As the East and Gulf Coast port strike enters its third day with no sign of talks restarting, some consumers are starting to worry about potential shortages of groceries and other basics. But so far, experts say only a fraction of perishable goods are likely to see an impact in the short term.
These include fresh fruit, especially bananas, and some alcoholic beverages and seafood, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, which represents the agricultural industry. A significant chunk of these products are imported from abroad, and they enter the U.S. at many of the affected ports.
For the most part, though, grocery aisles will look like they normally do unless the work stoppage grinds on for weeks, industry experts say.
“We are a very lucky country,” said Andy Ellen, president and general counsel of the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association, which is simultaneously dealing with fallout from Hurricane Helene. “You may not be able to buy the exact brand of ketchup and peanut butter that you want, but there’s going to be ketchup and peanut butter on the shelves.”