A new, small market in Canada has opened for the sale of green bananas from Saint Lucia, announced the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, Alfred Prospere, at the pre-cabinet briefing on Monday.
“I want to announce that we’ve gotten a small market in Canada for our bananas, and that is particularly green bananas,” Prospere revealed.
“Just last week we were able to make our first export of about 50 boxes and that is via aircraft and we’re hoping today we can export 140,” Prospere explained, adding, “so within one day or so the fruits can get to Canada and can be distributed.”
Recounting a past issue with the export of bananas to the United Kingdom, which involved an extended shipping period that reduced the quality of bananas upon arrival, Prospere explained that although the Canadian market is small, the shipping of specifically green bananas via Air Canada presents an ideal scenario.
He noted that in the coming weeks, banana farmers will begin harvesting crops planted after the storm in July: “We’re hoping that by the end of November to December we may be experiencing a surplus of our bananas, so I do think this new market is a timely one.”
During the briefing, the minister also provided updates on the dasheen export initiative. He said, “We have a new market that we got in Canada for dasheen and in some cases the consistency in supply is what is not available, so there are times we would have a shortfall in terms of required amounts, but in recent weeks we’ve been exporting quite a number of dasheen to Canada.”
The announcements came alongside further updates from the minister, including the ministry’s donation of 2,000 one-thousand-gallon water tanks to local farmers, which Prospere said officially commenced last Thursday.
“We were able to distribute more than 100 water tanks to farmers in region five and that area covers Vieux Fort, parts of Laborie, Grace, Belle Vue, etc. We continued the distribution for the Soufriere farmers last Friday and tomorrow, we are going to continue the distribution of these water tanks to farmers in Babonneau,” Prospere stated.
Prospere says that his ministry hopes the water tanks will be beneficial to farmers amidst mounting concerns regarding climate change. He said, “Climate change is having a serious impact on the agricultural sector and water storage is very critical especially in the dry season.”
I hope this will not be like the promised made by Allen that bananas will be exported to France. Be careful
lol … France and other European countries get their bananas from the French operated countries in Africa!!! smh – when politicians lie!!
I noticed Mr Agriculture Minister did not state which Canadian province the bananas and dasheen are being exported to. Ontario has a huge Caribbean population (Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal).