Queensland authorities have granted permission for banana growers to sell their produce from plantations flattened by cyclone Yasi, which hit the coastal areas of the state last week.

Hardest hit were farmers from Tully and Innisfail regions, where entire banana plantations were decimated by the storm when it lashed strong winds on the area while crossing the Mission Beach.

Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said on Wednesday that Queensland and interstate authorities provided a lifeline to the farmers when they were allowed to peddle fallen bananas in the state and the nearby southern areas.

Mulherin said that the deal was the first time for both Queensland and the southern markets and "address the issue of being able to sell bananas that have been lying on the ground."

He added that as the other agencies concerned affirmed the agreement, the fruits can now be sold instead of leaving them to rot, which he stressed is a great outcome for the banana industry "and will certainly assist in their economic recovery."

Also, the state government issued assurance that the fruits were safe and were "given the tick of approval from Biosecurity Queensland and health authorities."

According to the Australian Banana Growers Council, some two weeks worth of bananas could be collected from the ground and are perfectly fit for the markets, with council president Cameron MacKay providing estimates that "about 50,000 to 100,000 cartons a week could be picked off the ground."

That should bring considerable income to growers and allow them to recover and resume production by June or July, said MacKay, though he noted that full production capacity for farmers would require more months.

Farmers are only hoping that consumers would buy the fruits in spite of their appearance and relatively higher prices, with a grower making his appeal that by patronising the products, the sector will be provided "a return and help us move forward and tide us over for the next couple of months and allow us time to get finances in place."

MacKay added many of the banana trees remain alive despite strong winds that pushed them bending onto the ground but he assured that their fruits are still of top notch quality.