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Panama TR4 Update: Situation Update / Information For Our Customers / Next Steps
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BANANA E-BULLETIN
17 March 2015
PANAMA TR4 UPDATE
Situation Update for Wholesalers
Biosecurity Queensland has confirmed that the banana plant disease, Panama Tropical Race 4 (Panama TR4), has
been found on one banana farm at Tully in Far North Queensland. Panama TR4 is a soil-borne fungal disease.
So far a positive diagnosis of the disease is confined to the one farm. The farm has been quarantined and is not
supplying product. There are about 280 other banana farms in North Queensland all producing bananas as per usual.
Information for customers
Panama TR4 poses no risk to human health. There’s no effect on the banana fruit. Bananas look and taste the same as
usual. The supply of bananas has not been affected. Australian Bananas continues to run its marketing activities.
Grower Snapshot
"The whole banana industry is focused on beating Panama TR4. The industry is pulling together to make sure we get
through this.” - Tully banana grower and Australian Banana Growers’ Council Deputy Chairman, Adrian Crema. The
Australian (Saturday, 14 March, 2015)
• Growers are adopting “come clean, leave clean” biosecurity practices (such as removing all plant material and
soil from any machinery, equipment, vehicles and footwear as they come onto and leave farms and not sharing
equipment or planting material).
• Growers and banana farm workers are keeping a watch for any plants exhibiting potential symptoms, such as
yellowing and wilted leaves. Affected plants can take months to show symptoms.
Looking ahead
• Additional tests on plant samples collected from the quarantined family farm are underway. Results are expected
within two weeks.
Inquiries from media
• Please direct media calls to Rhyll Cronin, Communications Manager, Australian Banana Growers’ Council (0428
038 330, rhyll.cronin@abgc.org.au). See our latest media release 15 March (TR4 today confirmed on Tully farm)
Dates, milestones
• Wednesday, 18 March: Tully & District Chamber of Commerce hosts a public forum at Tully Country Club, from
7.00pm.
• Friday, 20 March: Australian Banana Growers’ Council will publish another e-update for our partners in the supply
chain. In the meantime, for more details on PanamaTR4 see our web site and/or our Facebook page.
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