Cyclone Narelle Devastates WA Banana Crop

0:00It's March 28th, I'm Corey with The Story, and this is Sydney News Today, your AI-powered local news. Fruit and vegetable growers in Western Australia's Kenarbon region are reeling from Cyclone Narelli, which smashed through and wiped out over 80 percent of one major banana crop. This gas coin hub pumps out fresh produce worth nearly 1.5 billion dollars a year for local and export markets. Packing category 2 strength, the storm hit harder than its weekend forecast suggested, leaving bananas battered despite the lower punch. Growers like Les Ball, who chairs the co-op for over half of Kenarbon's banana farmers, report widespread havoc after checking with others. Now unsellable, with weeks of cleanup ahead, this piles on top of Queensland's fruit losses from the same cyclone crossing the continent, sparking fears or shortages, hitting shops and squeezing, both farmers and buyers. The ball stays upbeat, saying diversifying to other gas coin crops keeps supply steady.

1:00No bear shelves expected. It's the risky game they play, prepping for storms that always show up, with lighter yields next year before bouncing back strong.