Expect shortages of bananas, booze, chocolate and cherries if there’s a long port strike

If longshore workers at East and Gulf coast ports go on strike Tuesday, as now appears likely, it could choke off the supplies of many popular products that flow over those docks. But not necessarily right away.

If longshore workers at East and Gulf Coast ports go on strike Tuesday, as now appears likely, it could choke off the supplies of many popular products that flow over those docks. But not necessarily right away. Businesses have been nervously watching the 12:01 am Tuesday strike deadline approaching with little sign of progress toward a deal to avoid a strike of tens of thousands longshore workers. Many have been doing what they can to prepare for the shutdown – but there are limits. It doesn’t make economic – or logistical – sense to ship many of the goods that come into East Coast ports by alternative ports of entry – or by plane. That means America could see some shortages of chocolate, alcohol, popular fruit, including bananas and cherries, and even certain cars if the strike lasts a long time. That could mean higher prices for the goods that are available. First the good news: Your holiday shopping might not be affected as much as you might fear. Typically 70% of goods that retailers stock up for the holidays is already shipped through the ports by this time of year. And because of the strike threat, that percentage is much greater this time. “Typical the peak shipping season runs from July through early November. They certainly moved up their timing this year, to start in late May or early June,” Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and custom policy for the National Retail Federation, told CNN.