Bananas were a staple of comedy sketches—peels on the floor leading to hard rump-landings. But there’s no comedy here if you like EATING the big yellow fruit. A fruit shortage of sorts could be building up that could see some store shelves empty and prices on those few bananas left skyrocket.
RV Travel readers are bananas for bananas
A recent poll of RVtravel.com readers shows many RVers are bananas for bananas. Nearly half of respondents say they find bananas appealing every day, or frequently. Another 34% say they eat big yellows occasionally. Every day, or occasionally, there could be a crimp in your banana-eating style.
The International Longshoremen’s Association, or ILA, is in the news. Its 45,000 dockworker members could walk out on strike if a new contract isn’t in place by October 1. ILA workers handle cargo at three dozen ports across the U.S., and, sure enough, that’s where a lot of banana imports are shipped.
A key port for Chiquita Fresh North America and Dole Fresh Fruit Co. is Delaware’s Port Wilmington. It’s the top-banana location for incoming yellow-peel fruit, as well as Chilean grapes, Moroccan clementines, and New Zealand kiwi fruit. Shutting down Port Wilmington could give fresh fruit lovers the willies.
“Any fruit that arrives after October 1 will be condemned to the trash can,” Peter Kopke Sr., a produce importer, told The Orange County Register. “And all of the people who have invested in that business will lose a fortune.”
Stock up for the banana shortage… at your own peril!
Can you stock up on your favorite yellow peel fruit? Sure, and you can freeze them too. But the outcome may not be quite what you’re accustomed to. And tossing a frozen peel on the floor may lead to more rump-busting than you could plan on.
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Time to start dehydrating, or freeze drying bananas. Frozen bananas make awesome nicecream for dairy allergy people.
Anyone that thinks bananas are expensive now, just wait, the impending strike negotiation includes a 70% pay increase starting point. 70% pay raise over the next 5 years. That might drive inflation and cost of goods an eyelash higher. How’s that 2 5% SS cost of living increase looking?
I did a search to see what longshoremen make. Boy, it differs from state to state. Amazingly, Nevada was at the top of the pay list. Lousiana was at the bottom – no surprise there. Not sure what “longshoremen do in Nevada since we have no shore. Are they simply giving a fancy name to dock workers?
Yes, warehouse loaders and warehouse docks, I believe.
Dole has their own dockside port here in the San Diego harbor so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.
Yeah. I don’t know what I’m gonna do if I don’t get my banana-a-day.🫤🍌 Have a good night, Bill. 😀 –Diane
A banana and a walk a day. A nice, healthy lifestyle! I get my walk in at 7 in the mornings, up to 3-3 1/2 miles at a time now.
Good work, Bill! 🙂 Keep at it! 🙂
Doing my best, thanks Neal!
Wow! You’re doing great, Bill! That’s lots more than I walk, but at least I get away from my keyboard for a little (just 1.5 miles) walk every day. Keep up the good work! And have a good night. 🤗 –Diane
Thanks Diane 👍
Corporate greed has been screwing all of us for years. What’s wrong with the people who handle and get all the produce to us getting a fair raise. 70% seems a bit much though. Everyone needs to be reasonable.
Even if they got a cost of living increase of 21% to match inflation since the last contract negotiation 5 years ago, they still go backwards because they pay 30% of the raise to income tax and then only have a 14% net raise against that 21% inflation.
Therefore, just to stay even and net a 21% take home raise to cover inflation they need a 30% RAISE JUST TO STAY EVEN. Who wants to stay even? How nice, get a 30% raise and live exactly the same? A raise in lifestyle of merely 5% would require a 40% raise. Inflation is the enemy of prosperity, not the corporations. Use the same math for social security and the “No Taxes on Social Security” sounds pretty good.
Happy trails Jesse.
Than us poor retirees, veterans and poor people only get a 2.5% raise. Those union dock workers get a huge hourly wage.
Anyone on SS should take a look at the income tax they pay on that SS and decide if keeping those taxes would be helpful. If only someone had a plan to eliminate income tax on Social Security. Pay into SS for lifetime and the in retirement pay taxes on it when you do take it out? Seems fair….NOT.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Well, that is about as serious as a potential strike by drivers of tractor-trailer rigs. October 1st is rapidly nearing. Fresh fruit may soon become rotten fruit. Thanks again, have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Bananas won’t be the only scarce item. That could mean shortages of all manner of items.
Nope. All other fruits have several weeks supply in cold storage. No domestic or Mexican supply and ripens too quick for any storage.