Arabic version: الطقس البارد في كوينزلاند يترك رفوف الموز شبه خالية

According to The Guardian, cool weather in key Queensland growing regions has severely slowed banana production, leaving Coles, Woolworths and Aldi with sparse displays or very green stock. The shortage has arrived as apple season winds down following difficult growing conditions and before summer stone fruit reaches shelves in larger quantities.

Bananas are Australia’s most frequently bought fruit, with almost nine in 10 households regularly purchasing them, according to produce data company Freshlogic. Anton van den Berg, co-founder of grocery delivery service Box Divvy, said demand had not fallen as sharply as it usually does when produce supply drops. He said many consumers continue to buy bananas, helping create shortages.

Van den Berg said major supermarkets rarely charge more than $5 a kilo for bananas, avoiding price rises that could deter shoppers. Woolworths told customers that recent weather in far north Queensland had slowed banana growth, adding that stock could be limited for the week while fresh supplies arrived daily. Coles was contacted for comment.

The supply pressure may be short-lived. The Australian Banana Growers’ Council said any shortage should soon correct itself as temperatures in affected growing areas begin to rise. Australia grows its bananas in northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Meanwhile, peaches and nectarines are expected to become cheaper in coming weeks as their season begins. Sellers are also reporting healthy supplies of navel oranges and mandarins, while mango quantities are increasing and prices are already falling quickly.