Eco Bananas
Our distinctive, safe and trademarked wax tip lets you know that our Eco Bananas have been grown by the hard work and love of every creature (big and small) on our farms. Our Eco Bananas have been grown with the least intervention of any farming system in the world, so that we can protect the soil for future farming, prevent chemicals (organic and synthetic) from polluting nearby waterways on the Great Barrier Reef and provide a healthy, nutritious snack for you and your family.
Pacific Coast Eco Bananas are an Australian owned and grown product. Our Ecoganic™ Certified group of growers consist of 6 family owned farms producing over 1000 acres of Eco Bananas (also known as “wax tips”).
Ecoganics™ is very similar to the way produce was grown years ago, long before the reliance on insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers was created. Ecoganic™ farming builds and strengthens the farm ecosystem. We have discovered that mother nature has generously provided all the natural resources we need to grow a healthy crop, sustain a healthy lifestyle and protect the future for our family and yours.
What Happens Once The Ecoganic™ Fruit is Ripe and Ready to Be Picked?
Ecoganic™ bananas are harvested by hand. Our pickers use a cane knife to cut the branch and lower the fruit onto their shoulders. Once the bunch is resting on their shoulders the bunch is cut free and carried to the tractor & trailer we use to gather all the fruit. The ‘tree’ is then cut down and placed carefully back down for mulch which helps to build and strengthen the biodiversity of the habitat.
Once full, the trailer is transported to the packing shed where the fruit is hung on a gantry so the bags that cover the fruit can be removed. From there, the fruit is carefully washed and the cover bags are pressed in a wool bailer for recycling. Shed water from the washing process is discharged and filtered before entering a settling pond. Unlike most settling ponds, ours supports a vast number of reptiles, birds and other aquatic life, which is a vibrant indicator of the water quality.
Once the fruit is washed it is sorted to remove any blemished, bruised or marked fruit that do not meet supermarket specifications. The fruit then moves onto a packing elevator which transports it to our wax dipping stations where the fruit is dipped in a specific food grade wax for identification of the Ecoganic™ farming system.
Once dipped, the fruit is then placed back onto another elevator as it moves to the packing stations. Our packers ensure that each carton is packed so that fruit will reach the store shelves in your neighbourhood safely. From here, the packed cartons move onto a different elevator towards the Quality Check Point. Here each carton undergoes a final manual check by our experienced team for quality, presentation and correct weight.
A lid is then placed on the carton and it continues to the Hydraulic stacking lifters where the fruit is stacked to form a pallet of 66 cartons which weighs approximately 1 tonne. The pallet is then placed in a special cool room for 24-48 hours before being transported to the Central markets in all capital cities. Ecoganic™ bananas are ripened slowly in purpose built ripening rooms prior to transport to grocery stores and sale to you.
Why the distinctive Wax Tip was created.
Many customers are curious to know why we dip the fruit in coloured wax and whether it is safe.
Because our Ecoganic™ fruit is grown to a certified standard that does not use chemicals (synthetic or organic) which deplete the soil and harm insects, reptiles, birds and other animals, we needed a clear, healthy and unique way to let you know that you were selecting fruit that is good for you, good for the soil, good for the environment and good for the waterways (including as far out as The Great Barrier Reef).
No other producer may mark their fruit with a coloured wax tip unless they are an approved Ecoganic™ farming supplier.
This patented wax tip is our way of letting you know that any fruit which bears the wax tip (red, pink, green or blue), is grown to the highest eco-growing standard in the world.
The Ecoganic™ farming system produces a fruit that has a sweeter creamier flavour and a denser texture giving it a longer shelf life. All Ecoganic™ fruit is dipped in a specific food grade wax which is non-toxic, safe and recyclable. This is similar to the wax you currently see used on soft cheeses.
The patented wax tip is our way of letting you know that any fruit which bears the wax tip (red, pink, green or blue), is grown to the highest eco-growing standard in the world.
Our Ecoganic™ Certified group of growers consist of 6 family owned farms producing over 1000 acres of Eco Bananas
Ecoganic™ bananas are harvested by hand. Our pickers use a cane knife to cut the branch and lower the fruit onto their shoulders.
The fruit is carefully washed by hand. Shed water from the washing process is discharged and filtered before entering a settling pond. Unlike most settling ponds, ours supports a vast number of reptiles, birds and other aquatic life, which is a vibrant indicator of the water quality.
Our wax dipping station where the fruit is dipped in a specific food grade wax for identification of the Ecoganic™ farming system.
The pallets are placed in a special cool room for 24-48 hours before being transported to the Central markets in all capital cities.