SUPERMARKET giant Coles will sell Queensland bananas in Coffs Harbour following its decision to dump around 30 local farmers, despite having no concerns with their products or service.
Last week a small collective of farmers launched a campaign to make people aware that Coles would no longer source bananas, cucumbers, kent and butternut pumpkin lines from the Coffs Coast via local wholesaler Golden Dawn.
This decision, which comes into effect from October 2026, means Coles will supply its Coffs Coast supermarkets with bananas from Queensland.
The local farmers’ group is calling itself Save Coffs Bananas and its campaign petition is aimed at providing local consumers with an understanding of what this trade move means.
The farmers have launched a petition and are asking people to add their signatures to urge Coles to reconsider its decision.
As of Monday 31 August there were more than 5000 signatures on the petition and many comments by local Coles customers saying they would no longer support Coles.
Social media activity around the issue has exploded and the comments are overwhelmingly in support of local farmers.
Many people are questioning why Coles has made this decision, in light of their statements that there were no issues with the service provided by Golden Dawn or the products provided by the farmers.
The farmers who are directly impacted say there is no easy solution, but they are encouraged by the support shown by the local community.
Many have begun work to find new buyers for their fruit.
The family that owns Canale Bananas has decided to trial selling some fruit from the farmgate, offering to take orders for cartons or smaller quantities of bananas that would have otherwise been destined for Coles.
Local banana farmer Mick Gentle, secretary/treasurer of the Coffs Harbour and District Growers Association, said Coles’ decision has been a kick in the guts for farmers locally.
He said his son Jason is a fourth-generation grower with three young children.
“Having planted a relatively new farm and a young family to provide for, my son now has to look at other options for the bananas he was previously sending to Coles,” Mr Gentle said.
Growers must meet strict and costly compliance measures to be able to provide their produce to Coles, Woolworths and other supermarket stores.
“Local growers have invested significant resources and finances into being compliant and meet the many strict standards,” Mr Gentle said.
“There is no fee relief for them to do this, and the process is lengthy and complex.
“Ask any local grower and they will tell you, ‘we just want to grow bananas’.”
NSW Farmers Coffs Harbour Branch spokesperson Paul Shoker said Coles’ decision could put the future of local farming families at serious risk.
“These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet,” he said.
“Behind every farm are local families who have invested years of hard work, money and commitment into producing fresh food for local consumers.
“The Coffs Coast has a proud history of producing high-quality bananas, vegetables and other fresh produce.
“To lose access to a major supermarket market would put enormous pressure on these farming families and the wider local economy.”
Mr Shoker said local growers deserved clarity about why they had been rejected and that Coles needed to explain to the Coffs community why it couldn’t support and consume local produce.
“If Australian supermarkets are serious about supporting Australian farmers, we need to see that commitment reflected in decisions affecting local growers,” Mr Gentle said.
“We are calling for an urgent meeting with Coles and the relevant state and federal representatives to understand exactly why these growers have been rejected and to find a pathway forward.”
A Coles spokesperson told NOTA, “We regularly review our supply chain to ensure we are delivering the best value, quality and availability for our customers.
“Coles will continue to source 100 per cent of its bananas from Australian growers.
“This decision is part of a broader change to Coles’ fresh produce supply model.
“As part of that change, we are transitioning away from direct-to-store produce arrangements and towards a more consistent operating model across our store network.
“We recognise this will impact some supplier arrangements, and the decision was not taken lightly.
“Following initial discussions in August 2024, we communicated the final decision in October 2025 and provided Golden Dawn with an extended 12-month transition period to give the business time to plan for the change, engage with its growers and pursue alternative commercial opportunities.
“Coles remains fully committed to supporting Australian farmers and regional communities.
“Under our Australian First Sourcing Policy, 97 per cent of fresh produce sold in our stores, by volume, was sourced from Australian farms in the 2024–25 financial year.”
Mr Gentle encourages people to follow the Save Coffs Bananas Facebook page where updates and information are posted daily along with links to the petition.
By Andrea FERRARI
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