Banana industry works for tariff exemption 

This month, the Banana Association of North America (BANA) said that the cost of America’s favorite fruit could go up by as much as $250 million a year under the 10 percent reciprocal tariff imposed April 5 by the Trump Administration.  

Tom Stenzel, executive director of BANA, said he and BANA members are working with government leaders to gain an exemption for bananas. 

“I hope for exemptions because tariffs don’t help their objectives,” he told Blue Book. “All tropical fruit is affected.” 

Stenzel said the Trump administration has stated that one of the purposes of reciprocal tariffs is to bring more business to the United States, and since bananas and other tropical fruits cannot be commercially grown here, the tariffs don’t do this. 

It will likely also cause retail banana prices to rise. 

“I haven’t seen retail prices increase yet, but every retailer will make their own decision,” he said. “Bananas are a low margin item, and 10 percent is hard to swallow. We hope a 10 percent rise in retail prices wouldn’t affect consumption.” 

Stenzel said he would never advise retailers on their pricing strategy, but a price rise at retail would be visible, and consumers are sensitive to food inflation. 

Representatives from BANA have not been able to meet with the Trump administration regarding an exemption, he said, but they have met with several Congress members with that message. 

“The marketplace is the next stage in messaging with the Trump administration,” he said. 

The members of BANA are the largest four North American banana companies, Dole, Del Monte, Chiquita, and Fyffes.