Why UK apples cost more than imported bananas

It can feel odd that many homegrown apples cost more at the supermarket than imported bananas. Supermarkets now set margins across a mix of products rather than on each item, says Ali Capper, executive chair of British Apples & Pears, and that helps explain why shelf prices can become detached from the cost of getting fresh food to stores.

Bananas are a top-selling fresh product, so retailers fight to keep prices down and sometimes use them as loss leaders, says Alistair Smith of Banana Link. Official figures show that since 2000 a kilo of dessert apples has cost more than a kilo of bananas; in January 2025 the average shop price was £2.14 for apples and £1.02 for bananas, while wholesale prices on 20 January last year were £1.23 a kilo for homegrown apples and 98p for bananas.

Almost 60% of apples sold in the UK are imported; some, such as those from New Zealand, travel more than 11,000 miles, while many bananas come from about half that distance. UK producers face higher costs.

United Kingdom

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