[Green-Activist] Spiralling cost of bananas

[Anne Goddard]

hiya Roy...

boy, you would get some bender growers noses out of joint suggesting to 
import i think...

for example, what sort of procedures would need to be put into place to 
protect the local industries from overseas diseases? how stringently would 
those procedures be policed?
I rescued many green tree frogs from cool room mango and banana boxes (from 
Queensland) whilst living in Sydney. These delightful little animals are now 
serving out their lives getting very fat and well cared for behind glass at 
Taronga now.

Unable to be returned home due to the dangers of their importing live 
disease back.

Importing is dangerous.

However, keeping an eye on prices, and refusing to pay exorbitant rates 
should encourage honesty.

The local bananas i buy have not increased in price though the majour chain 
stores prices seem to have doubled. So from what i can see, if you buy 
locally, from undamaged crops, your pretty right. However, if you have no 
choice but to buy in majour supermarket chain stores, the prices have 
doubled (here) in some stores, not a happy state for our city dwellers.

Therefore my first hand report from bundaberg..

In banana producing rural areas (crop unaffected by storms - probably a 
bumper season) prices are stable, in the larger market, they are being 
heavily affected by price increases.

Says something for growing locally doesnt it.

Cheers
Anne

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roy Garner" <rrgarner at bigpond.net.au>
To: "maillist for Green Activists" <green-activist at lists.altnews.com.au>
Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2006 2:05 PM
Subject: [Green-Activist] Spiralling cost of bananas


Dear Activists,
Just after Cyclone Larry, concerns were expressed about profiteering
because of alleged shortages in the supply of bananas, but they were
just as quickly dropped, and consumers have been left in the dark as to
why the price of bananas has gone through the ceiling, topping $10 in
Sydney, with rumours putting the price as high as $15 in some places.
The high costs of transportation and remoteness of alternative supplies
are cited as reasons for the price hike, but without a comprehensive
investigation, consumers' suspicions will not be laid to rest, with the
truth benders vying with the banana benders for centre stage.
If you're unhappy with the prices, you can help the push to uncover the
truth by registering your complaint with the Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission at
http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/54217/fromItemId/3634
But the ACCC won't really act unless you can give them evidence of
collusion to fix process.  So please put the word around and gather the
evidence, if you can.
Some questions you might ask:
What is the true extent of the crop loss, and are there sufficient
reserves in storage to supply local markets until the new season
bananas come on stream?
Are banana growers in areas not affected by the cyclone exporting their
best bananas rather than sending them to local markets?
Would importing bananas help bring the prices down?
Cheers,
Roy

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