New Market Opens In Canada For Saint Lucia’s Green Bananas

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...