This is a final research report from Hort Innovation’s historical archives. Please note that as these reports may date back as far as the 1990s, the content and recommendations within them may be superseded by more recent research.

What was it all about?

Cavendish bananas currently represent 95 per cent of Australian banana production. In (then) recent times leading chains in the Australian marketplace have suggested that overall banana sales could be significantly increased by broadening the range of banana varieties sold. This project set out to:

• Review the literature
• Describe the current situation of the alternative banana variety supply chain
• Analyse the economics of alternative varieties
• Conduct sensory and consumer analyses of promising new varieties
• Put together the findings as a roadmap for industry.