UK retailer Asda has begun sourcing its bananas from the Canary Islands in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint in a deal with Fyffes.
The grocer said it is the first UK supermarket to trial bananas from the region, in a move it claims will “revolutionise” the country’s banana market. Asda said the fruit will be transported to mainland Spain by boat and then by road to the UK, cutting a previous 24-day delivery journey from Central America down to four days.
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The bananas, which will be marketed under the Fyffes label, have gone on trial this week across 230 stores. Asda said a wider roll out of the bananas will be dependant on customer feedback.
The retailer said the Spanish bananas are a “sweeter, firmer fruit” than those produced in Central America.
“The introduction of the Canary Island bananas has been made possible thanks to Asda’s ownership of IPL, the biggest single importer of produce in the UK,” Asda said. “IPL has agronomists based around the world who have built close relationships with growers, ensuring Asda can manage quality on the ground better than any other retailer.”
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