Orkney Islands flooded with 38,000 bananas after Tesco mistake

Every person living in the remote Orkney Islands could be chomping down on two bananas each after a Tesco worker mistakenly ordered 36,000.

Now staff are appealing to local football teams and schools to come forward and claim the extra bananas before they go to waste.

Tesco in Kirkwall wanted to order 380kg (750lbs) of the exotic fruit but a ‘glitch in the system’ meant it ordered 380 boxes, containing about 100 bananas each.

Now there is panic on the ‘banana republic’ island as to what to do with the extra fruit.

The supermarket would normally return them to the mainland but high winds were hampering the ferries over the weekend.

A Tesco spokesperson said the superstore has now resolved to give away the extra bananas to the community and schools.

Paula Clarke, Tesco’s community champion, posted an appeal on social media, saying: ‘We have mountains of bananas….literally lol!!!! Would any local groups like to come along to the store and collect a box for free? Pop past the Customer Service Desk to collect.’

In the comments, representatives from banana-hungry groups like nurseries, football clubs and the Stromness Community Fridge asked her to save a crate for them.

Islanders shared helpful advice to each other over social media, including baking banana bread and chopping and freezing slices of the fruit to use as a breakfast topping.

A Tesco spokesperson said: ‘Due to an over-order of bananas to our Kirkwall Superstore, colleagues have been inviting local schools and community groups to collect the fruit to redistribute locally.’

The extra nutrition arrives as the Orkney Islands were crowned one of the healthiest places to live in the UK for both men and women.

Boys born from 2022 to 2024 here will likely be in good health until the ripe age of 72.9, while women here put this to shame, with their health expected to decline only after the age of 74.1.

The Shetland Islands are also extremely healthy, with women here staying in good health until 70.8, while 68.3 is the age for men.

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