2021-Week 15

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QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

North Qld maintains the lead in production with their Shepard season accounting for 75% of the total production of some 234,651 last week; followed by Central Qld with 24%; with the remaining 1% coming from Central NSW. Pricing has continued its stabilised somewhat in the market place. Australian Shepard main sales for premium are in the range of $20 -$30/tray, odd $32/tray around. Pricing for class one fruit (main sales) is ranging $16 --$20 per tray; whilst the bulk market has been experiencing prices for premium in the range of $40 --$45/ctn and for class one and 2nd bulks $10 --$30/ctn.

Shepard avocados are forecast to be lighter again next week with around 150,000 to 170,000 trays expected from growing regions. The forecast for the next two week period shows the tray volume continuing to decline and Hass volumes commencing and steadily increasing with around 200,000 trays expected by first week May. Remember to send us your dry matter test results before you commence harvesting too much fruit and make sure you submit a range of fruit sizing for testing - as even the small fruit used in prepacks has to meet the maturity requirements.

Some action in the prepack market this week with Woolworths having their 1kg Odd Bunch on special @$6.50/bag and 5 piece packs at $7.50 ea in Qld. All major chains still have shepards in their prepack formulations at this stage with a changeover to Hass expected early to mid May.

In terms of Shepard retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld price was a competitive $1.49 per piece; Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays of Shepards ticketed anywhere from $1.80/piece to $3.00 ea if price tickets can be believed; whilst Coles in Qld have continued to run fruit at $1.90ea or offer 3 for $5.00 on both Shepards and Maluma’s (Autumn Hass) to stimulate demand. Presentation in stores this week was generally pleasing.

SUPERMARKET & MARKET PRICING FOR NEXT WEEK  

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Above: Coles Carindale, Cannon Hill and Wynnum Displays

  • Coles stores had Count 25/28 Shepard avocado variety priced at $1.90 or multibuy 3 for $5.00

  • Stores had 5 piece packs at $8.90 and the 1kg I’m Perfect net were selling at $6.90/unit.

  • The Wynnum store had fruit with significant bruising and body rot

Above: Aldi Carindale, Cannon Hill and Wynnum Displays

  • Stores stocked NQ Shepards @ $1.49ea and 6 piece Shepard at $7.49. Fruit supplied by Greenskins count 23

  • All fruit was well stocked and of good quality with minimal bruising/damage - odd piece found with bruise/body rot.

Above: Woolworths Carindale, Cannon Hill and Wynnum Displays

  • All stores had Shepard avocados at $1.80ea- at Carindale and $2/3 at other stores - a degree of bruising and rots amongst bottom layers of stock.

  • 5 piece packs at $7.50/ pack and 1kg Odd Bunch on special for $6.50!

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

The national banana cut last week was fairly stable with just over 400,000 cartons harvested. National production is expected to be within the range of 380-410K cartons next week. The weather in the past week has been milder with minimum temperatures ranging 17.2 - 24.0C and maximum day temps of 28.1 to 32.9C. Minimal rain in the last week, though Walkamin did have 37mm for the week, though a more significant wet period is forecast for next week particularly for the Innisfail and Tully regions.

Quality on shelf this week whilst slightly improved, continues to be somewhat disappointing with dull, grey/bronzed fruit with various skin markings being a common finding particularly in Coles and Aldi stores - this is most likely as a result of recent weather conditions. Pleased to say however that there is less visible bat/bird marked fruit being seen on retail shelves. All chains had a percentage of semi-coloured or backward fruit on shelf this week.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish varied between the major supermarkets with Aldi offering fruit at $3.99/kg; Woolworths at $3.90/kg and Coles offering fruit at $3.30 to $4.50/kg dependent upon the store locality. As already stated, quality varied greatly with a number of lines having visible skin marking including neck damage, bat scratches, sap staining, rust thrip damage and rub marking.





RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Above: Coles Carindale, Cannon Hill and Wynnum Displays

  • Cavendish was priced at $3.30 - $4.50/kg, with Kids 750g packs also at $3.30

  • Lady Fingers were $7.90/kg across stores.

  • Quite a lot of stock was slightly backward, with scarring, rub marking and sap staining evident. Also some very long clusters exceeding 300mm in length.

Above: Aldi Carindale, Cannon Hill and Wynnum Displays

  • All stores had Cavendish @ $3.99/kg, again skin marking, rub and sap staining with a percentage of the fruit having a dull appearance. Fruit sizing also varied significantly.

  • Lil Snackers packs were priced at $3.49/kg

  • Lady Finger bananas were priced @ $5.99/kg

Above: Woolworths Carindale, Cannon Hill and Wynnum Displays

  • Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $3.90/kg and Lil Sana kids banded clusters at the same price - there was a degree of skin marking, little bat/bird damage, sooty mould and a fairly high percentage of backward fruit

  • Lady fingers were priced at $7.90/kg

  • Stores also stocked Red tip variety, ticketed at $5.00/kg and Organic variety at $4.90/kg