QUICKLINKS

Wishing you all a Happy Easter! 🥑

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

In a nutshell the national production figures for last week were as follows:

· Week 14 - 384,624 trays harvested and consigned this week which represents a 9% decrease ( or some 37,000 less cartons) on Week 13 -2022 production – North Qld maintains the lead in production accounting for 68% of this; followed by Central Qld with 24.5%; then WA at 5.5% and the remaining 2% coming from Sunshine Coast.

· The average industry dispatch per week over the last four week period has been 441,606 trays.

· It is forecast that a total of 325K trays will be despatched this week nationally, a little lighter with the impact of Easter public holidays,

All major supermarkets are selling premium Shepards’ at $1.19 to $1.30ea . Hass, new season NQ fruit, were found at Woolworths stores selling these at $1.50-$1.80 per piece and Coles for $1.20, though there is a difference in size of fruit; whilst independents were selling larger class one NQ Hass for $2.00/piece or 3 large pieces for $5 and loose Shepards at $0.99 cents each and a 4 piece prepack for $2.99 - depending upon variety/quality/size. Hass pricing remained steady with a top now of $18/tray and a range of $14 -$18/tray for premium. Shepard’s are only fetching a top of $10.00-$13.00/tray for premiums in the market; with class one Shepards’ back to $6-$9/tray and Bulks $7 to $15 depending upon grade and quality.

The weather in North Qld for our Shepard crop has seen daytime temperatures ranging 17.6 to 31.6C with dry conditions which is great for picking.

Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing with pricing being a consistent offer across major supermarkets - the variation this week was noted in the sizing stocked by each banner. Fruit age for Shepards age ranged 13 to 15 days; whilst new season Hass tended to be around 8 days old. Both Woolworths stores and Coles stores are stocking NQ Autumn varieties of Hass as well as the green skin Shepards; with half of the display devoted to each varietal in most cases. Woolworths offer the different varieties at different price points; whilst Coles are offering both varieties at the same price point.

In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld had Shepard avos selling with a ticket price of $1.19ea; Coles Qld had both NQ Shepards and new season Autumn Hass ticketed at $1.20 ea; and Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays Shepards at $1.30ea and new season NQ Hass ticketed at $1.50-$1.80ea, depending upon location. The fruit on shelves varied in condition with maturity ranging just yielding to firm. There was a greater proportion of Hass yielding to gentle pressure in comparison with Shepards in general.

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Garden City, Mt Gravatt East and Cooparoo Displays

In all of the three stores visited, Coles stores Shepards avocados priced at $1.20ea and Autumn Hass also priced at $1.20 a piece. Fruit was well presented - though there was a presence of lenticel/nodule damage and a little bruising in one store, all 14-19 days old and just yielding to firm with respects to maturity. Growers seen this week were mainly Greenskins, Simpsons, Howe Farming and Delais Orchards.
1kg Im Perfect packs on special this week retailing for $4.90ea. Coles 5pks selling for $3.90ea.

Below: Aldi Garden City, Mt Gravatt East and Cooparoo Displays

Simpson Farms and Greenskin fruit in counts 23/25 loose @ $1.19 each everywhere.
Packed on dates range 25th March through to 4th April, so fruit age range is 9 to 19 days.
6 piece Shepard nets at $4.49 and 1kg packs at $3.79ea! !kg pack on special this week and featured in the Aldi catalogue.

Below: Woolworths Garden City, Mt Gravatt East and Cooparoo Displays

Stores had Purpleskin Hass avocados at $1.50-1.80 each and Greenskin Shepard avocados at $1.30 each. All avocados 9-14 days old - some fruit is yielding to gentle pressure.
5 piece packs at $5.00/ pack and 1kg packs at $5.00ea.

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

Last week we saw the total banana industry production lift slightly to 406K cartons, which represented an increase of just over 17K cartons on the week prior. The weather patterns are showing signs of change with slightly cooler mornings and peaks under 32C in the far North this week. Morning temperatures have been be a touch cooler across all NQ regions with early a.m. temps falling within a range of 17.6- to 24.2C; whilst day time temperatures have been similar to last week with a top of just 31.6C -within a range of 29.5 to 31.6C across the week. In terms of rainfall, all major North Qld growing regions were again relatively dry with only the Tully region receiving 12.8mm and Innisfail receiving 21.4mm across the week. Cavendish banana bunch age is still in the vicinity of 14-15 weeks, with fruit quality generally found to be good overall in our packshed though we continue to grade out some light scarring. As we are now in the autumnal season the weather will continue to gradually cool and we will see bunch age increase over the coming weeks and months.

Independent retailers were selling bananas at $1.49 to $2.99/kg this week. The markets all have moderate supplies of cavendish relative to demand with fruit selling at $12-$22 per carton, dependent upon quality and quantity each agent has.

The presentation of Cavendish presented reasonably well. Fruit at the stores visited this week were found to have a presence of minor dry scar; minor neck damage; as well as bronzing; bruising; small rub marks and sap staining. Colour was generally good; definitely more ready to eat fruit now, than eat later options.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland on bananas with little variance this week in comparison to the week prior and amongst the major supermarkets with Aldi’s banana ticket price at $2.49/kg; whilst both Woolies and Coles offered fruit at $3.00-$3.50/kg depending upon location visited.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Garden City, Mt Gravatt East and Cooparoo Displays

Cavendish was priced at $3.00-3.50/kg. Kids packs also at $2.50-3.00ea.
Quality across stores was quite good though some clusters found with minor skin marking and still a noticeable presence of heat affected fruit. Both minor and major bruising; neck injuriues, rub and general scarring also found.
Lady Fingers were priced at $7.90/kg and Red Tips at $4.90/kg.
Organic Variety present in every store also, priced at $4.90/kg.

Below: Aldi Garden City, Mt Gravatt East and Cooparoo Displays

Stores had Cavendish @ $2.49/kg- there was a common presence of some light bruising/skin marking and neck damage. Two of the three stores visited had several clusters with heavy spotting. Also some very dull clusters on display.
Lady Fingers were priced at $5.99/kg.

Below: Woolworths Garden City, Mt Gravatt East and Cooparoo Displays

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $3.00-$3.50/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $2.50. Displays were generally well presented and whilst again some minor neck damage and the impact of heat on fruit can be seen.
Lady fingers were priced at $7.90/kg - some light rub, and just a little maturity bronzing found.
Red tips were priced at $4.90/kg.
Organic Clusters $4.50/kg