Grower price of bananas around 6 dollar

The grower prices of bananas vary around 6 dollar presently, while the official reference price is at 3,25 dollar per box and grower associations strive for a price of 4,25 dollar, according to Karina Campuzano, director of the Association of Banana Producers from Ecuador, Aprobanec. One dollar per box more, would represent the cost price, as the present reference price is below cost price, said Campuzano. The past days several meetings were held, amongst others with Galo Náula Zambrano, president of the board of the national development bank BNF (National Development Bank), who represented the Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa in this consult. Members of Aprobanec assisted in the meeting, in which themes around the provision of loans were discussed. With the present price around 6 dollar, the growers receive some compensation for periods in which the price paid was below the official level, said Campuzano. However, as no more permits for planting new acreages with bananas are given out, growers are investing more in improved productivity, which also represents an increase of investment costs and often also the cost price.