That’s bananas! Why it might be harder or pricier to find some brands in grocery stores [Video]

Potential price hikes at the grocery store unrelated to tariffs or even inflation? In this economy?

Yes, it’s bananas. No, literally: this story is about bananas.

Fruit giant Chiquita is one of the top brands leading the global banana industry, and its bananas are sold in 47 countries, including Canada, according to its most recent sustainability report. And Canada maintains a steady import supply of the popular and generally affordable fruit, according to Statistics Canada.

But now, a labour dispute at Chiquita’s Panama location could potentially mean fewer bananas and higher prices at the grocery store. Experts say it highlights the fragility of the global supply chain and how global events can affect what is available at your local stores.

Chiquita is the largest supplier of bananas to the U.S., and Panama is the largest banana-producing country, so there will be an increased demand in the U.S. for other banana sources such as Dole, said Michael von Massow, a professor of food agriculture …