ON the back of the continuing success of the iconic red wax tip bananas, red tip avocados have hit the market.
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The first red tip avocados went on sale in April at Perfection Fresh in the Sydney Markets.
The business behind the avocados is Blarney Enterprise as part of its Ecoganic range.
When purchasing a signature wax tip avocado or banana the consumer is assured that their purchase is paying for the protection of on farm ecosystem restoration and off farm natural assets like reefs, rainforests and waterways.
Owners Clinton and Ben Scott, together with system creator Frank Sciacca, pioneered the Ecoganic farming system in avocado production over the past 18 months on their Bundaberg farm in Queensland.
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Ecoganic farming develops and maintains ecosystem restoration and carbon sequestration, which are climate change solutions for the future of agriculture globally.
The Ecoganic method involves fortnightly biodiversity monitoring, six monthly audits and annual carbon testing to ensure there is minimal impact on the ecosystem.
The red tip avocados will test and target the Australian market with the 2022 crop followed with a high focus on exports to the Asia Pacific region in 2023.
Mr Sciacca said Ecoganics is focused on natural balance.
"It's about removing synthetic or organic coping mechanisms, which often introduce unintended consequences and deplete soil health, when nature has already demonstrated a capacity to provide the perfect solution," Mr Sciacca said.
He said insects and organisms have been eating other insects and organisms and replenishing carbon in the soil for a long time.
Angelo Coco from Invention Pathways, in Townsville Australia said the pandemic made companies review their sustainability from a different perspective .
"Social and health issues are underpinning the consumers demand for change in healthier and more sustainable options," Mr Coco said.
A history of red tips
THE distinctive red tip bananas are dipped in a bright red food grade wax to differentiate them within supermarkets.
Red tip bananas are the only bananas endorsed by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation because the farming method strives to have zero impact on nearby waterways and the reef.
Frank and Dianne Sciacca established red tip bananas in 1998 in north Queensland with the view to "farm with nature".
"We wanted to farm differently, with nature at the heart of what we do," Mr Sciacca said.
"Nature keeps everything in balance, and understanding the natural capital you have available to you enables you to get rid of all the harmful chemicals.
"The result is a farming method that is good for the environment and at the same time produces far superior bananas, just as nature intended."
Great Barrier Reef Foundation managing director Anna Marsden said the Sciacca's were leading the way in addressing farming practices that have the potential to impact not only on the farm environment but equally important off farm environments such as the Great Barrier Reef."
Perfection Fresh has exclusive rights to market red tip Ecoganic bananas which are described as "sweet and creamy", being "firm and fleshy, allowing for easy slicing".
"When you see the red wax tip on bananas, you can know that they have been farmed in harmony with nature," Mr Sciacca said.
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