2022-Week -23
/QUICKLINKS
AVOCADO OVERVIEW
SUPPLY UPDATE
In a nutshell the national production figures for last week were as follows:
· Week 22 - 446,364 trays harvested and consigned this week which represents a decrease of 3% ( or some 15,000 or so less cartons) on Week 21, 2022 production – North Qld maintains the lead in production accounting for 55% of this; followed by Central Qld with 38%; 4.3% from South Qld and the remaining 2.7% is made up of a contribution from Central NSW and Northern Rivers/Tamborine and Sunny coast.
· It is forecast that a total of 388K trays will be despatched this week nationally. The Hass forecast for the next two weeks is for between 374-382K trays per week and then supply is forecast to lighten to approximately 336K trays/week by early July. The current four week average dispatch as of this week is 438,273 trays.
All major supermarkets are selling premium Hass at $1.39 to $1.50ea . Hass pricing has come back somewhat this week, with prices ranging between $14-$20/tray (a top of $18 is probably a better indication) for premium and a range of $10 -$14/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 13.2 to 28C with a little more rain around in the last week with total falls of 11 to 40mm accumulatively in the main growing regions. Fruit quality from our packing shed has been good, still seeing some lenticel damage but we are grading to ensure this is not too heavy. We are still experiencing a significant proportion of our crop being count 16’s - we sure do know how to grow them big!
Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing though some of the new season hass had a presence of moderate lenticel/nodule damage relating to recent rain in the growing region. Fruit age ranged 7 to 15 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 $1.39ea; Coles Qld had NQ Hass ticketed at $1.50ea and Gmax selling at $2.00ea; whilst Woolworths Qld had Hass selling at $1.50-$1.70/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). By Friday evening, Woolworths had television advertising promoting avocados in store at $1.20ea for a weekend special in Queensland - they did this last week for NSW.
RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS
Below: Coles Garden City, Browns Plains and Carindale Displays
Coles stores had Hass avocados priced at $1.50ea and were also stocking Greenskins Gmax avos selling at $2.00 ea. Fruit was well presented - all 7-14 days old and just yielding to firm with respects to maturity. Growers seen this week were Rock Ridge Farming, Costa Farms; other stickered lines and Greenskins GMAX.
Both 1kg I’m Perfect packs and 5pks selling for $6.50ea. Organic Avos also available at one store, priced at $4.00ea.
Below: Aldi Garden City, Browns Plains and Carindale Displays
Dorian Consultancy Hass; Purpleskin Hass and Greenskin Gmax fruit in counts 23/25 loose @ $1.39 each.
Fruit age ranging 8 to 14 days.
5 piece Hass nets at $5.99 and 1kg marketpacks also at $5.99ea.
Below: Woolworths Garden City, Browns Plains and Carindale Displays
Stores had Purpleskin Hass avocados at $1.50 each and Greenskin Gmax avocados at $2.50 each. All avocados 8-14 days old - some fruit is yielding to gentle pressure.
Both Prepacks priced at $6.50ea.
BANANA OVERVIEW
SUPPLY UPDATE
National transport figures last week fell within the low 400K cartons. In the last week, morning temperatures have been noticeably cooler falling within a range of 13.2- to 21.8C; whilst day time temperatures have been similar to last week with a top of 28.9C -within a range of 25 to 28.9C across the week which for NQld is mild. In terms of rainfall, all major North Qld growing regions have been experiencing light rain in most growing regions. Both Tully and Innisfail regions received 41.2mm to 61.6mm accumulatively throughout the week. Mareeba and Walkamin experienced more sporadic falls totalling 11.2 TO 24.4mm for the week. Cavendish banana bunch age is still in the vicinity of 15-16 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 the weather continues to cool; 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 $3.29/kg this week. The markets all have moderate supplies of cavendish relative to demand with fruit selling at $0-$26 per carton, dependent upon quality and quantity each agent has. There was one agent in particular in the Brisbane market that was giving fruit away today which is a sign that they are in trouble, but the downside of this is that it degrades the market overall.
The presentation of Cavendish presented reasonably well and fruit is exhibiting good bloom - few odd clusters starting to show a presence of dull peel but believed not to be due to growing conditions at this stage. There was 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 has come back a little this week in comparison to the week prior and amongst the major supermarkets with Aldi’s banana ticket price at $2.99/kg; whilst both Woolies offered fruit at $2.50 to $3.00/kg and Coles offered fruit at $3.00 to $3.50/kg depending upon location of the stores visited.
RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS
Below: Coles Garden City, Browns Plains and Carindale 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. 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 Garden City, Browns Plains and Carindale Displays
Stores had Cavendish @ $2.99/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 Garden City, Browns Plains and Carindale Displays
Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $2.50- 3.00/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $2.50. Displays were generally well presented whilst again some minor neck damage and light skin marking - a few odd clusters found spotting.
Lady fingers were priced at $7.90/kg, Red tips were priced at $4.90/kg and Organic Clusters $5.50/kg
