Are Trader Joe’s 19-Cent Single Bananas Actually Cheap?

Trader Joe’s sells bananas at a fixed price of 19 cents each, a strategy that has contributed to their popularity. However, your actual savings depend on the weight of the bananas.

Banana weight is reliant on several factors including the type of banana, when it was picked, and its level of ripeness. In the U.S., the Cavendish variety is widely consumed.

It takes about three of those to get a pound of bananas. With the average cost of bananas in the U.S. being about 63 cents per pound, that makes it roughly 21 cents per banana.

Whole Foods Market offers bananas at 69 cents per pound, translating to approximately 23 cents each for three bananas, making Trader Joe’s the most economical option.