Don't be a chimp, buy 'n' eat local

Sweeter Banana Co-op?s Doriana Mangili.

While an influx of Queensland bananas creates a glut of supply in the WA market, one Carnarvon banana co-op is staying ahead of the pack by marketing themselves as spray-free and environmentally friendly, under the "Buy West Eat Best" policy.

The Queensland banana industry's recovery from cyclone Larry has caused an over-supply of up to 15,000 boxes of bananas every week in WA, driving the price down from $150 a box at the height of the cyclone to the current price of $25 a box.

Carnarvon Sweeter Banana Co-operative chairman Tom Day said the Australian New Zealand free trade policy was allowing the floodgates to open for exports between States and pushing out WA growers.

Coupled with skyrocketing prices in fertilisers and fuel, and in increase in the costs of cardboard for packaging, Mr Day said growers had seen their bottom line suffer, so they needed to market more creatively.

"We are just holding our heads above water and the forecast for next year is looking much the same," he said.

"So we need to get better at marketing to set ourselves apart from eastern States produce."

Sweeter Banana Co-op, which represents 30 bananas growers in the Carnarvon region recently became accredited through the Fresh Care Food Safety program as spray-free produce - a point of difference from Queensland produce.

"WA bananas are mostly immune to the tropical diseases and pests common in Queensland, so no spraying is required to keep the bananas bug-free, resulting in 15 per cent sweeter bananas," Mr Day said.

Sweeter Banana Co-op market development officer Dorina Mangili said the co-op also donated part of its proceeds to environmental causes around the Gascoyne region - another point of difference for consumers.

"By promoting ourselves as spray-free and reducing our carbon footprint, WA consumers can see we care about the environment," she said.

"We also support environmental funds in the region such as Ningaloo Reef and Shark Bay Heritage Society, which might be affected by the fertilisers we use."

Mr Day said quarantine remained the greatest issue in regard to WA's $20 million industry, because diseases such as black Sikatoga, if contracted, could wipe out the entire WA industry.

"We have bio-security measures in place, however we can't always stop pests from Queensland entering WA in boxes," he said.

Mr Day said cane toads from Queensland and moths from China could be very devastating for WA's fruit industry.

State Agriculture Minister Kim Chance said more than 50 WA food companies had currently signed up to the "Buy West, Eat Best" program, which wa being supported by more than 200 retail outlets throughout the State.

"Knowing where your food comes from is important and I encourage consumers to look for the ‘Buy West, Eat Best' logo in their local retail outlet," he said.

"The ‘Buy West, Eat Best', logo is a guarantee for consumers that the food product has been grown, farmed or fished in WA," Mr Chance said.

WA bananas are mostly immune to the tropical diseases and pests common in Queensland.

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