The island is experiencing a shortage of bananas owing to global demand for refrigerated containers.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources confirmed the shortage which it said is expected to be temporary and is not related to crop disease as has been the case in the past.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs said: “DENR is aware of the shortage of bananas in the island's grocery stores and can confirm that it is not due to disease affecting banana crops.

“Instead, the supplier has been experiencing logistical issues acquiring and shipping refrigerated containers which is consistent with challenges facing all global shippers.

“This shortage is expected to be temporary, with the next confirmed shipment of bananas leaving Costa Rica on Saturday, May 2, and arriving in Bermuda on Monday, June 6 barring any unforeseen importation issues.

“Further, the local supplier is confident that a steady biweekly shipment of bananas will resume in June.”

“The DENR continues to work closely with the local supplier and overseas entities to ensure the island's biosecurity is not compromised.“

In 2020, Walter Roban, the Minister of Home Affairs, said more food needed to be grown locally to combat problems with international supply chains.

He was speaking after banana supplies were affected by an infestation of mealy bugs.

He said at the time: “Given the ongoing challenges to global supply chains, Bermuda must increase its local food production as much as possible.

“Mealy bugs present a significant risk to many of the crops grown on island at a time we need to produce as much as possible.”