Banana cultivation in New Zealand is gaining traction, with growers like Ed Hayes and his wife entering the industry in Northland. Although New Zealand is not typically associated with banana production, more locals are exploring this agricultural venture. Hayes, who operates Tippu Farm, mentioned that they are relatively new to the area, stating, "Because we're pretty new, we don't know how of a lot of people up here, but whenever Kelly or myself are saying, 'oh yeah, we grow bananas, they usually say ohh are you the guys out on State Highway 1? and we go. 'Yeah, that's us'."
The farm currently hosts 1100 banana plants, with plans to expand to 1600. Varieties include Misi Luki, Dwarf Cavendish, Hua Moa, and Goldfinger. Hayes noted the distinct taste and character of these bananas compared to the typical supermarket Cavendish. He explained, "With a supermarket banana, when they're brown on the outside typically the fruit on the inside is also brown. But really the the skin of these bananas is just a protectant."
Hayes and his wife initially entered the market through a wholesaler, who distributes their bananas to markets, supermarkets, and restaurants. Meanwhile, Hugh Rose, an established grower and chairperson for the Tropical Fruit Growers Association of New Zealand, highlighted the potential for local banana production. He remarked, "I couldn't believe when I read somewhere that we were the largest consumers of bananas and I had actually successfully grown bananas amongst other things."
Rose's plantation features 40-50 banana varieties, emphasizing the diversity of banana types. He also grows other tropical fruits, reinforcing the agricultural potential of Northland.
Source: RNZ