Banana producers from Spain’s Canary Islands have given more details of their plans for a Europe-wide export campaign for 2011, which, if realised, would mark the first time the sector has exported significant volumes outside Spain.
In response to the European Union’s decision to allow greater imports of bananas from Latin America, producers in the archipelago have began to look for new markets where they can develop exports, with Germany among those being considered.
Speaking to Spanish news agency EFE, Francisco Rodríguez, president of Canaries banana producer association Asprocan, said that the sector hoped that moving into new markets would reduce the effects of the reduction of the EU banana tariff, which has led to increased access for overseas exporters.
Mr Rodríguez said while Canaries exporters were aiming to “position themselves across Europe as a whole”, they were focusing on educating consumers about the “qualities of Canaries bananas” rather than having any expectations of supplying large volumes.
He said the sector was looking to develop “strategies” in countries such as Germany, where it was hoped that Canaries bananas would be recognised as a gourmet or high quality product.
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