2022-Week -21

/

QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

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

·    Week 20 - 487,639 trays harvested and consigned this week which represents a significant increase of 37% ( or some 130,000 or so extra cartons) on Week 19, 2022 production – North Qld maintains the lead in production accounting for 67% of this; followed by Central Qld with 29%; 2% from South Qld and the remaining 2% is made up of a contribution from Sunshine Coast, Central NSW and Northern Rivers/Tamborine.

·       It is forecast that a total of 421K trays will be despatched this week nationally, with the last few weeks continuing to be impacted by reduced harvestable days due to inclement weather across North Qld. The Hass forecast for the next two weeks is for between 400-420K trays per week and then supply is forecast to lighten to approximately 360K trays/week by mid June. The current four week average dispatch as of this week is 381,415 trays.

All major supermarkets are selling premium Hass  at $1.49 to $1.80ea .  Hass pricing has steadied somewhat this week, with prices ranging between $24-$28/tray for premium and a range of $17 -$21/tray for class one.  There continues to be 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 16.6 to 27.8C with lighter, more sporadic rain in the last week which has been welcomed. Unfortunately as our fruit travels and time passes we are seeing the development of some nodule damage - despite the fact that every care has been taken to avoid picking fruit when wet and to treat the fruit with due care to minimise damage - a level of lenticel/nodule damage is present. We have our ripening partners assessing fruit to specification and raising a flag if the level exceeds permissible levels to enable us to either seek a temporary variance to spec or move fruit to the market floor depending upon the severity.

Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing though there is a light presence of nodule damage on a few lines and a couple of lines that have a dull, sun blemished brown hue. Pricing this week varied with Hass unit pricing differing by $0.20 to $0.30 per unit between major retailers.  Fruit age on display ranged 8 to 14 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 $1.70 ea and Gmax selling at $2.00 to $2.20ea; whilst Woolworths Qld had Hass selling at $1.70 to $1.80/piece depending upon store location and Gmax selling at $2.50ea.  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 Mt Ommaney, Cooparoo and Fairfield Displays

  • In two of the three stores visited, Coles stores had Hass avocados priced at $1.70ea and were also stocking Greenskins Gmax avos selling at $1.90 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 Mt Ommaney, Cooparoo and Fairfield Displays

  • Ferraro Farming Hass; Simpson Farms and Greenskin Gmax fruit in counts 23/25 loose @ $1.49 each.

  • Fruit age ranging 8 to 14 days.

  • 5 piece Hass nets at $4.99 and 1kg Shepard packs at $5.99ea - most of these being supplied by Simpson Farms.

 

Below: Woolworths Mt Ommaney, Cooparoo and Moorooka Displays

  • Stores had Purpleskin Hass avocados at $1.50-1.80 each and Greenskin Gmax avocados at $2.20-2.50 each. All avocados 8-14 days old - some fruit is yielding to gentle pressure.

  • Both Prepacks priced at $7.00ea.

 

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

In the last week, morning temperatures have been falling within a range of 16.6- to 21.7C; whilst day time temperatures have been similar to last week with a top of just under 28C -within a range of 24.7 to 27.4C across the week which for NQld is mild.  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 104mm to 126mm accumulatively throughout the week. Walkamin and Mareeba experienced more sporadic light falls totalling 0.6mm to 2.1mm 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 $3.29 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 $3.50- $3.90/kg and Coles offered fruit at $3.00-$3.50/kg in the stores visited depending upon location.








RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Mt Ommaney, Cooparoo and Fairfield Displays

  • Cavendish was priced at $3.00-3.50/kg. Kids packs at $3.00-3.50ea.

  • 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. Red Tips at $4.90/kg.

 

Below: Aldi Mt Ommaney; Cooparoo and Fairfield Displays

  • Stores had Cavendish @ $3.49/kg- there was a small presence of some green fruit, light bruising/skin marking and neck damage.

  • Lady Fingers were priced at $5.99/kg.

 

Below: Woolworths Mt Ommaney; Cooparoo and Moorooka 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. Once store found with grey, dull, oversized in terms of length fruit.

  • Lady fingers were priced at $7.90/kg, Red tips were priced at $4.90/kg and Organic Clusters $5.50/kg