Banana shortage looms after Pacific Ocean ship breakdown

Countdown supermarkets have a limit on their supply of organic fair-trade bananas.

Bananas might be soon be hard to find in Countdown stores after a banana-laden boat sto broke down off the coast of Ecuador.

A spokesman for the supermarket chain said a new shipment of bananas arrived in New Zealand at the end of last week, and will be on shelves nationwide from Thursday.

A spokeswoman for Foodstuffs said Pak 'n' Save and New World supermarkets weren't affected by the shipment problem.

"As we source fruit from multiple suppliers, Foodstuffs supermarkets are not affected by the recent banana boat delay from Ecuador.

"New World and PAK'nSAVE customers can rest assured that their favourite fruit is in good supply."

Last week plant pathologist Ioannis Stergiopoulos told media a fast-advancing disease compound, known as the Sigatoka complex, could be a lethal threat to the world's banana supply. The fruit could be wiped out in five to ten years, he said.