2022-Week 19
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AVOCADO OVERVIEW
SUPPLY UPDATE
In a nutshell the national production figures for last week were as follows:
· Week 18 - 357,081 trays harvested and consigned this week which represents a 12% decrease ( or some 47,000 less cartons) on Week 17 -2022 production – North Qld maintains the lead in production accounting for 72% of this; followed by Central Qld with 25%; 2% from Central NSW and the final 1% is coming from a combination of South Qld, Tamborine and Northern Rivers.
· It is forecast that a total of 459K trays will be despatched this week nationally, with the last few weeks impacted by reduced harvestable days due to public holidays and continued rain in North Qld it certainly has been a busy period with more than a few headaches. Whilst there are the last of the Shepard Avos are making their way through the system, Hass volumes are expected to be close to 420K in week 19 and are forecast to be approximately 400K trays per week through until the second week of June.
All major supermarkets are selling premium Shepards’ at $1.29 to $1.60ea . Hass, new season NQ fruit were selling $1.29 to $1.80 per piece; whilst independents were selling larger class one NQ Hass for up to 2/$6.00 - depending upon variety/quality/size. Hass pricing has increased on last week, as the volume of shepards continue to reduce, with prices ranging between $22-$26/tray for premium and a range of $16 -$22/tray for class one. Shepard’s are only fetching a top of $10.00-$16.00/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 29.3C with moderate to heavy rainfall since last week with accumulative weekly falls of 25-330mm - this has continued to impact harvesting with a number of days this week whereby picking has not been possible, or only a light pick later in the day and thereby reduced the output from the region for the week.
Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing though there were some signs of bruising. Fruit age for Shepards age ranged 7 to 21 days; whilst new season Hass tended to be around 7-14 days old.
In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld had Shepard and Hass avos selling at a ticket price of $1.29 to $1.49ea; Coles Qld had NQ Shepards and Hass ticketed at $1.70 ea; and Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays of Hass and Shepards at $1.60ea 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 dependent upon age of variety and age of fruit.
RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS
Below: Coles Loganholme, Garden City and Springwood Displays
In all of the three stores visited, Coles stores Shepards avocados priced at $1.70ea. Fruit was well presented - all 13-14 days old and just yielding to firm with respects to maturity. Growers seen this week were mainly Greenskins, Rock Ridge; Simpsons, Howe Farming and Purpleskins.
Both 1kg I’m Perfect packs and 5pks selling for $6.50ea.
Below: Aldi Loganholme, Garden City and Springwood Displays
Hass and Shepard fruit in counts 23/25 loose @ $1.29-$1.49 each.
Fruit age range is 7 to 15 days.
6 piece Shepard nets at $4.99 and 1kg packs at $4.99ea.
Below: Woolworths Loganholme, Garden City and Springwood Displays
Stores had Purpleskin Hass avocados at $1.50-1.80 each and Greenskin Shepard avocados at $1.60 each. All avocados 7-13 days old - some fruit is yielding to gentle pressure.
5 piece packs and 1kg packs at $6.50ea.
BANANA OVERVIEW
SUPPLY UPDATE
Last week total banana industry production was in the vicinity of 400K cartons. The weather forecast is for more rain and after the week we have just had this is probably the last thing we need. temperatures have been falling within a range of 17.2- to 23.5C; whilst day time temperatures have been similar to last week with a top of just under 30C -within a range of 25.3 to 29.5C across the week. In terms of rainfall, all major North Qld growing regions have been experiencing precipitation of moderate to heavy falls with increasing precipitation across latter part of the week. Both Innisfail and Tully regions received 299mm to 330mm accumulatively throughout the week. Walkamin and Mareeba experienced lighter falls totalling 21mm to 25mm 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 $3.49/kg; whilst both Woolies and Coles offered fruit at $3.00-$3.50/kg depending upon location visited.
RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS
Below: Coles Loganholme, Garden City and Springwood Displays
Cavendish was priced at $3.50-3.90/kg. Kids packs at $3.50ea.
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 Loganholme, Garden City and Springwood Displays
Stores had Cavendish @ $3.49/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 Loganholme, Garden City and Springwood Displays
Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $3.50-3.90/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
