A long awaited shipment of bananas has arrived in Bermuda! Although inspections are ongoing by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the bananas checked so far have been clean and pest free. Some of the examined bananas have already been delivered to local grocery stores.

The bananas arrived in a 40 foot container in varying stages of ripeness. DENR expects that there will be plenty of bananas available for purchase and consumption from grocery stores and restaurants in the next few days.

Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Walter Roban JP, MP praised the importer for their efforts to get bananas back on grocery store shelves. “This has been a long process, but due to the persistence of the importer, Mr. Roland ‘Junior’ Hill of J&J Produce, we now have bananas back on the shelves for all to enjoy. While the bigger suppliers gave up on bananas, the farmer, Mr. Hill, did not and he succeeded. Kudos also to the DENR personnel involved in examining this shipment. Their meticulous inspection procedures are necessary, to ensure the safety of Bermuda’s environment.”

Further information regarding this shipment of bananas will be provided at an 11am press conference tomorrow, Wednesday, August 12th at DENR headquarters in the Botanical Gardens.

Photo: Acting DENR Director Terry Lynn Thompson (foreground) and importer Mr. Roland ‘Junior’ Hill with some of the shipment of bananas.