Even if the discussions were more solid than at previous sessions (Australia 2000 and Costa Rica 2002), it was once again banana that brought participants at the recent session of the FAO IGG on Bananas and Tropical Fruits (Canaries, 2004) out of their (diplomatic) apathy. It is true that the coming deadlines are primordial for all supplier countries. With regard to tropical fruits, the practically complete absence of sector professionals made it impossible to leave the beaten track. It has been promised that the next session (Ecuador, 2005) will be more open to the professional world.