Banana producers from the Canary Islands came together this week for the first meeting of new cooperative deemed Amigos del Plátano de Canarias, or Friends of Canary Islands Bananas.

The group located in La Palma, the most northwestern of the Spanish islands, cited “repeated banana pricing crises on the Peninsula and the consequential drop in profits for island producers,” as reason for organizing farmers, elapuron.com reported.

Around 200 attended the group’s inaugural meeting on March 29 where measures were adopted to address issues including transportation, markets and the use of geographical indication within the European Union.

The group also adopted measures requesting results-based pay for management, a guaranteed minimum price, opening markets, and creation of a research body for pest control. Certain measures were directed at current Canary Islands banana representative, ASPROCAN, where the group called for direct elections of representatives.

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com