2022-Week -20
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AVOCADO OVERVIEW
SUPPLY UPDATE
In a nutshell the national production figures for last week were as follows:
· Week 19 - 357,081 trays harvested and consigned this week which represents a decrease of 12% ( or some 47,000 or so cartons) on Week 18 -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 remaining 1% is coming from a combination of South Qld and Northern Rivers/Tamborine.
· 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 inclement weather across North Qld. The Hass forecast for the next few weeks is for between 400-420K trays per week.. Whilst 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 either early/later in the day, allowing the harvest to be undertaken in dry conditions. The forecast however is for more of the same conditions.
All major supermarkets are selling premium Hass at $1.00 to $1.70ea . Hass pricing has continued to increase on last week, with prices ranging between $24-$32/tray for premium and a range of $17 -$25/tray for class one. There are very few bulk Hass on the market currently as what is available is being used for prepacking to service the supermarkets predominantly.
The weather in North Qld for our avocado crop has seen daytime temperatures ranging 15.7 to 29.5C with light to moderate to rain since last weekend with accumulative weekly falls of 32-75mm - 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. These continued wet conditions have also resulted in a presence of lenticel damage to fruit - every care is taken to avoid picking fruit when wet and to treat the fruit with due care to minimise damage.
Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing though some of the new season hass looked rather ordinary. Pricing this week varied with Hass unit pricing differing by $0.20 to $0.80 per unit between retailers. Fruit age ranged 7 to 16 days.
In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld had Hass and Gmax avos selling this week at a ticket price of $1.49ea; Coles Qld had NQ Hass ticketed at $1.00 to $1.70 ea depending upon store location and Gmax selling at $2.00ea; whilst Woolworths Qld had Hass selling at $1.50 to $1.80/piece depending upon store location and Gmax selling at $2.50ea, depending upon location. The fruit on shelves varied in condition with maturity ranging just yielding to soft (especially amongst the hass, any piece with a dull hue and sun blemish tended to be quite soft).
RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS
Below: Coles Carindale, Redbank Plains and Chermside Displays
In two of the three stores visited, Coles stores had Hass avocados priced at $1.70ea, one store had them, on special at $1.00ea and were also stocking Greenskins Gmax avos selling at $2.00 ea. 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 Gmax, Simpsons, Rock Ridge Farming, Costa Farms; Ferraro Farms and Purpleskin Hass.
Both 1kg I’m Perfect packs and 5pks selling for $6.50ea.
Below: Aldi Carindale, Redbank Plains and Chermside Displays
Hass and Greenskin Gmax fruit in counts 23/25 loose @ $1.49 each.
Fruit packed 5th to 12th May so fruit age ranging 7 to 16 days.
5 piece Hass nets at $4.99 and 1kg Shepard packs at $4.99ea.
Below: Woolworths Carindale, Goodna and Chermside Displays
Stores had Purpleskin Hass avocados at $1.50-1.80 each and Greenskin Gmax avocados at $1.70 each. All avocados 9-14 days old - some fruit is yielding to gentle pressure.
5 piece packs at $6.50ea and 1kg packs on special at $6.00ea.
BANANA OVERVIEW
SUPPLY UPDATE
As we know the weather has a significant impact on cropping. In the last week, morning temperatures have been falling within a range of 15.7- to 22.4C; whilst day time temperatures have been similar to last week with a top of just under 30C -within a range of 26.6 to 30.4C 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 72.8mm to 74.4mm accumulatively throughout the week. Walkamin and Mareeba experienced falls totalling 32m to 32.4mm 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 $2.99 to $3.99/kg this week. The markets all have moderate supplies of cavendish relative to demand with fruit selling at $16-$30 per carton, dependent upon quality and quantity each agent has.
The presentation of Cavendish presented reasonably well and fruit is exhibiting 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. Colour was generally good.
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 offered fruit at $3.90/kg and Coles offered fruit at $3.50/kg in the stores visited.
RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS
Below: Coles Carindale, Redbank Plains and Chermside Displays
Cavendish was priced at $3.50/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 injuries, rub and general scarring also found.
Lady Fingers were priced at $7.90/kg.
Below: Aldi Carindale, Redbank Plains and Chermside 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 Carindale, Goodna and Chermside Displays
Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $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 $5.50/kg
