Bananas galore in Orkney after store orders 38,000 by mistake 😀 (Orkney Isles/Scotland) 31/Mar/2026

(Whoops 😄). A supermarket in Orkney has been giving away bananas after accidentally ordering an estimated 38,000 of them - almost double the entire population of the islands. Tesco in Kirkwall had intended to order 380kg (750lbs) of the fruit but a slip-up meant it ordered 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. A Tesco spokesperson said the superstore has now been giving the boxes away to community groups and schools across the area. An appeal was posted by Paula Clarke, Tesco's community champion, on social media, with toddler groups, football clubs and local organisations showing up at the supermarket to collect boxes. In the comments, islanders suggested different ways for the groups to use up the fruit before it goes bad. Some proposed baking banana bread, while others considered peeling, chopping and freezing the fruit. #orkneyisles #bananas #whoops #bananas2026