by Katie Kenny, stuff.co.nz
One supermarket has found a creative solution to the banana shortage in fobbing off its baked goods.
Packets of banana bread were spotted beneath a sign for “loose bananas” at Countdown in Newtown, Wellington, this week.
The fruit is in short supply after a ship bringing them to New Zealand from Ecuador broke down a couple of weeks ago.
The country’s two major supermarket chains, Foodstuffs and Progressive, said the supply from the Philippines remained unaffected.
However as a result there were fewer bananas nationwide, Countdown spokesman James Walker said.
The limited stock was being rationed out in supermarkets on a daily basis, he said.
This meant some supermarkets – such as Countdown in the Wellington suburb of Newtown – were selling out by the afternoon.
Stock levels were expected to return to normal the week after next.
Tank Juice Bar, which has smoothie stores around the country, said the shortage “posed a problem”.
“We’re working on sourcing from elsewhere,” a spokeswoman said. “We’ve managed to cover demand to customers so far.”
In the meantime, we’re not sure if banana bread counts towards our 5+ a Day, but hey, it’s on special.
Source: stuff.co.nz