Australia: Cyclone-affected bananas to be harvested

Post-flooding, Australian Banana Growers Council said mud on vehicles is one of the most common ways pests and diseases are spread onto and between farms and urged people to avoid sightseeing or entering flooded farms, unless its an emergency and to always follow on-farm biosecurity procedures. Picture: Supplied Following on from the devastation caused to banana farms by ex-Cyclone Jaser, Biosecurity Queensland announced it had negotiated ongoing market access arrangements to allow Queensland banana growers to certify fruit harvested from fallen plants after a tropical cyclone for a limited period of up to two-weeks after the event. General manager of Plant Biosecurity and chief plant health manager, Michael Reid, said growers would have an additional two-week supply of bananas which they could sell where destined for interstate market access following Cyclone Jasper. Mr Reid said many benefits would come from this arrangement. "Rather than letting fruit go to waste, many of these ...