Thanks to favorable weather conditions, Carnarvon banana growers are enjoying their best season in over a decade. The past few months have provided ideal growing conditions with warm temperatures, combined with increased humidity, with yields up 60 per cent compared to their usual January average.
"It's great, we've got our biggest January since 2008, so it's shaping up to be a really good summer season," Sweeter Bananas business manager Doriana Mangili said. "We've had that really good growing weather, so size is a little bit bigger, taste is great and we're getting that lovely yellow bloom."
This year, Mrs Mangili said the region had so far avoided damaging heatwaves, which can easily ruin the fruit. "Every year there is some sort of event which knocks out about 10 per cent," she said. "Whether it's wind, drought, heatwaves or cold snaps, there'll be something that creates a bit of disruption. I've got to touch wood, because as soon as you say nothing has happened, something will."
Source: abc.net.au