Ireland-based tropical fruit company Fyffes is working with UK retailer Asda to sell bananas sourced directly from the Canary Islands, according to reports.
The move, which the retailer said aims to reduce the fruit's carbon footprint, will reduce the time it takes the fruit to arrive in the UK, with journeys up to 80 per cent quicker than bananas imported from central America according to the Walmart-owned supermarket.
Asda will ship the fruit from the Canaries to mainland Spain and then by road into the UK. The journey is expected to take just four days in comparison to the 24-day sea voyage from the Caribbean and the Americas.
Jock Higgins, banana technical manager at Asda's direct sourcing division IPL, said: 'This is a really exciting project which we've been working on for over a year.'Not only do we see the environmental benefit of the reduced transport time, but these bananas are pretty tasty too.'
The retailer has confirmed that the bananas, which will not be Fairtrade certified, will be sold under the Fyffes brand at £1.50 for a bunch of six.
The fruit is being trialled at 230 Asda stores, but the programme will be extended nationwide if customers respond positively, according to Higgins.
