[Green-Activist] Spiralling cost of bananas

[Roy Garner]

Hi, Ann
Yes, we support the eco-friendly red tops here, but their price seems 
to have gone up in line with the other bananas.  I agree that 
boycotting the exorbitant rates is one strategy, though I think there 
will be many not buying simply because they cannot afford to pay $2.50+ 
for one banana.  If enough people don't buy them, for whatever reason, 
perhaps the prices will come down.  On the other hand, perhaps the big 
stores will stock fewer bananas.
Australian quarantine is pretty tight regulating imports of any food 
that might threaten local crops, so I guess it's a question of policing 
a temporary measure to ensure supply to the domestic market.  But would 
they be cheaper?
Without a comprehensive investigation, we'll just keep guessing!
Perhaps we should just declare "Bananas are off!"
Cheers,
Roy

On 06/05/2006, at 4:22 PM, Anne Goddard wrote:

> 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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