Canary Islands banana producers are keen to take advantage of their industry’s environmental credentials as they seek to send product to the UK once more.
Francisco J Rodríguez Noguerón of the banana growers’ association in the Canary Islands, Asprocan, told freshinfo at the Spanish fresh produce exhibition Fruit Attraction this month that the industry is keen to return to the level of exports that were sent to UK before World War I, and before Central American sources became the main suppliers.
Despite the latest banana price war played out in UK multiples, he believes that some UK consumers are prepared to pay a premium for a high-quality banana.
Noguerón said: “Some 90 per cent of the Spanish population prefers Canary Islands Plátano de Canarias product and it has a real following. I cannot see why it is not the same in the UK.
“People know where it is produced, how it is produced and product is near to the consumption point. It is a 35-day journey from Ecuador to the UK and it takes one week from the Canary Islands.
“In the UK, consumers want a good product with good flavour, which is exactly why Plátano de Canarias would be popular - because of their flavour.”
Noguerón maintained that the industry was looking for a niche market to serve in the UK. The Canary Islands produce 380,000 tonnes of bananas annually.
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