Here’s how to support farmers and the environment on National Banana Day
Though 95 percent of Aussie households buy an average of 800 grams of bananas each week, there’s one variety that most of us have seen but don’t know much about: red-wax tipped bananas.
Most of us will have seen them in our local supermarket, but research suggests that only 4 percent of us know what the significance of the wax is.
For National Banana Day on May 1, members of the Australian banana industry are urging fans of the potassium-packed fruit to show their support for farmers doing their bit for the environment, and all we need to do is pick these eye-catching bananas.
The red wax on the ends of these bananas signifies that they’re grown using Ecoganic farming methods, which avoids synthetic and organic fertilisers and is certified by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
Ecoganic farming explained
This style of farming, conceptualised and perfected by Australian growers Frank and Diane Sciaccia, seeks to avoid the environmental impacts that traditional farming has.
Since fertilisers can impact the health of soil, waterways, and wildlife, Mr Sciaccia was inspired to develop ways of farming that use products that have a minimal impact and allow the biodiversity and health of the soil to improve, with an overarching goal of having zero impact on nearby waterways.
“We wanted to farm differently, with nature at the heart of what we do,” Mr Sciaccia said in a statement.
“Nature keeps everything in balance, and understanding the natural capital you have available to you enables you to get rid of all the harmful chemicals.
“The result is a farming method that is good for the environment and at the same time produces far superior bananas, just as nature intended."
Certified growers are required to undertake fortnightly monitoring of biodiversity levels, as well as audits every six months and annual carbon testing.
According to the Ecoganic website, growers regularly supply soil samples that are “tested and verified by independent agencies” to verify that growers aren’t using synthetic or organic chemicals.
As a result, the red-tipped bananas are guaranteed to be free of harmful pesticides and grown using environmentally-conscious methods.
Image: Supplied