Banana Growers' E -Bulletin - September Page 1 of 8

September 2013 Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) is the peak industry body representing banana growers across Australia and aims to represent the interests of Australian Banana growers by formulating and advocating industry policy, communicating information, promoting best practice in environmental management, investing in research and development and promotions, and engaging in all related activities which together will lead to the long term prosperity of the Australian .

HIGHLIGHTS

NT TAKES ACTION ON BANANA FRECKLE TALKS ON TR4 RESISTANCE SCREENING IN NT ABGC EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER DRAFT BIOSECURITY REGULATION BOARD DECIDES ON TRANSPORT FIGURE CHANGE QUARTERLY ROUND-UP FROM THE REGIONS ABGC ANNUAL MEETING - NOVEMBER 26 DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY'S NEW FIVE-YEAR PLAN UNDERWAY APPLICATIONS CLOSE SEPT 21 FOR $10,000 PRIZE BENT ON SNACK SALES WITH VENDING MACHINES NEW FIGURES SHOW BANANA CONSUMPTION UP TEN ON STUDY TOUR TO CHINA AND TASTE TEST SOON FOR NEW VARIETIES TWEED GROWERS TRIUMPH WITH BEST OF FESTIVAL

NT TAKES QUARANTINE AND SURVEILLANCE ACTION ON BANANA FRECKLE

Quarantine and surveillance action is underway in the after the serious fungal disease Banana Freckle was found on Cavendish banana plants in two backyards near Darwin. Both rural residential properties, at Howard Springs, were placed under quarantine and surveillance undertaken on about 300 surrounding residential properties. The NT’s Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries announced the find on August 26 and said there was no evidence of the disease on commercial banana farms. It was initially believed the detection was the first time Banana Freckle had been found on Cavendish banana plants in Australia. However, it is now known Cavendish bananas were infected in 2001 in the Kimberley region of . These plants were destroyed. Phyllosticta cavendishii is the fungal species which causes banana freckle disease on Cavendish. A closely related but less severe strain of the fungus, Phyllosticta maculata, causes minor disease on some other banana varieties in Australia. Peak industry body the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) said it supported the Northern Territory Government’s action. ABGC Chairman Doug Phillips said the find reinforced the importance of biosecurity measures in protecting Australia's banana industry.

https://abgc.platformdirect.com.au/home.php?mode=view_in_browser&ctemplate_id=74 9/ 11/ 2013 Banana Growers' E -Bulletin - September Page 2 of 8

"It is extremely important to ensure Australia’s banana industry is protected from disease incursions as Banana Freckle has proven to be a disease of concern in overseas banana production,” Mr Phillips said. A copy of the ABGC's statement is at www.abgc.org.au In other action, the Government has also announced it will amend the Plant Protection Act 1989 to ban banana fruit being brought into Queensland from the Northern Territory. While there is no commercial sale of NT bananas into Queensland, the ban is aimed at stopping members of the public or farmers carrying bananas into Queensland from the NT. The Act already prevents the movement of plants. Northern Territory Chief Plant Health Manager Stephen West and Senior Plant Pathologist Barry Conde this week gave an update to ABC Radio in Darwin. To listen to the interview, click on the following link: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-02/testing-bananas/4929520

TALKS ON TR4 RESISTANCE SCREENING IN NT

Plans to screen plant varieties in the Northern Territory for TR4 resistance are progressing following discussions by Banana Plant Protection Program scientists Andre Drenth (pictured) and Mike Smith and NT scientists Bob Williams and Lucy Tran- Nguyen. Dr Smith said discussions were held from August 19 to 21 on plans to screen plants at the Coastal Plains Research Farm, conduct carefully controlled experiments on possible modes of transmission of the TR4 fungus and ways to safeguard our industry from the disease. Coastal Plains is a secured site previously used for disease screening. Dr Smith said the site would be prepared for trial work and the first planting of 'sentinel' Williams plants is planned for later this year. “The plants will be used to test how widely and uniformly the disease is still present in the block, which is important for varietal screening trials to follow,” he said. The trial site will also be important for field experiments to better understand how to manage the disease and to make further selections for improving varieties that already show some resistance to the disease, such as DPM-25 and Formosana. While in the NT, the group also took the opportunity to visit a commercial farm growing Cavendish bananas while managing the threat posed by TR4. They also spoke to staff who are in the frontline of managing banana disease incursions in the Territory.

ABGC EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER DRAFT BIOSECURITY REGULATION

The ABGC has expressed concern to a range of politicians in the lead up to the election over the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s draft Regulation under the new national Biosecurity legislation. ABGC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jim Pekin said the ABGC’s main concern is with that Department’s proposals regarding the Biosecurity Import Risk Assessment (BIRA) process. He said the proposed Regulation did not provide for a transparent system based on science. Rather than have tighter quarantine restrictions, that Regulation would make the possibility of imports easier if it were to proceed as is. For example, the proposed Regulation could mean an import permit may be granted prior to the completion of a BIRA.

BOARD DECIDES ON TRANSPORT-FIGURE CHANGE

https://abgc.platformdirect.com.au/home.php?mode=view_in_browser&ctemplate_id=74 9/ 11/ 2013 Banana Growers' E -Bulletin - September Page 3 of 8

Banana transport figures are now being released a week earlier to grower members of the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) following a Board decision. At its August Board meeting, the ABGC decided to release the ABGC’s transport figures as soon as possible after the end of each consignment week. The figures will now be released to grower members on the first Tuesday after the end of each consignment week. They had previously been released on the second Tuesday, which was nine days after the end of each consignment week. The change has been brought about because transport figures that Australian Banana Wholesalers have been broadcasting since the Banana Congress are almost identical to the figures that ABGC has been providing to members, but the ABGC figures have not been available to members until a week later. This had meant that virtually the only ones in the supply chain not getting the transport figures as soon as they available were growers. The transport figures provide information on the number of banana cartons transported from north Queensland to various State markets. The ABGC Board held its quarterly meeting at the South Johnstone Research Station. Other matters discussed were finance and sponsorships, projects, membership, research and development issues, biosecurity and plans for the next Banana Industry Congress to be held in 2015. Pictured at South Johnstone are ABGC directors (from left) Stephen Spear, Steve Lizzio, Paul Johnstone, Doug Phillips, Marc Darveniza, Adrian Crema and Peter Molenaar.

QUARTERLY ROUND-UP FROM THE REGIONS

At its Board meeting, the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) reviewed regional growing reports for inclusion in industry communications. The following report is for the three months to the end of August. Summary Fruit production levels have been good in Far North Queensland following warmer-than-usual Winter conditions. In other banana-producing regions, production has been sharply lower due to the adverse weather conditions experienced during Summer which damaged banana plants and fruit. Weather conditions are currently favourable in most growing regions. Queensland (from ABGC North Queensland directors) In the Cassowary Coast region (including Innisfail and Tully) there have been warmer-than-usual conditions in August. There has been increased fruit production with most farms busy. There was wet weather in June and July and some cold mornings of 10 to 11 degrees Celsius resulting in some underpeel chill, mainly on unbagged bunches or bottom hands of bagged bunches. Some of this fruit will be cut in the next two months. Growing conditions are improving for the months ahead but increased Winter production may mean the usual Spring flush of fruit could be

https://abgc.platformdirect.com.au/home.php?mode=view_in_browser&ctemplate_id=74 9/ 11/ 2013 Banana Growers' E -Bulletin - September Page 4 of 8

moderated. Yellow Sigatoka (Leaf Spot) has been well under control. The Tablelands region has experienced cooler weather but has been free of frosts. Lakeland grower Paul Inderbitzin reported there have been good growing conditions with clear weather and daytime temperatures of up to 27-30 degrees Celsius. On a few cooler days, night-time temperatures dipped to about 12 degrees. Fruit quality has been good with bright fruit and minimal underpeel chill. Point scarring is a potential issue this time of year and it has been important to keep wind off the bunches by bagging on time and, when deleafing or bell injecting, ensuring bunches are being kept clear. Production levels are expected to hold.

New South Wales (from ABGC NSW directors) On the Far North Coast , there was extremely low production during the period due to a cloudy, wet and cooler Summer and fruit loss caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald in January and storms from an East Coast Low in February. Production is expected to be spread over a longer period than usual – from Spring through to Autumn. This will be an advantage for the production of Lady Finger bananas as it will assist in reducing the supply shortages which have occurred over the past few months. There were clear days and warm daytime conditions in August, following overcast and showery weather in June and July. Daytime temperatures in August reached about 26 degrees Celsius. The warmer August conditions follow on from the warmer overnight temperatures experienced in July of 10 to 14 degrees, above the normal range of 0 to 14 degrees. Fruit quality is good. On the Mid North Coast , production levels were also extremely low due to lower-than-average temperatures throughout Summer and damage from ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald in January and storms in February. Weather conditions have been good over the past three months with some above-average temperatures. There has been a lack of the usual Winter frosts and conditions have been dry. Pictured with Ducasse bananas at McCuddens Bananas in Valla is Matt Colb. The farm was fortunate to escape damage from the January and February storms. Western Australia (from Carnarvon grower, Michael Nixon) Carnarvon has had extremely low production levels due to the heat damage caused to fruit in February. Production has improved slightly in recent weeks. The results of the heat damage is still evident with some choked bunches coming through. Irrigation from the Gascoyne River has been difficult due to salinity levels. In northern WA there were new plantings earlier in the year in Broome and Kununurra.

ABGC ANNUAL MEETING - NOVEMBER 26

The Annual General Meeting of the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) has been set for Tuesday November 26 at the South Johnstone Research Station. Additional information will be provided to members in the coming weeks.

DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY'S NEW FIVE-YEAR PLAN UNDERWAY

https://abgc.platformdirect.com.au/home.php?mode=view_in_browser&ctemplate_id=74 9/ 11/ 2013 Banana Growers' E -Bulletin - September Page 5 of 8

Development of the Australian Banana industry’s new five-year plan is underway with the start of consultation, including two workshops attended by more than 45 growers and industry partners. The first draft of the new Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) is expected to be ready in October. There will be further consultation before the plan goes to bananas’ Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) next February and then to the Horticulture Australia Limited Board.

The plan will set out how levy income, which currently totals about $5million annually, will be invested in Research and Development and marketing projects from 2014-15 through to 2018-19. Consultant Jenny Margetts, from Plant & Food Research Australia, was engaged by HAL to undertake consultation and develop the plan. She said it would be a “working, living plan”, adaptable during its life.

At two August workshops, growers, wholesalers, researchers and representatives from HAL and peak industry body the Australian Banana Growers' Council (ABGC) presented their views.

In north Queensland, 31 attended an August 15 workshop at the South Johnstone Research Station (pictured above). In northern New South Wales, 25 were at a workshop held at the Yamba Bowling Club on August 21 (pictured below). Some attended both meetings. Reports on the workshops will appear in the next Australian Banana News.

https://abgc.platformdirect.com.au/home.php?mode=view_in_browser&ctemplate_id=74 9/ 11/ 2013 Banana Growers' E -Bulletin - September Page 6 of 8

APPLICATIONS CLOSE SEPT 21 FOR $10,000 PRIZE

The banana industry’s most prestigious professional development scholarship – a prize valued at up to $10,000 - is now open for 2013 applications. The Mort Johnston Professional Development Scholarship is now seeking its seventh scholar – a total of six scholarships having already been awarded since the prize was established in 2008 by the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC). The scholarship honours the memory of Tully grower and industry innovator Mort Johnston. It offers financial assistance for a wide-range of professional development opportunities that assist the banana industry. The scholarship supports endeavour in any of the following areas and that align with the ABGC’s goals: farming practices, environmental management, scientific research, promotion and marketing, supply chain, education, industry policy. 2012 winner Naomi King is pictured receiving her Scholarship from one of Mort's sons, Tully grower Paul Johnston. Those wishing to nominate have until September 21 to complete the application form which can be found at the projects and resources section of the ABGC website at www.abgc.org.au . Applications will be considered by a selection panel which includes representatives of the Johnston family, the ABGC and a selected industry company or organisation.

MACKAYS BENT ON SNACK MARKET WITH AUSTRALIAN-FIRST VENDING MACHINES

Major banana growing and marketing group Mackays has attracted national and global interest in its roll out of Australia’s first banana vending machines.

https://abgc.platformdirect.com.au/home.php?mode=view_in_browser&ctemplate_id=74 9/ 11/ 2013 Banana Growers' E -Bulletin - September Page 7 of 8

The machines, called Banana Bars, have so far been installed in Brisbane’s CBD, taking fresh banana retailing into new locations, including those dominated by fast foods. The first machine was installed in July in one of the CBD’s busiest food courts, Post Office Square. A further two machines will be added to other Brisbane locations in September. The Banana Bar launch achieved substantial media coverage as well as global interest in a retailing concept which has previously been tried on only a limited basis, in where vending machines sell a large range of goods. Mackays Marketing Director Daniel MacKay said the first Banana Bar was achieving good sales. “We’re meeting our expectations and the numbers are where we’d hoped they’d be,” he said. “We’re taking it ‘slowly slowly’ at the moment and keeping the roll out and servicing of the vending machines in-house so we can be sure we’re getting the best quality banana to consumers. We’ve had a lot of people very interested in the concept and enquiring about it but we’re staying focused on doing a good job and making sure people are happy with it.” Mr MacKay said it was hoped to expand the number of machines, initially in Brisbane and potentially other cities. “We’re looking to bigger things for the future. One thing we’d like is to have the machines in schools and universities around Brisbane to give students a convenient way to access a fresh snack.”

NEW FIGURES SHOW BANANA CONSUMPTION UP National banana consumption has lifted 13.5 per cent since the start of the national levy system four years ago. The latest levy figures for the 2013 financial year show consumption of 15.1 kilograms per person, up from 13.3 kilograms in the 2009 financial year. The increase was achieved despite the industry’s worst cyclone, Tropical Cyclone Yasi, in 2011.

TEN ON STUDY TOUR TO CHINA AND PHILIPPINES

A banana industry study tour of China and the Philippines began on September 4. Ten growers and industry partners are taking part in the ten-day tour of the Asia Fruit Logistica trade show, research facilities and banana plantations. The tour was organised by ABGC and is both self-funded and subsidised by a HAL- funded project. Participants are required to share information on their return.

TASTE TEST SOON FOR NEW VARIETIES

Growers will soon be able to taste test some of the new banana varieties being grown at the banana industry's subtropical trial block at Duranbah in northern New South Wales.

Banana Plant Protection Program (BPPP) leadership team member David Peasley said a field day where growers could sample fruit was planned for around October. "There will be some good bunches cutting and we will have some interesting new varieties for growers to taste test," Mr Peasley said. The date for the field day will depend on the ripening pattern of as many varieties as possible. Growers at NSW district grower meetings held in August have expressed interest in attending the day. Those furtherest from the trials, in Coffs Harbour and surrounding areas, have expressed interest in hiring a coach so as many growers as possible could attend the event.

Growers at both the Coffs & District Banana Growers' Association meeting and the Nambucca & District meetings expressed interest in attending the event. The field day will be the second held for growers at Duranbah this year with an event also held in May. The photo of the pictured bunch was taken in May.

TWEED GROWERS TRIUMPH WITH BEST OF FESTIVAL

https://abgc.platformdirect.com.au/home.php?mode=view_in_browser&ctemplate_id=74 9/ 11/ 2013 Banana Growers' E -Bulletin - September Page 8 of 8

Tweed district growers Will Everest and Dave Atwal took out the honours in the crowning of King and Queen bananas at the 2013 Tweed Valley Banana Festival. The district has recovered from damaging storms of early 2013 to celebrate the festival, one of Australia’s longest-running annual festivals. At this year’s 58th event, growers participated in the traditional crowning of the King and Queen bananas – the heaviest of Cavendish (King) and Lady Finger (Queen) bananas submitted for a weigh in.

Dunbible-based Atwal Brothers Banana Ripeners and Eungella grower Will Everest were again successful, the Atwal family with a 332 gram Cavendish and Mr Everest with a 287 gram Lady Finger. Dave Atwal (pictured, right) and Will Everest accepted their prizes at a ceremony held the day before the festival’s street parade was attended by a crowd of thousands in Murwillumbah on August 31. Mr Atwal’s family has several banana farms in the district and supplies major retailers in the area including Woolworths, Coles and IGA. He said production, which had been affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald and follow-up storms, was now well into recovery. Mr Everest said he was back cutting bunches every week. “We did get hit earlier in the year but it’s turned around now and it’s back to normal.”

SUBSCRIBE TO E-NEWSLETTER

Our e-bulletin is distributed to all our subscribers. To update your email details, or if our e-bulletin has been forwarded to you and you would like to join our subscription list, please email ABGC Communications Manager Rhyll Cronin at [email protected] with your contact details. You can also Forward to a Friend .

Unit 3, South Gate East Commercial Centre 250 Sherwood Road ROCKLEA QLD 4106 PO Box 309 BRISBANE MARKET QLD 4106 Tel: 07 3278 4786 Fax: 07 3278 4938 Web: www.abgc.org.au

https://abgc.platformdirect.com.au/home.php?mode=view_in_browser&ctemplate_id=74 9/ 11/ 2013