In Australia, bananas are a staple in over 90% of households, with Premier Fresh Australia annually providing ALDI with 8.5 million kilos of Cavendish bananas. Premier Fresh Australia, located in Tropical Far North Queensland, boasts 517 acres of banana farming land in the Innisfail area, sustaining over 310,000 banana trees. The region's tropical conditions facilitate year-round production.
Mark Smith, Premier Fresh Australia's Head Grower with 40 years of experience, highlights the demanding nature of banana farming, from manual harvesting to the intricate assessment of growing fruit. Premier Fresh Australia's collaboration with ALDI since 2001 has enabled focused production of bananas throughout the year. Constant communication with ALDI ensures effective preparation for future demands.
ALDI's partnership with Premier Fresh Australia is marked by mutual benefit, contributing to ALDI's recognition for supermarket fruits and vegetables satisfaction. Matt Atley of ALDI Australia emphasizes the growth and transformation shared with Premier Fresh Australia over 23 years, ensuring the delivery of quality bananas to customers.
Premier Fresh Australia prioritizes environmental sustainability, particularly due to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. The farms are Freshcare Environmental – Reef Assured certified, adopting sustainable practices in biosecurity, waste, and pest control to minimize impact on the reef. Sustainable fertilization methods and integrated pest management are employed to protect the surrounding ecosystems.
The bananas, grown on the Cassowary Coast, are harvested approximately 12 months after planting. The unique lifecycle of banana trees, which die after producing a single bunch, necessitates continuous planting of banana tissue culture. Harvesting involves manual labor, with workers carefully cutting down the trees and transporting the bananas to the packing shed. There, bananas are washed, weighed, and boxed by hand, ensuring only the highest quality produce reaches ALDI stores.
Mark Smith reflects on the challenges and rewards of growing bananas in the tropics, expressing pride in seeing the fruits of their labor on ALDI shelves. The partnership between Premier Fresh Australia and ALDI exemplifies a successful collaboration in the produce sector, delivering quality bananas to Australian consumers year-round.
Source: Aldi Unpacked