2022-Week 18
/QUICKLINKS
AVOCADO OVERVIEW
SUPPLY UPDATE
In a nutshell the national production figures for last week were as follows:
· Week 17 - 274,986 trays harvested and consigned this week which represents a significant 19% increase ( or some 44,474 more cartons) on Week 16 -2022 production – North Qld maintains the lead in production accounting for 63% of this; followed by Central Qld with 32%; and the final 5% is coming from a combination of WA ,South Qld, Tamborine and Central NSW.
· The average industry dispatch per week over the last four week period has been 307,277 trays.
· It is forecast that a total of 341K trays will be despatched this week nationally, with the last few weeks impacted by reduced harvestable days due to public holidays in North Qld we will finally be back to a full week, This week Shepards are forecast to make up approximately half of this total and Hass the balance. Hass volumes are expected to be close to 300K in week 18 and are forecast to be almost 350K trays per week through until the end of May.
Hass Avocado projections for the next few weeks according to industry figures supplied by Avocados Australia by week number with forecasts as follows: Week 17 W/E 29/4 - 341K; Week 18 W/E 6/5- 292K; Week 19 W/E 13/5 - 345K and Week 20 W/E 20/5 - 369K. Plenty of fruit is forecast, we just have to hope that the rain we have been experiencing in recent weeks, lessens or at very least the showers are later in the day, allowing the harvest to be undertaken in dry conditions..
All major supermarkets are selling premium Shepards’ at $0.99 to $1.80ea . Hass, new season NQ fruit, were found at Woolworths stores selling these at $1.50 per piece; whilst independents were selling larger class one NQ Hass for up to 2/$4.00 - depending upon variety/quality/size. Hass pricing has increased on last week, as the volume of shepards continue to reduce, with prices ranging between $20-$24/tray for premium and a range of $12 -$18/tray for class one. Shepard’s are only fetching a top of $10.00-$15.00/tray for premiums in the market; with class one Shepards’ back to $6-$9/tray and Bulks $3 to $12 depending upon grade and quality. Very few bulk Hass on the market currently.
The weather in North Qld for our avocado crop has seen daytime temperatures ranging 17.2 to 29C with light to moderate to rain since last weekend with accumulative weekly falls of 14-71mm - this has continued to impact harvesting with a number of days this week whereby there has been no picking, or only a light pick later in the day.
Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing. Pricing this week varied was once again a little more uniform across all major supermarkets in relation to Shepards, though there was a greater variance in Hass pricing and whether these were stocked as yet or not. Fruit age for Shepards age ranged 7 to 21 days; whilst new season Hass tended to be around 7-14 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 again this week at a hot ticket price of $0.99 to $1.19ea; Coles Qld had NQ Shepards ticketed at $1.30 ea; and Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays Shepards at $1.80ea and new season NQ Hass ticketed at $1.50ea, depending upon location. The fruit on shelves varied in condition with maturity ranging just yielding to soft (expecially amongst the hass).
RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS
Below: Coles Sunnybank Hills, Garden City and Fairfield Displays
In all of the three stores visited, Coles stores Shepards avocados priced at $1.30ea. Fruit was well presented - all 7-16 days old and just yielding to firm with respects to maturity. Growers seen this week were mainly Greenskins, Simpsons, Howe Farming and Purpleskins.
1kg I’m Perfect packs on special this week retailing for $3.80ea. Coles 5pks selling for $5.50ea.
Below: Aldi Sunnybank Hills, Garden City and Fairfield Displays
Simpson Farms and Greenskin fruit in counts 23/25 loose @ $0.99-$1.19 each.
Fruit age range is 7 to 16 days.
6 piece Shepard nets at $4.49 and 1kg packs at $4.49ea.
Below: Woolworths Sunnybank Hills, Garden City and Moorooka Displays
Stores had Purpleskin Hass avocados at $1.50-1.80 each and Greenskin Shepard avocados at $1.50 each. All avocados 9-14 days old - some fruit is yielding to gentle pressure.
5 piece packs at $5.50/ pack and 1kg packs at $5.00ea.
BANANA OVERVIEW
SUPPLY UPDATE
Last week total banana industry production was in the vicinity of 390K cartons. The weather forecast really needs to be “ warm with a more than a 50% chance of showers” and it would cover what has been happening in the north of Queensland. Mornings temperatures have been falling within a range of 17.2- to 23.4C; whilst day time temperatures have been similar to last week with a top of just under 30C -within a range of 23.5 to 29.3C across the week. In terms of rainfall, all major North Qld growing regions have been experiencing precipitation of light to moderate falls with increasing precipitation across latter part of the week. Both Tully and Innisfail regions received 11mm to 108mm accumulatively throughout the week. Walkamin and Mareeba experienced falls totalling 9mm to 14mm for the week. Cavendish banana bunch age is still in the vicinity of 15 weeks, with fruit quality generally good overall in our packshed though we continue to grade out some light scarring. Fruit bloom at this stage is still bright but as we are now in the autumnal season the weather will continue to cool and not only will we will see bunch age increase over the coming weeks and months but if field temperatures fall below 10C we may start to see a dulling of fruit in appearance.
Independent retailers were selling bananas at $1.99 to $3.99/kg this week. The markets all have moderate supplies of cavendish relative to demand with fruit selling at $15-$28 per carton, dependent upon quality and quantity each agent has.
The presentation of Cavendish presented reasonably well, in fact if making a generalised statement across all major banners there was considerable improvement with cleaner fruit with good bloom. There was still a presence of minor dry scar; minor neck damage; as well as bronzing; bruising; small rub marks and sap staining but less significant in comparison to the the preceding four week period. Colour was generally good; though notably a number of stores seemed to have a higher proportion of semi-colour fruit at all three stores visited this week.
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 $1.99/kg; whilst both Woolies and Coles offered fruit at $3.00-$3.50/kg depending upon location visited.
RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS
Below: Coles Sunnybank Hills, Garden City and Fairfield Displays
Cavendish was priced at $3.50/kg. Kids packs at $2.50ea.
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.
Below: Aldi Sunnybank Hills, Garden City and Fairfield Displays
Stores had Cavendish @ $1.99/kg- there was a common presence of some green fruit, light bruising/skin marking and neck damage.
Lady Fingers were priced at $5.99/kg.
Below: Woolworths Sunnybank Hills, Garden City and Moorooka Displays
Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $3.00/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $2.50. Displays were generally well presented and whilst again some minor neck damage.
Lady fingers were priced at $7.90/kg, Red tips were priced at $4.90/kg and Organic Clusters $4.90/kg
