A produce industry veteran is sounding the alarm on bananas, warning that the next 18 to 24 months will be "very difficult" for the sector with significant supply destruction on the horizon. Andy Thomas-Stivalet of Kavidac Produce says operators will be pushed to their limits, with margins under extreme pressure and volume tightening across multiple sourcing regions.
Bananas are one of the highest-volume categories in fresh produce, so any sustained supply disruption has outsized ripple effects across retail and foodservice. This warning comes as the broader banana industry is already grappling with disease pressure, rising input costs, and climate volatility in key growing regions.
Buyers and category managers should start stress-testing their banana programs now. If supply destruction materializes at the scale being projected, expect pricing volatility and potential gaps in availability that could challenge promotional calendars well into 2027.