Australia is facing a banana shortage after unusually cool weather slowed crops in Queensland, leaving shoppers at Coles, Woolworths and Aldi reporting empty or limited shelves.
Woolworths said unseasonably cold conditions had affected growers across the country, with supplies expected to improve by November.
“Weather in Far North Queensland has slowed banana growth, limiting stock. We are working with growers to restore normal supply. We apologise for any inconvenience,” a Woolworths spokesperson said.
The supermarket said all bananas sold in its stores were grown in Australia, adding that it was working with local suppliers to maintain deliveries.
Coles said the variety available to customers could change because of difficult growing conditions. Some stores have reportedly been displaying fewer varieties, with greener bananas also appearing on shelves.
Almost 95 per cent of Australia’s bananas are grown in North Queensland, with most production coming from the Cassowary Coast and the Atherton Tablelands.
Bananas require hot conditions and tropical humidity to develop properly, meaning the cooler spring weather has slowed their growth.
Shoppers have turned to Reddit to compare stock levels in different areas. One customer in Victoria said they had found bananas at Aldi, although “there wasn’t much left”, while another reported that their Woolworths store in New South Wales had been out of stock for an entire day before receiving supplies.
There have also been complaints about the condition of some fruit. One commenter claimed that bananas arriving in some states had been overripe, potentially leading to more waste and further pressure on supply.
“Short answer, weather,” another shopper wrote.
