Sílvia Sousa Silva, a Socialist Party (PS) member of the Madeira Regional Legislative Assembly, has accused the GESBA of a management model that, she says, prevents banana growers from benefiting from the price consumers pay. In a text published on her Facebook page, she argues that "the money from the banana does not reach the producer" and calls for higher prices in all categories, plus a mutual insurance scheme.
According to the MP, many supermarkets sell Madeira bananas at €1.99 per kilogram, while growers receive on average €0.55. She also says prices paid per category are now lower than in 2007 for first and second grade fruit.
The GESBA and the Regional Government dispute these claims. Company data show the average price paid for extra-category bananas rose 60% between 2009 and 2024, including POSEI support. The PS says it will present measures to offset production losses and boost farmers' incomes.