Tweed Valley, Australia – In a significant development for the Australian banana industry, two new varieties, Havana and Little Gem, are heralding a new era in the fight against Panama disease.
These varieties were discovered by David Peasley, a horticultural consultant with over 40 years of expertise, and Tim Johnson, a local farmer with a lifelong connection to the land and an intuitive understanding of sustainable agriculture.
The story of Little Gem began on Tim Johnson’s family farm, which was devastated by Panama disease, leading to the destruction of their Lady Finger banana plantation. In their place, other varieties were planted for their resistance to the disease. Within these other varieties a natural variant was discovered.
From this discovery, Little Gem has evolved, which Tim believed showed promise for commercial potential and appealing to the Mum and Dad consumer as a banana suitable for consumption by children due to the smaller size, sweet taste and shelf life.
Similarly, Havana was discovered by David Peasley as a unique variety with potential. Its natural resistance to Panama disease and appealing characteristics are results of nature’s own innovative processes, not genetic modification (GMO).
Tim and David joined forces to create the Better Banana Company. These varieties have now been introduced to consumers through major retailers and Independents from Coffs Harbour to Far North Queensland.
As the Lady Finger production significantly declines due to Panama disease, both varieties are becoming a preferred alternative, presenting unique flavour characteristics at different stages of ripening.
The successful commercialisation of these varieties is supported by 11 dedicated growers across Australia’s prime agricultural regions, ready to meet the growing consumer demand for non-GM bananas with exceptional taste, appearance, and shelf life.
These bananas also demonstrate resistance to leaf diseases, significantly reducing the use of chemicals, environmental impact, and production costs, which is vital for growers’ sustainability in the current economic landscape.
The market response has been overwhelmingly positive, with Havana and Little Gem praised for their flavour and the fact that they do not brown when sliced, making them ideal for consumers’ fruit salads, smoothies and freezing for later use.
This success is a testament to the foresight of Independent retailers and supermarkets, which are leading the way in introducing these innovative fruits to the public.
In partnership Tim and David have brought Little Gem and Havana to the market in partnership with Perfection Fresh Australia (PFA), offering the end consumer a wider choice when it comes to their banana purchase which has been dominated by the Cavendish and Lady Finger bananas in the past.
