has announced the launch of a new promotion to draw awareness towards the health and weight loss benefits of the new DOLE Banana Diet. Decades of nutrition research validate the idea that increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables in general, and bananas in particular, can help support healthy, David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-27742513782101262262010-01-21T19:20:00.000-05:002010-01-21T19:21:22.755-05:00Europe - Banana survey week 3AEBE - 22 Jan 2010The Northern European markets seem to be rebalancing. On the one hand, supply levels from the French West Indies and Africa have been higher. However, shipments from dollar sources have been more moderate (light loads from Costa Rica due to the rains in weeks 1 and 2), and there has been better distribution of trade-offs ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-87715554570568010602010-01-21T19:18:00.000-05:002010-01-21T19:19:02.760-05:00UK: Fairtrade Fortnight urges Big Swapfruitnet.com - 21 Jan 2010During February's Fairtrade Fortnight, UK shoppers will be encouraged to swap what's in their basket for a Fairtrade alternative ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-17011796603386615112010-01-21T19:16:00.000-05:002010-01-21T19:17:37.825-05:00New CEO for Australian banana bodyfruitnet.com - 18 Jan 2010Peak body the Australian Banana Growers Council has appointed Jonathan Eccles as its new CEO from 1 February ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-77051163654318015092010-01-21T19:08:00.000-05:002010-01-21T19:15:43.285-05:00Chiquita goes bananas for Monkey Ballfruitnet.com - 20 Jan 2010Group announces partnership with Sega to promote new Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll Wii video game on its bananas ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-18368639970798413882009-12-05T17:52:00.001-05:002009-12-05T17:53:08.582-05:00Philippines: Clustering of local growers boosts banana industryDec 3, 2009 - Manilla BulletinBy clustering banana farmers here in the region, marketing strategies of local growers will likely be strengthened to be in the same league with corporate banana companies, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) XI said. With this vision, the regional trade and industry body is currently implementing ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-43167133568824565322009-12-05T17:44:00.000-05:002009-12-05T17:46:15.684-05:00China is now a`surplus banana' republicDec 4, 2009 - Commodities OnlineBananas are flooding Chinese markets thanks to several provinces producing huge quantities at the same time and wholesale prices have tanked, according to Frbiz.com, one of China's leading B2B search platforms. Now is the banana harvest time, however, as one of the main producing areas, Guangxi province has suffered a rare banana overstock situation. As the main David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-57819945112345859062009-09-25T19:38:00.000-04:002009-09-25T19:40:25.823-04:00Banana production project in Angola with US company Chiquita suspended by EscomSep 24, 2009 - Macau HubEscom, a subsidiary of Portugal's Espirito Santo Group (GES), has announced the temporary suspension of the banana production project in Angola that it had in partnership with US multinational Chiquita Brands International. ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-19366336371275655352009-08-27T12:07:00.001-04:002009-08-27T12:08:45.874-04:00India: Pune emerges major hub for banana exportsAug 22, 2009 - The Economic TimesMaharashtra, the country’s top banana producer, has begun exports of the fruit from an export facility at Indapur, 140 km southeastof Pune. The Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) has established three banana export facility centres at ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-11979794982740481972009-08-27T12:04:00.001-04:002009-08-27T12:06:35.225-04:00UK: Biggest-ever delivery of bananas to portAug 25, 2009 - Porthsmount TodayAugust saw the biggest delivery ever of Britain's favourite fruit to Portsmouth Port. Council-owned shipping company MMD received the biggest shipment of bananas yet to come through the city in a single week, amounting to around 15,000 pallets. ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-5875804359606832072009-08-27T11:58:00.001-04:002009-08-27T12:01:22.695-04:00Guam: UOG & GDA To Make Banana Plants Available to Local Farmers26 Aug, 2009 - Pacific News CenterGuam Department of Agriculture and the University of Guam are partnering to make clean planting stock available to farmers for local banana production. ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-78757599163319345332009-08-27T11:51:00.001-04:002009-08-27T11:52:53.614-04:00Banana diseases threaten crops in sub-Saharan Africa, UN says27 Aug, 2009 - BloombergThe spread of two diseases affecting banana crops is threatening food security in sub-Saharan Africa, according to plant health scientists meeting in Arusha, Tanzania. ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-28477941980601934452009-08-16T11:12:00.000-04:002009-08-16T11:13:47.730-04:00Jamaica: Small Banana Farmers to Benefit under New PolicyJuly 22, 2009 - Jamaica Information ServiceThe Government is putting the final touches on a new banana policy, which will enable small farmers to secure a greater share of the local market. ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-29817898083318753102009-08-16T11:09:00.000-04:002009-08-16T11:10:20.647-04:00Poor banana producers need targeted aid -trade studyJuly 29, 2009 - ForbesAid to help banana producers in poor countries improve yields and efficiency could benefit them more than improved access to export markets, according to a new study of trade in the fruit. ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-69038054316350750022009-08-16T11:04:00.001-04:002009-08-16T11:05:47.531-04:00Philippines: RP gets provisional approval to export fresh bananas to US mainlandAug 8, 2009 - Business World OnlineWashington D.C. has given Manila preliminary approval to export fresh banana pending measures for Manila to address the quarantine of banana pests, the Philippines’ Agriculture department said in a press release on Friday ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-50346772180263414732009-08-16T11:01:00.000-04:002009-08-16T11:03:36.365-04:00Mozambican bananas to be shipped from Nacala portAug 11, 2009 - MacauHubSome 50 containers of bananas will be exported weekly from the northern port of Nacala from December, says the CEO of the Northern Development Corridor (CDN), Fernando Couto. Cited by daily newspaper Noticias, Couto said the drive to export bananas is the result of a project that has seen more than 1.5 million banana trees ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-19479690667509647522009-08-16T10:59:00.001-04:002009-08-16T11:01:49.066-04:00Philippines: Banana exports seen growing by 15% in 2009Aug 11, 2009 - Philippine Daily InquirerBANANA EXPORTS WILL LIKELY grow by 15 percent to $828 million this year given the sustained market acceptance overseas, according to the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA). PBGEA spokesperson Anthony B. Sasin said the 15-percent growth would bring the volume of banana exports this year to about 2.2 million metric tons (MT) or 170 David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-16718343906995879462009-08-04T09:16:00.000-04:002009-08-04T09:17:49.718-04:00Philippines: Selling bananas to the USAug 1, 2009 - Manilla BulletinThe Philippine government is looking forward to selling more bananas to the United States soon and augment its export paycheck by $6 million a year. ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-39190229631514147492009-08-04T09:13:00.000-04:002009-08-04T09:15:10.694-04:00South America: Poor banana producers need targeted aid -trade studyJuly 29, 2009 - ForbesAid to help banana producers in poor countries improve yields and efficiency could benefit them more than improved access to export markets, according to a new study of trade in the fruit. ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-70138239163371798112009-07-27T20:13:00.001-04:002009-07-27T20:14:40.086-04:00Philippines: Banana exporter to expand operationsJuly 27, 2009 - Business WorldA MINDANAO-based banana producer is aiming to expand operations this year to cater to the increasing demand for the high-value crop abroad, the company chief said. "As we generate more cash, we can have additional ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-83939518989123817092009-07-27T04:35:00.002-04:002009-07-27T04:55:41.243-04:00EU15: Sharp decline in Mayby David IvanovicTotal banana shipments to the EU in May were 16% lower than for the same month in 2008 (378,000 tons vs 448,900 t.) , making total imports for the first 5 months of 2009 more than 5% lower than for the same period last year.David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-30235671213043782232009-07-21T19:20:00.003-04:002009-07-21T19:23:40.227-04:00David will be in Japan! Any requests?by David IvanovicI'll be in Japan for a couple of days, and I'll take that opportunity to meet some key players involved in exotics product imports and to share with you how they are marketed in this 130 million people market.Mata!David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-5885620254340177422009-07-20T12:56:00.001-04:002009-07-20T13:00:40.580-04:00Philippines: Banana growers cites PGMA's lifting of banana hectarage limitJuly 21, 2009 - Philippine Information AgencyThe Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) of Davao City has expressed their gratitude to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for expanding the number of hectares dedicated to banana plantations. PBGEA president Steve Antig said they are thanking the issuance of Executive Order No. 807 lifting the ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-81009153638156418882009-07-20T12:42:00.000-04:002009-07-20T12:44:34.816-04:00Chiquita in Latin AmericaJuly 17-19, 2009 - CounterpunchWhen the Honduran military overthrew the democratically elected government of Manuel Zelaya two weeks ago there might have been a sigh of relief in the corporate board rooms of Chiquita banana. Earlier this year the Cincinnati-based fruit company joined Dole in criticizing the government in Tegucigalpa which had raised the minimum wage by 60%. Chiquita complained David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-381456081338886172009-07-20T12:36:00.000-04:002009-07-20T12:37:51.491-04:00Ecuador calls off banana negotiations with EUJuly 19, 2009 - EUBusinessEcuador has called off banana trade talks with the European Union that also included Colombia and Peru, saying World Trade Organization (WTO) rulings in Quito's favor were not being respected. "Ecuador has made this decision until the dispute over ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-70138575495632987232009-07-15T14:35:00.001-04:002009-07-15T14:35:48.729-04:00USA: Dole Food Sues Makers of ‘Bananas!*’ Documentary for DefamationJuly 9, 2009 - BloombergDole Food Co., the world’s biggest fresh fruit and vegetable producer, sued the makers of “Bananas!*” saying the documentary movie about a 2007 trial brought by Nicaraguan farm workers was “blatantly false.” The documentary, shown last month at the Los Angeles Film Festival, “promotes as fact a false story that was adjudicated a fraud on Dole and on California’David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-11520120900802184332009-07-15T14:32:00.000-04:002009-07-15T14:33:30.935-04:00Japanese Banana Boom Is Boon to Dole as Imports Surge to RecordJuly 15, 2009 - BloombergJapanese banana imports are headed for a second straight record gain this year, fueled by fad diets and households looking for cheap food amid the recession. Imports of the fruit, mostly of the Cavendish or Senorita varieties, rose 34 percent from a year earlier to 540,000 tons in the five months ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-33610019561603651792009-07-15T14:28:00.001-04:002009-07-15T14:29:32.239-04:00Malaysia: Banana Farmers Suffer Losses From DiseaseJuly 15, 2009 - BERNAMAThe banana crop in the Jasin district is hit by a rare disease that blackened the fruits since early last month causing farmers to suffer losses. Ahmad Baharuddin, who had since reported a loss of RM10,000, said the disease rendered the crop in his 10ha farms in Perkampungan Tersusun Lipat Kajang and Kampung Terentang inedible. The harvest from the district is ... read moreDavid Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-55602172165258440762009-07-14T10:20:00.001-04:002009-07-14T10:22:13.906-04:00UK: ISN to host forum on worldwide banana productionJuly 10, 2009 - International Supermarket NewsInternational Supermarket News is to partner Professor John Moverley OBE in organising a forum on the worldwide production and marketing of bananas at the World Fruit and Vegetable Show 2009, on October 21st at the Excel Exhibition Centre in London. ...read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-59011494267721723902009-07-10T11:42:00.000-04:002009-07-10T11:43:04.772-04:00India: PTI Farmers dump banana cultivation in central TNJuly 10, 2009 - Yahoo IndiaThe poor man''s fruit banana is falling out of farmers'' favour in central Tamil Nadu as many banana cultivators find it a less lucrative crop and are switching over to paddy and sugarcane. Higher labour and input costs, shortage of farm labourers, remunerative prices and susceptibility of the crop to natural calamities have made banana cultivation a less attractive David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-88227219373445951192009-07-09T09:56:00.001-04:002009-07-09T09:56:51.702-04:00New US import data available tomorrow!by David Ivanovic Stay tuned as tomorrow I’ll publish the latest US import data for May 2009. EU data will be availalbe a few weeks later. David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-36658051823972408372009-07-08T15:59:00.001-04:002009-07-08T15:59:59.163-04:00Banana market share in Japanby David Ivanovic Trade data from the Japanese Customs suggest that for 2008, the Japanese demand for fresh bananas amounted to 1,092,738 tons, and the CIF value for the same year was around US$ 850 millions. The vast majority of bananas found in supermarket throughout Japan are coming from the Philippines (93% of total figures in 2008), while the remaining players counted for less than David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-74648265065073062442009-07-08T11:21:00.000-04:002009-07-08T11:23:14.593-04:00Ecuador banana group calls sanction on EU over dutiesJuly 8, 2009 - ReutersBanana exporters from Ecuador, the world's top exporter of the fruit, on Tuesday called on the government to sanction the European Union if the bloc fails to cut import tariffs. "If by this summer, the EU's negotiating charade continues, and no legally solid settlement has been reached with large, enforceable tariff cuts equal to those agreed in Geneva last July, David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-90742127410929875102009-07-08T11:00:00.000-04:002009-07-08T11:02:58.240-04:00Japan: Banana sales reveal upward curveJuly 7, 2009 - Mainichi Daily NewsJapan's banana imports are rising sharply, despite an overall decline in fruit consumption, to become the nation's favorite fruit in terms of household spending. Bananas are apparently gaining popularity among today's budget conscious consumers for their low price and nutritional content. Import volumes hit an all-time high of 1.09 million tons in 2008, a David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-36339169722985095332009-07-07T08:40:00.000-04:002009-07-07T10:58:22.940-04:00Moscow: price decrease for bananas to be expectedJuly 6, 2009 - www.lol.org.uaThe leading specialists forecast prices decrease for bananas that will be observed on Moscow fruit and vegetable market in the nearest future. At the moment prices for this produce are declared within a range of 0.77-0.82 euro/kg, but it is expected that the price will decrease to the level of 0.68 euro/kg.David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-36111725399628919312009-07-07T08:37:00.000-04:002009-07-07T08:39:20.884-04:00Carribean: Caricom Makes Recommendations on Region's Banana IndustryJuly 4, 2009 - Jamaica Information ServicePrime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding told this morning's session of the 30th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom that the European Commission (EC) has presented a revised schedule for the reduction of tariffs on bananas from the non-African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries. ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-64664848014477644682009-07-03T16:39:00.000-04:002009-07-03T17:24:07.214-04:00European banana figures going negative in Aprilby David IvanovicApril volumes in the EU15 area were sharply down from imports in 2008, dropping by 13% and reflecting a drop in European demand (390,000 t. instead of 450,000t.).David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-91448633856946450022009-07-02T16:33:00.000-04:002009-07-02T16:37:19.697-04:00Link to relevant industry presentationsby David IVANOVICI've found these very interesting and up-to-date presentations that were given during the International Forum of Bananas and Fresh Fruits. Just click the link below:http://www.aebe.com.ec/Desktop.aspx?Id=126David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-75798745384833735302009-07-02T16:28:00.000-04:002009-07-02T16:32:38.734-04:00EUROPE - Banana survey week 27A.E.B.E. - FruiTrop The deterioration of the European market has intensified and extended, though the supply has remained relatively moderate. Delivery levels from Africa have continued to be high, but those from the French West Indies have temporarily dropped, while dollar banana imports remain highly ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-15323958077570076302009-07-02T15:25:00.000-04:002009-07-02T15:26:14.355-04:00India: Horticulture Dept distributes Banana seedlingsJuly 1, 2009 - The Shangai ExpressWith the main objective of increasing Banana production in the State so as to export the surplus to augment the income of the State as well as of the farmers, Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation has started distributing Banana seedlings among the farmers from today. The distribution of seedlings of Grand Nine, a type of ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-74273527985531724642009-07-02T15:22:00.000-04:002009-07-02T15:24:23.074-04:00Australia: National banana project beginsJuly 2, 2009 - FoodWeek OnlineA new three year national project to begin the elimination of the Bunchy Top virus in the subtropical banana industry began on July 1, as the first stage towards the complete eradication of the virus in Australia. The project is being funded by the national banana industry levy which is managed by Horticulture Australia Limited, with matched funding from ... reade David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-72151678154134422052009-07-01T17:05:00.000-04:002009-07-01T17:06:34.070-04:00Peru's bananas exports rose 28 percentJune 30, 2009 - Living in PeruAccording to the Peruvian Exporters’ Association (Adex), Peru's banana exports rose 28% between January and May 2009, amounting US $23.56 million dollars to 12 destinations. The main exports was "Fresh Cavendish Valery Bananas," totaling US ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-38432311023840588502009-06-29T18:07:00.000-04:002009-06-29T18:11:57.712-04:00A website dedicated to banana boxes!I've discovered this very unique personnal website made by a banana box & label collector!http://www.geocities.com/banana_boxes/David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-77381937136673474522009-06-29T13:23:00.000-04:002009-06-29T13:25:08.761-04:00Costa Rica and EU ‘near trade deal’June 26, 2009 - fruitnet.comCosta Rica and the European Union are reportedly close to finalising the terms of an agreement of association, under which Europe is said to have offered to ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-1710232336161898332009-06-26T12:23:00.000-04:002009-06-26T12:31:39.747-04:00Tough conditions will "put the brakes" on Filipino banana importsJune 26, 2009 - abc.rural.netThe final report of recommendations to the Senate regarding the importation of Cavendish bananas from the Philippines have been tabled in Federal Parliament. A Senate committee has recommended that a permit should not be granted until risk management measures and workplans are independently scrutinised. ... read more... David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-28137680570003068372009-06-26T12:18:00.000-04:002009-06-26T12:21:03.896-04:00India: Gujarat begins banana exports; ships 1,430 tonnes in April-JuneJune 26, 2009 - The HinduGujarat, one the major banana growing states, has shipped 1,430 tonnes of the fruit to the Middle East in the first three months of this fiscal, becoming only the second state to export banana after Kerala."Till now 143 containers have been exported. Each container has about 10 tonnes of G9 banana variety," a Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation official told PTI ... readeDavid Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-70895804438701533972009-06-26T12:16:00.000-04:002009-06-26T12:18:03.995-04:00Chiquita says Eastwind bankruptcy won't slow banana flowJune 24, 2009 - Marine LogBanana lovers can relax. Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (NYSE: CQB) today announced that it does not expect the bankruptcy filing by Eastwind Maritime Inc. and certain of its affiliates to adversely affect service to Chiquita's customers and the delivery of its bananas and other fresh fruit product ... reade more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-89854412471112375352009-06-25T13:09:00.000-04:002009-06-25T13:10:28.144-04:00Dole aiming to overturn pesticide rulingsJune 25, 2009 - fruitnet.comA recent judge's verdict that lawsuits against Dole by Nicaraguan workers were fraudulent could lead to a chain of events affecting US$2bn worth of rulings back to 2002 ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-63025529426226777702009-06-25T12:10:00.000-04:002009-06-25T12:11:34.326-04:00North American banana sales holding strong with consumer move to 'basics'June 24, 2009 - The Produce News Reflecting the world economy, the global banana marketing situation is complex as it is described by Juan Alarcon, the chief executive officer of Turbana Corp. in Coral Gables, FL. When the view of banana markets is narrowed to North America, ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-33777075762089541602009-06-23T14:41:00.000-04:002009-06-23T14:43:20.898-04:00Following the latest import data has never been easier!by David IvanovicI have added on the site a very interesting small tool that will keep you updated on the imports of the 2 main markets, namely the USA and the European Union. Comments? Get in touch with me.David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-80241381621243521832009-06-23T11:50:00.000-04:002009-06-23T11:52:02.627-04:00India: Banana boom in state's sugar bowlJune 23, 2009 - The Economic TimesAs the uncertainty over sugarcane prices plays havoc with growers, an increasing number of farmers in the state’s sugar bowl of western Maharashtra are turning to banana plantation since it offers more consistent returns. Maharashtra is the country’s leader in banana production with an estimated 87,000 hectare area under cultivation. The Union government has David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-15099608832393345852009-06-22T13:50:00.000-04:002009-06-22T13:53:39.872-04:00EUROPE - Banana survey week 25Week 25 - ASOCIACION DE EXPORTADORES DE BANANO DEL ECUADOR A.E.B.E.The fall in prices has intensified, and the balance of certain markets has begun to weaken. The overall supply is still relatively moderate, and ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-34356788774298970382009-06-22T11:31:00.000-04:002009-06-22T11:32:24.316-04:00Kenya: Farmers count losses as disease threatens to wipe out bananasJune 18, 2009 - Daily NationBanana production has been main source of income to Christopher Okwiri and other farmers in Western Kenya. But the investment faces a bleak future following an outbreak of a disease that is threatening to wipe out the crop. The attack by Xanthomonas wilt has resulted in ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-32844067852744509412009-06-22T11:28:00.000-04:002009-06-22T11:30:00.370-04:00Spain, France and Portugal uneasy over any EU banana dealJune 19, 2009 - France 24Three European banana producers -- France, Spain and Portugal -- said Friday they would not accept any EU-negotiated agreement that threatened their production. France produces bananas in its Caribbean territories, Spain in its Canary Islands in the Atlantic and Portugal in ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-38607377744428454362009-06-19T13:34:00.000-04:002009-06-19T13:35:59.454-04:00Ecuador exports more bananas in 2009fructidor.com - June 19, 2009In the first five months of this year the leading world exporter of banana shipped abroad 3% more bananas and value of shipped goods was 9% profits more than in the same period of time in year 2008. Ecuador exported between January and May around 2,2 mln of bananas and it was 3,12% more than in the same period of time a year ago. Value of shipped products rose 8,8% David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-15523683522988527132009-06-18T14:19:00.000-04:002009-06-18T14:21:04.032-04:00EAST AFRICA: Banana blight puts livelihoods at riskKAMPALA-NAIROBI, 17 June 2009 (IRIN) - The bacterial banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) disease will endanger the livelihoods of millions of East African farmers if left uncontrolled, according to specialists. First reported about 40 years ago in Ethiopia, BXW is endemic in most of Uganda, and has been reported in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya and Rwanda. “BXW is the most David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-56488783737519273112009-06-17T12:46:00.001-04:002009-06-17T12:47:13.410-04:00Del Monte plots Brazil banana moveby fruitnet.com - June 12, 2009The multinational is considering shifting production from Rio Grande do Norte to Ceará, according to local press reports. Fresh Del Monte is set to invest up to ... read more...David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-54075201274544047522009-06-16T20:11:00.001-04:002009-06-16T20:11:42.687-04:00EU Banana Imports: Latin America Stronger than Ever!by David Ivanovic – June 16, 2009 Impressive Eurostat numbers, at least for your humble “data cruncher”, are showing no signs of slowing down in the European banana business. In 2008, 4.6 million tons have been imported by the EU15 countries; import volumes (from non-European origins) have grown by more than 36% between 2004 and 2008. The banana “oligarchy” (70% of total imports controlled by David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-78349274404641797702009-06-12T13:32:00.001-04:002009-06-12T13:32:27.309-04:00Maersk Launches Banana ServiceOn June 1, 2009 Maersk Line launched the Ecuador Banana Express (ECUBEX) Maersk Line has set up an additional service between Ecuador and North Europe with a call in Guayaquil in response to the growing needs of banana shippers, the company said in a statement. A direct service from Guayaquil to Rotterdam takes 15 days and to Bremerhaven 17 days without a transshipment.Source: David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-32308083958504227622009-06-05T18:58:00.001-04:002009-06-05T18:58:43.732-04:00Import Evolution between 1999 and 2008 in the USAby David Ivanovic Banana shipments in 2008 were at a similar level as the previous year, however still higher than the volumes imported since 2001. Imports represented close to 4 million metric tonnes in 2008, and the CIF value amounted close to US$1.3 billion. Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras and Colombia controlled together 97% of all banana imports. David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-19490452791753926902009-06-03T14:14:00.001-04:002009-06-03T14:14:39.748-04:00Philippines: Banana industry helps cushion impact of global crisisThe banana industry has kept the employment rate remain high during the first five months this year in the Davao Region, said Labor and Employment Regional Director Jalilo O. dela Torre.Dela Torre said that based on the data in his office, during the first five months of the year there were only 1,154 employees displaced, many of them from the mining industry and the services sector. The number David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-20825346197069129612009-06-02T13:08:00.002-04:002009-06-02T13:09:07.720-04:00AU: Company designs banana harvesterAn Australian company says it's developed a mechanical banana harvester which could revolutionise the industry.Bananas are one of the more labour intensive crops to harvest, with the fruit easily damaged if not handled with care.Papyrus Australia is working on developing paper from banana plants, and now the company's Grant Pigot says it's created a harvester which can collect both the fruit and David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-63361871571915629182009-06-02T13:08:00.001-04:002009-06-02T13:08:33.610-04:00Mexico: Exports of banana to Europe are stoppedThe contingencies led producers of the state to stop sending shipments of 200 tons, which weakened its price ...Banana exports to Europe have dropped by half as a result of health alerts by the influenza type A H1N1, and that although there was no restriction on agricultural production in Mexico, buyers applied cautiousness because of the nervousness which was extended in the world population by David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-36073189648986482592009-06-02T13:07:00.001-04:002009-06-02T13:07:55.452-04:00Protectors of banana bunches in polyethylene.SupraLive S.A. makes innovation in the protection of bananasDelia Zigüenza, Marlon Benquimella and Paulo Benquimella, discuss product developments and expectations for the future of this promising business.Delia Zigüenza commented on products that were presented at the International Forum of Bananas and Fresh Fruits in Guayaquil - Ecuador. The covers for bananas and polyethylene protectors for David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-7519804454810104122009-06-02T13:06:00.002-04:002009-06-02T13:07:08.922-04:00Colombian banana workers end strikeOn May 20 some 17,500 banana workers in Colombia’s northwestern Urabá region ended a strike they began on May 8 over pay and benefits. The workers won an 8% wage hike for the first year of the two-year contract and a cost-of-living adjustment for the next year; this is based on the Consumer Price Index (IPC in Spanish), which is expected to rise by 5% or less this year. The strikers also won David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-89907816995353811832009-06-02T13:06:00.001-04:002009-06-02T13:06:16.785-04:00African states seek 500 mln euros in EU banana dealAfrica's top banana export countries sought on Friday 500 million euros ($694 million) in compensation from the European Union as part of a deal to end the world's longest-running trade dispute.Talks drag on at the World Trade Organisation in Geneva between the EU and Latin America's leading banana suppliers aimed at reducing import tariffs and end the "banana wars" that have dragged on since theDavid Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-48446411863746555442009-06-02T13:05:00.001-04:002009-06-02T13:05:20.654-04:00AU: New blemished bananas unveiled in PerthNew bunches of Carnarvon bananas have hit WA shelves and while the fruit might not look as pretty as blemish-free counterparts, growers say it tastes as good and costs less.Big WA banana co-operative Sweeter Bananas says it is a breakthrough for a major supermarket to sell marked produce.Coles will unveil the newly branded Smoothies bananas in Claremont today and grower Catriona Nixon said it wasDavid Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-81420564676977352482009-06-02T12:59:00.001-04:002009-06-02T12:59:40.082-04:00Ecuadorian Tropical Produce Shipper Refin S.A., acitvely involved with plantainsEcuador, REFIN S.A. is one of the most complete tropical produce shippers of the country. REFIN started operating 10 years ago dealing mainly with mangos, and afterwards their export program was expanded to other products such as Limes, Plantains, Malanga, Yuca, among others.REFINS top quality Plantains marketed usually under the “Lucy’s” label as well as under other private labels, are present David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-82987036391298039082009-05-11T12:21:00.003-04:002009-05-11T12:21:47.028-04:00AU: Company designs banana harvesterAn Australian company says it's developed a mechanical banana harvester which could revolutionise the industry.Bananas are one of the more labour intensive crops to harvest, with the fruit easily damaged if not handled with care.Papyrus Australia is working on developing paper from banana plants, and now the company's Grant Pigot says it's created a harvester which can collect both the fruit and David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-69247532729272703072009-05-11T12:21:00.001-04:002009-05-11T12:21:15.845-04:00Colombian banana workers strike over payColombian banana farm workers in the country's key growing region went on strike over pay and benefits on Friday, threatening hundreds of thousands of boxes exported a day, union leaders and producers said.Around 17,000 banana plantation workers joined the strike in the world's No. 3 exporter of the fruit and the protest has paralyzed around 234,000 18-kg boxes a day of exports, said Guillermo David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-92180652712484601252009-05-06T18:24:00.002-04:002009-05-06T18:25:08.522-04:00ACP countries slam proposed changes to EU Banana TariffsAfrican, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries have spoken out against proposed changes to the EU’s banana tariff regime, which they say would harm their exporters. ”We are very disappointed by our partner the European Commission because they are sacrificing development to trade liberalisation,” said Gerhard Siwat, the Surinamese ambassador.”We quite often have the feeling that the European David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-64413613364202761312009-05-06T18:24:00.001-04:002009-05-06T18:24:37.966-04:00African Banana crop waste used for fuelFried, raw, baked or even distilled into beer or wine, bananas are a staple in the East African country of Rwanda, where approximately two million tons of the fruit are grown annually. Though much of the fruit is used, the majority of the skins, leaves and stems are left behind as waste.Scientists at the University of Nottingham are developing ways to use David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-46611678059426350212009-05-06T18:23:00.001-04:002009-05-06T18:23:54.598-04:00AU: Barcodes for banana treesYou've heard of NLIS tags to track cattle, but now a plantation in Western Australia's north is applying similar technology to monitor bananas.In an Australian first, the property in Carnarvon is using a scanner to barcode each banana plant, recording its height, age and suckers.Grower Darrell Munro says it'll help take the guesswork out of when to pick the fruit."I mean, we've got nearly 30 David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-80339906514923661242009-04-03T11:39:00.002-04:002009-04-03T11:40:09.184-04:00Forum 2009: Maximum banana world eventWith an organized list of confirmed speakers and exhibitors, the Association of Ecuadorian Banana Exporters, AEBE, completed the last details so that between April 20th and 22nd of this year, the Sixth International Forum of Bananas and Fresh Fruits would take place in Guayaquil. This will bring together the banana industry at an international level to address the current global production and David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-70290350590791082022009-04-03T11:39:00.001-04:002009-04-03T11:39:28.129-04:00Australia: Banana growers fear for their futureThe future of banana growing at Uralba is uncertain as brothers Ian and Warren Simpson wait to see the impact of the Federal Government’s decision to allow fruit from the Philippines to be imported into Australia.Ian Simpson said farming was an ‘uncertain’ industry at the best of times, but this decision added another ‘thorn’ to their family business established 28 years ago, which turns over David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-55161130037571051112009-04-03T11:38:00.001-04:002009-04-03T11:38:29.117-04:00Uganda issues new banana disease alertUganda has put its national crop disease surveillance network on the alert for a possible outbreak of a new incurable banana virus.The Director for Crop Resources in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Opolot Okasaai, said the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), is likely to strike Uganda from across Rwanda or DR-Congo, threatening the multi-million annual local banana industry.Already Rwanda, DR Congo, David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-14899319326494527872009-04-03T11:36:00.000-04:002009-04-03T11:37:38.869-04:00Situation on Banana international market in MarchPrices remain highly buoyant. The supply has continued to be well below normal levels.click to read David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-26407541751494892162009-04-03T11:33:00.001-04:002009-04-03T11:33:36.106-04:00African Banana Producers Welcome the Positions Taken by the African Union and by the Côte d’Ivoire Minister of AgricultureFaced with the ceaseless attacks from the Latin-American countries against the preference granted to the ACP banana exporting countries in Europe, the Cameroonian and Côte d’Ivoire producers (ASSOBACAM and OCAB) welcome the positions defended by the African Union at the recent Trade Ministers conference in Addis Ababa (16-20 March 2009) and by the Côte d’Ivoire Minister of Agriculture in his David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-91467238151089448872009-03-27T10:40:00.001-04:002009-03-27T10:40:50.454-04:00Organic Ecuador is a regional example on organic bananas“The quality of the fruit that we produce in our 600 hectares has been recognized for 12 years in Japan, Europe and in the United States, where we export 12 containers, over 52 weeks of the year”, declares Mr. Raul Patiño, Vice President at Organic Ecuador.Bananas come with the certificate B.C.S OKO-Garantie from Nürnberg (Germany). Furthermore, they are acreditted by the USDA from the United David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-75899116725896142782009-03-20T23:14:00.001-04:002009-03-20T23:14:31.656-04:00Jamaica: Gov't will not abandon banana production, says TuftonBuoyed by a $230-million injection of funds from the European Union (EU) last week to further assist the island's ailing banana industry, Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton is assuring banana farmers that the Government will not allow the sector to die."I want to make it very clear we don't intend to abandon banana production. We believe that there are opportunities in the marketplace forDavid Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-34090536390036848762009-03-20T23:13:00.001-04:002009-03-20T23:13:43.208-04:00Australia: Organic status to be threatened by imported bananas?A Biosecurity Australia (BA) decision in early March recommending that Cavendish bananas from the Philippines be allowed to enter Australia continues to draw a worried reaction from many stakeholders concerned with protecting a major Australian industry.The Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) and Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) have come out strongly in opposition to the move.Banana David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-31158377268035159372009-03-12T13:34:00.001-04:002009-03-12T13:34:47.871-04:00Philippines: Aerial spraying is safe, says Mindanao banana groupBanana growers from Mindanao, led by the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), have assured farmers and environment advocates that aerial spaying of fungicides in plantations is safe.PBGEA’s technical committee head, Dr. Emily Fabregar, explained the group’s position in a paper entitled “Global-Positioning System [GPS]: A New Technology for Farm Application.”“The use of GPSDavid Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-52496975086803808302009-03-12T13:33:00.003-04:002009-03-12T13:33:53.010-04:00Mozambique: Matanuska due to start exporting Mozambican bananas in OctoberMatanuska Moçambique, which produces bananas in 3,000 hectares of the Mozambican district of Monapo, in October is due to start exporting bananas via the port of Nacala, the company’s representative, Sílvia Vaz said.Vaz said that the company’s officials projected to export a weekly average of 100 40-feet containers.As part of this project, an irrigation dam is being built, with a daily water David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-8369429188637366382009-03-12T13:33:00.001-04:002009-03-12T13:33:17.307-04:00Australia: Organic produce growers against banana importsOrganic banana growers have joined the chorus of groups that have criticised a decision to allow bananas to be imported from the Philippines.The Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) group says a decision to allow Cavendish bananas into the country could affect Australian producers' certified organic status.The decision carries both marketing and production implications to the industry, BFA David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-46868208074483933382009-03-12T13:32:00.001-04:002009-03-12T13:32:43.730-04:00High banana prices because of limited supplyStrikes in Martinique and Guadeloupe restrict exportThe strikes in Martinique and Guadeloupe, already lasting more than 30 days, prevent the export of fruit. Because of the strikes by producers, fighting for better working conditions, no bananas are being exported. The French supply has stopped and therefore fewer bananas are available and prices rise. As a result of heavy flooding fewer bananas David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-69460206808781154882009-03-06T12:38:00.001-05:002009-03-06T12:38:38.660-05:00Philippines: Despite CARP, banana farm workers remain poor, according to studyAfter the tumultuous period and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) was finally put in place, farm workers have remained poor, according to the study. “The long-term financial and economic viability of ARB [agrarian-reform beneficiary]-controlled plantations is shaky,” the study stressed.This is because of the attrition costs for land amortization, added costs to inputs provided by David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-22498503812556946662009-03-06T12:37:00.001-05:002009-03-06T12:37:42.529-05:00Uniban CEO says banana industry resisting financial crisisby Tad Thompson03/05/2009MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA -- "Bananas, we think, are a primary food in all of our markets," said Luis Arango, president of Uniban, a grower-owned cooperative, which is among Colombia's larger banana producer-exporters.Thus, Mr. Arango expects that in a difficult world economy, banana sales "will be ... click to read moreDavid Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-8246964414706619832009-03-06T12:36:00.001-05:002009-03-06T12:36:23.923-05:00Crispy Green Introduces Bananas with a Crunch - Crispy BananasCrispy Green introduces Crispy Bananas - the newest addition to its all-natural, innovative line of Crispy Fruit snacks. Crispy Bananas are made of 100% high-quality, freeze-dried banana slices - and nothing else. These kosher-certified, all-natural snacks are dairy and gluten-free and contain no added sugar, preservatives, colors, flavors, fat or cholesterol.Crispy Green Inc., the maker of David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-62608958191927962942009-03-04T22:31:00.001-05:002009-03-04T22:31:56.736-05:00Filipino bananas win quarantine approvalAustralia's quarantine watchdog has given the green light for the sale of bananas from the Philippines.Biosecurity Australia released a draft report last November, recommending the importation of the cavendish variety.The Australian Banana Growers' Council lodged an appeal, but that has been dismissed after an import risk analysis and an independent review.Biosecurity Australia says quarantine David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-85526644582611697202009-03-04T22:29:00.000-05:002009-03-04T22:31:11.139-05:00Bidding underway for Panama banana coopGill McShane | 03 March 2009 | Print | Download | Comment | ShareDel Monte and two European companies said to be among the interested parties keen to take over CoosemuparThe board of directors of the Panamanian Cooperative Institute (IPACOOP) began yesterday (Monday 2 March) to carefully evaluate takeover proposals ahead of a decision on the future of Coosemupar (the Panamanian Cooperative of David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-82088407594657807462009-03-03T13:35:00.001-05:002009-03-03T13:35:24.686-05:00Australia: Banana import dispute begins againBiosecurity Australia has opened the door to banana imports from the Philippines, angering growers who believe it will bring disease into the country and devastate a valuable crop.The agency on Tuesday announced a quarantine policy had been determined for the importing of bananas from the Philippines.The policy will be used to assess import applications for bananas from the Philippines."These David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3886062503979773999.post-53172596361922957702009-03-02T21:28:00.001-05:002009-03-02T21:28:43.930-05:00Northern Ireland school hosts Caribbean Fairtrade banana producer“Make it Happen, Choose Fairtrade”, had a special guest from the Caribbean speak to students during Assembly at Andrews Memorial Primary School inComber, Northern Ireland.Cornelius Lynch, banana producer and manager of the St Lucia National Fairtrade Organisation, explained Fairtrade and his work in St Lucia, in conjunction with the other Caribbean farming organisations of St Vincent and the David Ivanovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360842853380045400noreply@blogger.com0