Poor, deteriorating quality of Windward Islands Bananas

The quality of bananas exported to the United Kingdom market from the Windward Islands in recent times is poor and has been deteriorating on a weekly basis.{{more}}

This has been reported by Managing Director of the Windward Islands Banana Development and Exporting Company Bernard Cornibert.

According to Cornibert, the problem has been brought to the attention of the various banana organisations in the Windward Islands, including Winfresh Ltd., the company responsible for the export of bananas from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The situation has also been brought to the attention of the Ministry of Agriculture here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Cornibert added that the situation is very serious and if the problem is not addressed immediately, we run the risk of our customers in the UK dumping our fruit, which will be extremely detrimental to the Windward Islands Banana Industry.

In seeking to address the problem, WIBDECO has so far provided technical support to the various local organisations to resolve the problem.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries met to consider the problem, and in a release strongly urged all farmers to adopt and use the recommended production and harvesting practises necessary to produce and export top quality bananas.