The supply of banana imports to the United States has been significantly hampered due to weather disturbances in key producing regions such as Mexico and Guatemala. Andy Thomas-Stivalet, a representative from Kadivac Produce, explains that storms, unseasonably high temperatures, and severe droughts have slowed plant growth and reduced overall yield.

Two hurricanes further exacerbated the situation, which caused extensive damage across large land areas. "The lack of sunlight and increased rainfall, recently due to these two hurricanes, are also contributing factors, prolonging the growth cycle of banana plants," Thomas-Stivalet elaborated. An increase in banana availability is forecasted in the coming weeks, hurricanes and La Niña permitting, but challenges persist in the US market. "Production costs continue to rise, compounded by a weakened US dollar against Latin American currencies, particularly in Colombia and Costa Rica," observed Thomas-Stivalet.

This currency devaluation means it costs more US dollars to purchase the same amount of bananas, further squeezing profit margins. Furthermore, he underscored that while local markets within Latin America, including the Mexican market, are increasingly viable, they alone cannot absorb the surplus from significant producers like Guatemala, Colombia, and Ecuador. Thomas-Stivalet emphasized that the industry continues to witness producers exiting the market due to inflation, escalating cultivation costs, and environmental challenges.

These ecological challenges include unpredictable weather patterns, such as the recent hurricanes Alberto and Beryl and the spread of diseases that affect banana plants like TR4 and Moko.