Trim, taught and terrific: NSW DPI horticulturist Arthur Akehurst displays the slimline banana on top, which consumers are preferring to the over-full banana below.

NSW banana growers need to trim down – their bananas that is.

NSW Department of Primary Industries horticulturist, Arthur Akehurst, said markets are showing preference for a thinner “ribby” banana rather than the “overfull” fruit produced by some NSW growers.

Thinner bananas started coming out of North Queensland following the papaya fruit fly outbreak there in the 1990s. Specifications for exporting bananas out of the affected Queensland region required that the bananas were of a smaller girth.

Consumers liked the shape and are finding it lasts longer in the fruit bowl. There’s no splitting due to the fruit being over-full.

Mr Akehurst said the fact banana growers were paid by weight meant there was a temptation to leave bunches on the plant longer to fill out more.

“This may result in a heavier bunch, but over the full year, growers can expect the same weight of bananas to be produced by a plant.

“If you go for heavier bunches, you’ll have less of them. You may also lose some fruit to bruising and maturity bronzing.

“Studies over the years have shown that if you cut fruit when they are a bit thinner, the next bunch will come through quicker.”

Mr Akehurst said NSW growers needed to do everything possible to keep fruit quality high now that Queensland fruit was back on the market following Cyclone Larry.

Contact Arthur Akehurst, NSW DPI, Murwillumbah (02) 6672 2770.