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Islanders snap up free bananas after shop orders 38,000 by mistake

LDRS/Paula Clarke Paula Clarke with wholesale boxes of bananas stacked up on trolleys.LDRS/Paula Clarke
An error meant 380 wholesale boxes of bananas were delivered to Tesco in Kirkwall

A supermarket in Orkney has given away about 38,000 bananas - almost double the entire population of the islands - in just three days after accidentally ordering them.

Tesco in Kirkwall had intended to order 380kg (750lbs) of the fruit but a slip-up meant it got 380 wholesale boxes, each containing about 100 bananas.

The surplus boxes, which arrived at the weekend, would normally have been returned to the mainland but high winds and subsequent ferry disruption meant this was not possible.

Paula Clarke, Tesco Kirkwall's community champion, confirmed on Tuesday that all the boxes had been distributed to community groups and schools across the area.

Chopped bananas

An appeal was posted on social media on Saturday morning asking local groups to come and pick up a box for free.

Toddler groups, football clubs and local charities all showed up at the supermarket to collect boxes.

In the comments, islanders suggested different ways for the groups to use up the fruit.

Some proposed baking banana bread, while others considered peeling, chopping and freezing the fruit.

LDRS/Paula Clarke Paula Clarke holding two wholesale boxes of bananas.LDRS/Paula Clarke
Tesco community champion Paula Clarke posted an appeal on social media inviting local groups to pick up a box

Other comments came from school teachers sharing that they had already popped along to the supermarket to pick up a box or two.

Orkney Islands Council confirmed it had received some of the boxes at its schools, including Stromness Academy, Kirkwall Grammar School and Papdale Halls of Residence for pupils to enjoy.

Paula and Tesco then organised for the last of the bananas to be sent up by plane to North Ronaldsay, the county's northernmost island, on Tuesday morning.

It is not the first time there has been an order blunder in Orkney in recent years.

Two years ago a small independent shop in Sanday - one of Orkney's north isles - inadvertently ordered 720 Easter Eggs, rather than the 80 the owner wanted.

That led to a fundraising campaign raising money for charity - but with a shorter shelf life, the Orkney banana glut required a swifter solution.

Story by local democracy reporter Andrew Stewart.