TOM DAY
Tom Day is synonymous with Carnarvon's banana industry, the Day name woven into the fabric of the region's agricultural heritage.
Tom's journey into banana farming began with familial roots, as he purchased the plantation from his father, continuing a legacy that spanned generations.
“My father first came to town in 19437 I was then born on the research station in 1941 , I’ve been here a long time you see”
As a founding member of Sweeter Banana, Tom played a pivotal role in shaping the cooperative's trajectory.
Fueled by a desire to compete with the Queensland market, Tom and his fellow growers banded together, forming the group to strengthen their collective bargaining power and enhance market access.
“We were always looking at having at least $10 less a carton than Queensland. Our bananas are a lot smaller and Queensland were throwing away their smaller options so we saw an opening in the market”
Their journey wasn't without its challenges. In the early days, the group embarked on a six-month trial run through the local research station, experimenting with different cultivation techniques to optimize yield and quality.
They started small, transporting bananas with an old converted caravan base, collecting produce from various growers and delivering it to the station.
The road to success was fraught with obstacles. Initially, growers packed their bananas in their own sheds, but the costs proved prohibitive, and competing with the Queensland market as stand-alone farmers was an uphill battle.
“We were always looking at having at least $10 less a carton than Queensland."
“We started out packing in our own sheds, but we each had to then pay for an inspector to come to each individual shed and make sure we were all doing the same thing for quality assurance. It didn’t really make sense so we decided on a central shed instead”
However, their resilience and determination propelled them forward, driving them to seek innovative solutions and forge new pathways to success.
For Tom, Carnarvon's unique climate and soil conditions make it an ideal location for banana cultivation. "Carnarvon is perfect for growing," he affirms, referencing the region's resistance to disease as a key advantage over other banana-producing areas.
As he nears retirement, Tom reflects on a lifetime dedicated to nurturing the plantation and contributing to Carnarvon's agricultural legacy.