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BigOl64

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Re: Banana prices
Reply #75 - Jul 31^st, 2011 at 11:41am

muso wrote on Jul 31^st, 2011 at 11:05am:

BigOl64 wrote on Jul 30^th, 2011 at 6:05am:

muso wrote on Jul 29^th, 2011 at 8:21pm:

By the way, Australian bananas are excellent compared to the ones you buy in the UK. However, it's a myth that Australian banana plantations are disease free. They have exactly the same diseases that they have everywhere else and they apply sprays to combat them regularly.

Care to provide the evidence that busts this 'myth' wide open, any sort of government or reputable web site will do.

I provided you with the government web sites, then :

BigOl64 wrote on Jul 30^th, 2011 at 11:51am:

Never said Aust bananas were disease free, but import more diseases ain't gonna make it better.

You suggested that you didn't believe "the myth" if you read the thread in full. The only point I was making is that the disease-free myth was just that. I don't see a problem with buying Australia, but if they are going to ban imports, they should be honest about the reasons at least and not hide behind the myth of disease. If we were importing banana plants (rootstock) then it would be a far greater concern. Bananas are propagated by suckers, as I'm sure you know.

Yeh that reply went a bit pear shaped.

I meant to say it that the belief that we have the same diseases as the south americans and philipinos and that any inadvertantly imported disease wouldn't matter, is a furphy.

We have enough diseases that we have to deal with and it costs a lot of money to control; a job that may or may not be done by our competitors. I personally don't trust a sh1t-hole country when it says it will implement the biosecurity controls we require; there is no down-side if they don't. I would trust the poms to export meat into this country why would I trust anyone-else.

One dodgy batch gets through our warves and then what? A heart felt appology and one more industry into the dustbin.

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muso

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Re: Banana prices
Reply #76 - Jul 31^st, 2011 at 11:49am

I think we have more to worry about sabotage (eg the Bowen tomato crop), although it's more difficult with bananas. By the way, fusarium wilt is common to bananas and tomatoes for what it's worth.

By the way most third world plantations are carefully controlled by major companies such as Fyffes, which can't risk quality control issues. They typically have less disease than domestic crops.

Thanks for acknowledging the mistake at least. You just went up a peg in terms of respect.

Here's another link worth reading about Cavendish bananas:

http://gawker.com/5823906/the-banana-apocalypse-is-coming
Quote:

...Now the Cavendish variety is succumbing to the same malady, which has decimated banana trees in Asia and Australia. It has yet to spread to South America, where most of the bananas sold in the U.S. are grown, but plant biologists say it's inevitable.

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« Last Edit: Jul 31^st, 2011 at 12:02pm by muso »

1523 people like this. The remaining 7,134,765,234 do not

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hawil

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Re: Banana prices
Reply #77 - Jul 31^st, 2011 at 12:14pm

BigOl64 wrote on Jul 30^th, 2011 at 4:44pm:

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jul 30^th, 2011 at 4:39pm:

$14 per kilo right now.

Bargain.

That protectionism sure is working huh???

But they will be $1 a kilo under than same supossed protectionism, so maybe that has bugger all to do with the price since it is a constant; or don't you believe there could be other variables.

I have no idea why it seems to be a problem for you since you don't actually live here and the plummenting US peso is causing you bigger problems buying our stuff that our protectionism.

I started this debate in a civil manner, but you have turned it into a nasty slinging match.
I,am prepared to pay up to $5 a kilo for bananas, but if the producers cannot produce them for that price , they are either inefficient or plain lazy.
As far as disease is concerned,SA, Tasmania and Victoria do not produce any bananas, so would it not have made sense to import some bananas there to ease the price spike.
Furthermore do the farmers take out any insurance against natural catastrophies; I take insurance on my car,house and health and hope I do not have to use it.
I,am no expert on production cost, I cannot see that a producer can make any returns on his crop if the bananas drop below $2 a kilo.
Currently most orange growers are being hit very hard by dropping prices, due to the glut of oranges.
The government has definitely treated the Australian people very badly by not allowing any bananas being imported, and MP Ludwig, being Minister who controls im-exports does not bother to reply to any correspondence, so I don't know why we pay him $200,000 plus, not ot do his job.

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Baronvonrort

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Re: Banana prices
Reply #78 - Jul 31^st, 2011 at 12:50pm

hawil wrote on Jul 31^st, 2011 at 12:14pm:

The government has definitely treated the Australian people very badly by not allowing any bananas being imported, and MP Ludwig, being Minister who controls im-exports does not bother to reply to any correspondence, so I don't know why we pay him $200,000 plus, not ot do his job.

If the bananas meet quarantine requirements then they are allowed to be imported its misleading to say the are not allowed to be imported.

I personally would not eat imported bananas that have been fumigated no matter how cheap they are.

Read the documents on this list- www.daff.gov.au/ba/ira/final-plant/banana-philippines

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Leftists and the Ayatollahs have a lot in common when it comes to criticism of Islam, they don't tolerate it.

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BigOl64

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Re: Banana prices
Reply #79 - Jul 31^st, 2011 at 12:59pm

hawil wrote on Jul 31^st, 2011 at 12:14pm:

I,am prepared to pay up to $5 a kilo for bananas, but if the producers cannot produce them for that price , they are either inefficient or plain lazy.

Maybe they don't give you all the important news where you live but the reason you are paying $14 / kg for banans at the moment is not that growers are inefficient or lazy but because 80% of Australia's crop was decimated by Cyclone Yasi. Surely you are aware that this is not the normal price for bananas unless you only started buying in Feb this year.

Also they do take out insurance which is how they can recover their losses and start over, pity that insurance doesn't cover your costs in the banana price hike.

Kicking someone in the guts when they're down is a pretty low act, but one Im seeing more and more of these days. Angry

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hawil

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Re: Banana prices
Reply #80 - Jul 31^st, 2011 at 1:57pm

BigOl64 wrote on Jul 31^st, 2011 at 12:59pm:

hawil wrote on Jul 31^st, 2011 at 12:14pm:

I,am prepared to pay up to $5 a kilo for bananas, but if the producers cannot produce them for that price , they are either inefficient or plain lazy.

Maybe they don't give you all the important news where you live but the reason you are paying $14 / kg for banans at the moment is not that growers are inefficient or lazy but because 80% of Australia's crop was decimated by Cyclone Yasi. Surely you are aware that this is not the normal price for bananas unless you only started buying in Feb this year.

Also they do take out insurance which is how they can recover their losses and start over, pity that insurance doesn't cover your costs in the banana price hike.

Kicking someone in the guts when they're down is a pretty low act, but one Im seeing more and more of these days. Angry

I don't follow entirely your point. As you say 80% of the crop was destroyed, but the lucky ones whose crop was not affected must make a huge profit, the 20% crop is worth the entire 100% crop, because the price is 5 times as much as $2-3 a kilo.
Why doesn't the insurance pay up, as you state? Then they are abunch of cheats, take the premium and do not pay the loss.
As I stated before I,am prepared to pay up to $5 a kilo, so I do not want to see every producer to be wiped out, because when monopolies are created, the prices go up enormously.
Unfortunately, monopolists like Murdoch control media and the politicians, killing Democracy.

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Equitist

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Re: Banana prices
Reply #81 - Jul 31^st, 2011 at 2:14pm

One thing that never ceases to amaze me, is that many people will: willingly-pay big bucks for a non-nutritious and non-perishable bottle of carbonated black syrup-water with attractive advertising printed on its striking red, white and/or blue label (AKA Coke, Pepsi - which is produced by machines in massive quantities); but balk at paying a premium for a fresh health-giving piece of lovingly-nurtured labour-intensive and perishable fruit encased in its naturally soft and delicate skin...

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Lamenting the shift in the Australian psyche, away from the egalitarian ideal of the fair-go - and the rise of short-sighted pollies, who worship the 'Growth Fairy' and seek to divide and conquer!

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hawil

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Re: Banana prices
Reply #82 - Jul 31^st, 2011 at 2:18pm

Equitist wrote on Jul 31^st, 2011 at 2:14pm:

One thing that never ceases to amaze me, is that many people will: willingly-pay big bucks for a non-nutritious and non-perishable bottle of carbonated black syrup-water with attractive advertising printed on its striking red, white and/or blue label (AKA Coke, Pepsi - which is produced by machines in massive quantities); but balk at paying a premium for a fresh health-giving piece of lovingly-nurtured labour-intensive and perishable fruit encased in its naturally soft and delicate skin...

I don't drink much of the stuff you mention, but you surely do not expect people to pay $13 a kilo for bananas; the growers would become millionaires in no time.

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BigOl64

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Re: Banana prices
Reply #83 - Jul 31^st, 2011 at 2:41pm

hawil wrote on Jul 31^st, 2011 at 1:57pm:

BigOl64 wrote on Jul 31^st, 2011 at 12:59pm:

hawil wrote on Jul 31^st, 2011 at 12:14pm:

I,am prepared to pay up to $5 a kilo for bananas, but if the producers cannot produce them for that price , they are either inefficient or plain lazy.

Maybe they don't give you all the important news where you live but the reason you are paying $14 / kg for banans at the moment is not that growers are inefficient or lazy but because 80% of Australia's crop was decimated by Cyclone Yasi. Surely you are aware that this is not the normal price for bananas unless you only started buying in Feb this year.

Also they do take out insurance which is how they can recover their losses and start over, pity that insurance doesn't cover your costs in the banana price hike.

Kicking someone in the guts when they're down is a pretty low act, but one Im seeing more and more of these days. Angry

I don't follow entirely your point. As you say 80% of the crop was destroyed, but the lucky ones whose crop was not affected must make a huge profit, the 20% crop is worth the entire 100% crop, because the price is 5 times as much as $2-3 a kilo.
Why doesn't the insurance pay up, as you state? Then they are abunch of cheats, take the premium and do not pay the loss.
As I stated before I,am prepared to pay up to $5 a kilo, so I do not want to see every producer to be wiped out, because when monopolies are created, the prices go up enormously.
Unfortunately, monopolists like Murdoch control media and the politicians, killing Democracy.

Yeh those lucky ones (farmers) are in SEQ and nth NSW not in nth QLD where 100% of the crop was stuffed and their insurance goes to rebuilding their business not making NSW bananas cheaper for you.

Calling them a bunch of cheats shows just what type of person you are, their lives have been decimated and just because you have to pay more for some-elses fruit you thing it's their fault. On behalf of the banana farmers of NTH QLD I say bugger you. Angry

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janny pan New Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 1	Re: Banana prices Reply #84 - Aug 1^st, 2011 at 11:54am Import decent bananas and perhaps our producers will lift their game or grow something they know how to produce.
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Amadd Gold Member Offline Mo Posts: 6217	Re: Banana prices Reply #85 - Aug 1^st, 2011 at 12:40pm Jeez...banana prices? Most of you wouldn't have eaten a banana 2 months prior to their price rise. All of a sudden it's, "Oh, I must have my banana fix". Take a potassium pill.
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Ex Dame Pansi Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 24168	Re: Banana prices Reply #86 - Aug 1^st, 2011 at 1:47pm We ranked number 1 for the world's most expensive bananas in 2007. Why?
Back to top	"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Hendrix andrei said: Great isn't it? Seeing boatloads of what is nothing more than human garbage turn up..... IP Logged

Ex Dame Pansi

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Re: Banana prices
Reply #87 - Aug 1^st, 2011 at 2:01pm

Yes, you are paying too much for bananas

Frustrated fruit lovers are driving a blackmarket in backyard bananas. Yes, you read that right. Just as the prohibition days of the 1920s drove US residents into underground gin joints, sky-high banana prices are driving Australian lovers of the golden fruit to seek alternate sources for their daily fix.

In a press release titled ''Consumers urged not to plant backyard bananas'', the Australian Banana Growers' Council warns citizens to think twice before planting a private banana crop lest they contribute to the spread of the world's most devastating banana disease, the banana bunchy top virus.

While acknowledging it is not illegal to plant bananas in one's backyard, the council is keen to assure would-be competitors that prices will be down again before backyard crops are ready to fruit.

The banana lobby holds great sway, representing, as it does, the interests of thousands of growers. Indeed, Australia has one of the most highly regulated and protected banana growing industries in the world.

Growers are protected from foreign competition by tough import restrictions and quarantine laws.

During times of banana plenty, this is great news for consumers, who enjoy some of the best-quality, disease-free fruit in the world.

Free trade unlocks opportunities for countries to produce what they are most efficient at - can produce at lowest cost - boosting living standards for all. Moves to dismantle import tariffs in the 1980s and 1990s, while tough on domestic competitors, helped create the low-inflation world we now enjoy.

Feeling cheated by paying $15 a kilo for bananas? You should be.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/yes-you-are-paying-too-much-for-bananas-20110729-1i4a6.html#ixzz1TkJo2ax7

Amaad....you are missing the point of the debate ie
FREE TRADE

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"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Hendrix
andrei said: Great isn't it? Seeing boatloads of what is nothing more than human garbage turn up.....

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Ex Dame Pansi

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Re: Banana prices
Reply #88 - Aug 1^st, 2011 at 2:06pm

In 2006, the two most expensive commodities in Australia were petrol and bananas. This was due to a large, and very sharp increase in banana destruction and theft by an unknown marauder only known as Larry. the only other information on Larry is that he went on a massive banana-killing spree in North Queensland in March 2006.

Large amounts of oil didn't come from Iraq for 3 years or so, and the petrol prices went up, and , because North Korea detonated a super-sub-sonic-not-going-to-do-much-but-still-will-somehow-devastate-America-an
d-various-other-countries-nuclear-bomb, the price of petrol went higher yet. Explanations are still being asked for, but most people suspect that petrol prices is not the only thing George Bush wants big down under. He does want some credibility as a leader. Despite the hike of Banana prices, the Big Banana in NSW is still completely worthless.

The great banana prices has resulted in creating a new social system in Australia, those with bananas (The Rich Upper-class Stuck-ups), and those without bananas (The Poor Middle-Upper-Slightly-Lower-No-Not-So-Low-Higher-than-that-Class). The Great Bannana Prices has also started off a craze of coconuts, and an increase in extremely uncoordinated raiders, as well as a full-length feature film, The Great Bannana Prices/Crisis.

The Prices/Crisis has also forced the Government to step up and create a new currency, Australian Bananas (symbol B). It is worth $US 3.1337 and is expected to have it's own credit card, debit card, Visa card, cheque card and complimentary spa card by May 2012, provided the US army, with help from the guy with the cuncus form, find Osama Bin Laden. Not many peaople are able to deal with these high costs. But the taliban can. The Taliban can because they mix Allah and nuts and screw the world real good. This adds to the extrodinarally unnessesary number of reports about petrol and bannana prices.

Thank You and Guten Nacht.

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Australian_commodities

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"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Hendrix
andrei said: Great isn't it? Seeing boatloads of what is nothing more than human garbage turn up.....

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hawil

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Re: Banana prices
Reply #89 - Aug 2^nd, 2011 at 1:24pm

BigOl64 wrote on Jul 31^st, 2011 at 2:41pm:

hawil wrote on Jul 31^st, 2011 at 1:57pm:

BigOl64 wrote on Jul 31^st, 2011 at 12:59pm:

hawil wrote on Jul 31^st, 2011 at 12:14pm:

I,am prepared to pay up to $5 a kilo for bananas, but if the producers cannot produce them for that price , they are either inefficient or plain lazy.

Maybe they don't give you all the important news where you live but the reason you are paying $14 / kg for banans at the moment is not that growers are inefficient or lazy but because 80% of Australia's crop was decimated by Cyclone Yasi. Surely you are aware that this is not the normal price for bananas unless you only started buying in Feb this year.

Also they do take out insurance which is how they can recover their losses and start over, pity that insurance doesn't cover your costs in the banana price hike.

Kicking someone in the guts when they're down is a pretty low act, but one Im seeing more and more of these days. Angry

I don't follow entirely your point. As you say 80% of the crop was destroyed, but the lucky ones whose crop was not affected must make a huge profit, the 20% crop is worth the entire 100% crop, because the price is 5 times as much as $2-3 a kilo.
Why doesn't the insurance pay up, as you state? Then they are abunch of cheats, take the premium and do not pay the loss.
As I stated before I,am prepared to pay up to $5 a kilo, so I do not want to see every producer to be wiped out, because when monopolies are created, the prices go up enormously.
Unfortunately, monopolists like Murdoch control media and the politicians, killing Democracy.

Yeh those lucky ones (farmers) are in SEQ and nth NSW not in nth QLD where 100% of the crop was stuffed and their insurance goes to rebuilding their business not making NSW bananas cheaper for you.

Calling them a bunch of cheats shows just what type of person you are, their lives have been decimated and just because you have to pay more for some-elses fruit you thing it's their fault. On behalf of the banana farmers of NTH QLD I say bugger you.

I did not call the banana growers cheats, but Insurance companies if they do not pay up, what the growers paid premiums for.
You really have gone bananas, judging by your posts.

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« Last Edit: Aug 2^nd, 2011 at 1:35pm by hawil »

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