The United States could face a shortage of several popular fruits within weeks due to an impending strike by port workers. The International Longshoremen's Association, which operates along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico, has threatened to strike at the beginning of October unless a new contract is agreed upon. This could significantly impact the delivery of bananas, pineapples, citrus, grapes, and other fruits that typically enter the United States through its eastern and Gulf coasts.
Peter Kopke Sr of the importer Kopke Fruit told the Orange County Register, “Any fruit that arrives after 1 October will be condemned to the trash can. And all of the people who have invested in that business will lose a fortune.”
Port Wilmington in Delaware, the largest entry point in the U.S. for imported bananas, is expected to be among the biggest potential impacts of the strike. At least two-fifths of America's refrigerated banana cargo comes from Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras through the port. Wilmington is also a primary destination for fruits imported to the U.S. from various countries, including grapes from Peru and Brazil, kiwifruit from New Zealand, and citrus from South Africa, Morocco, and Spain.
The White House has stated it will not invoke its legal powers to intervene in the situation. Financial services firm JP Morgan estimates that the cost to the country if a strike happens will be roughly five billion dollars a day.