Following the virtual obliteration of the banana sector in Jamaica, St. Lucia and Dominica by Hurricane Dean, farmers in Grenada are set to make a windfall. According to officials of the Marketing and National Importing Board (MNIB) demand for the fruit has increased as a result of the damage done in other countries. Marketing Officer at the MNIB, Roderick St. Clair, explained that since the passage of the hurricane, the agency has been receiving daily enquiries from buyers in the region who would have normally bought bananas from the other three islands. At present, Grenada exports 900 boxes of bananas to the Trinidad market weekly, while 500 boxes are sold locally. Banana farmers have seen a decline in sales based on several World Trade Organization rulings which sought to eliminate priority treatment for many of the islands which remain beneficiaries of EU preferential rules. Hurricane Dean's assault is the latest blow to the already fragile industry. Reprinted from radioja.com