From Chris Linton
I read with interest the warnings of a future without bananas due to pandemics of diseases such as black sigatoka fungus (13 May, p 5). In Australia we are in that new world already. Cyclone Larry destroyed all the crops in our main banana-growing regions, and we cannot import bananas due to the diseases mentioned. With supply extremely short, prices have jumped from about A$3 per kilo to A$12, and quality is reduced. Most people now only buy one or two bananas at a time, and I have not bought any for five weeks. It has been hard, but Australia is now well prepared for the complete demise of our favourite fruit.
Hillcrest, South Australia
