QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 36 - A total of 355,640 trays were harvested and transported last week which represents a 14% decrease ( approx. 58500 less trays) on Week 35, 2022 production – Central Qld maintained the lead in production accounting for 28% of this volume; followed by Central NSW in second place contributed 20% of this; Tristate 16%; WA and South Qld each contributed 12%; whilst New Zealand contributed 7% of the overall total. The remaining 5% is made up of contributions from North Qld, Tamborine, Sunshine Coast and Northern Rivers.

· It is forecast that a total of 344K trays will be despatched this week nationally. The Hass forecast for the next two to three weeks is for slightly lower quantities of approximately 310K to 370K trays per week. The current four week average dispatch as of this week is 421,290 trays.

Major supermarkets were again relatively close in monetary terms in their offering this week for avocado pricing with premium Hass ticketed at $1.49 to $1.70ea. There has been a further reduction in market pricing of hass in the last week, with some traders stock piling fruit (some of which has been self ripening and therefore needing to be cleared) so premium tray sales are tending to be in the mid twenties, with main sales $20-$22. Prices for class one fruit have been falling within a range of $10 -$16/tray. There have been some class one and second bulks on the market this week with prices ranging $10-$20.

We are continuing to supply Hass grown in the SE corner of Qld from the region of Blackbutt. Temperatures in this region have been a touch warmer this week with overnight/early morning temps ranging 5.6-13.4C and daytimes warming up to 18-24C whilst rain has continued its presence this week with a total of 12-22mm across the region. This continues to wreak havic with harvesting and transferring of fruit to the pack shed between wet periods. Our Packing team are working tirelessly to ensure fruit quality is within specification each week - we have been finding a slightly higher presence of nodule damage this week, with the more heavily marked pieces being removed from the packs to ensure fruit is in spec. Main fruit sizing continues to fall within Ct 20-23. All going well, supply from this district should see us through to mid-late October.

Our growers from SW NSW, more specifically in the region of Barham are also working hard to ensure fruit meets specification and they too have been held up by the rain this week, sadly there is more forecast for the week to follow - supplies expected for another four to five weeks, perhaps a week longer depending upon how much of hold up the rain causes.

Hass Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing. Fruit age ranged 12 to 15 days from packed date on tray labels that were visible. It should be noted we saw the first of the New Zealand fruit on Aldi shelves this week in Brisbane.

In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld had Hass selling this week at a ticket price of $1.49ea in store; Coles Qld had Central Qld, SE Qld and Victorian grown Hass from Giofrelle ticketed at $1.50ea depending upon store location, whilst Woolworths had Central Qld grown Hass selling at $1.70/piece depending upon store location and size of fruit. The fruit on shelves varied in condition with maturity ranging just yielding to just about ready to eat. Aldi seemed to have a much higher percentage of quite ripe fruit on shelf this week.

Note Main sales for premium fruit selling $20-$22 per tray this week

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Forest Lake; Fairfield and Browns Plains

Coles stores had Hass avocados priced at $1.50ea. Fruit was well presented - all 7-14 days old and just yielding to ready to eat and quite soft with respects to maturity. Main lines of fruit found were from Simpson Farms and Costa’s.
5pks selling for $4.90ea on special and 1kg prepacks at $5.90ea

Below: Aldi Displays Forest Lake; Fairfield and Browns Plains

Toulsens “Tree 2 Me” Hass supplied by Delroys was the main line found in counts 23/25 loose @ $1.49 each. But Freshmax/DBM were supplying the first of the NZ fruit seen in Aldi stores this week.
Fruit age ranging 6 to 15 days.
5 piece Hass nets and 1kg market packs at $5.99ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays Moorooka; Browns Plains and Forest Lake

Stores had Simpson Farms and Purple Skins Hass avocados at $1.70 each. All avocados 13-21 days old - some fruit is yielding to gentle pressure, some ready to eat and a lesser percentage still very firm.
1kg packs priced at $5.90-6.90ea and 5 piece packs at $7.50ea.

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

National transport figures for last week were of 432,200 cartons. Spring we believe is finally here as temperatures are rising and the sun is shining, in North Qld at least. In this last week in the far north, early A.M. temperatures ranged 13.8 - 21.4 C across the growing regions - whilst day time temperatures were considerably warmer ranging 26.3 to 31.3C -as the days gradually lengthen and the barometer starts to climb we will see fruit growth rates comparatively increase. In terms of rainfall, all major growing regions in the north received minimal falls with in the range of 0 to 2mm. Cavendish banana bunch age is currently at 17 weeks with this expected to be back to 16-17 weeks by later this month; as the weather continues to warm. We continue to see the presence of underpeel chill after previous weeks of cold overnight and morning lows. Sub-ten degree temperatures cause a temporary cessation of sap flow which results in the sub-epidermal layer greying/browning which reflects outward through the peel with the fruit having a dull appearance. Whilst this does impact the fresh appeal of the banana, it in no way negatively impacts the flavour or eating quality of the fruit - in fact, winter grown fruit is normally a little sweeter as it takes longer to grow. We expect to see the presence of underpeel chill and hence dull bloom through until at least the end of November, maybe even extending into December.

Independent retailers were selling bananas at $2.99 to $3.49/kg this week. The markets all have moderate supplies of cavendish relative to demand with fruit selling at $16-$32 per carton, dependent upon quality and quantity each agent has.

The presentation of Cavendish presented this week continue to reflect the impact of cold growth periods throughout winter with sub 10C temperatures experienced both on the Tablelands and along the coast with less bright and dull bloomed fruit present in varying degrees. There was a presence of minor dry scar; minor neck damage; small rub marks, speckle and sap staining. Colour varied - slightly backward in some stores; developing to a good yellow hue.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland on bananas was fairly uniform this week in comparison to the week prior with Aldi’s banana ticket price at $3.49/kg; whilst Woolies offered fruit at $3.50-$4.00/kg in stores frequented and Coles offered fruit at $3.50/kg in all three locations visited. Fruit was presented neatly on assigned displays, there was a presence of dull fruit to varying degrees, on show in all outlets again this week as can be expected for the next few months.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Displays

Cavendish was priced at $3.50/kg and Kids packs at $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 $5.50/kg.

Below: Aldi 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, these were of varying quality in each store.

Below: Woolworths Displays

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $3.50-4.00/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $3.00. Displays were generally well presented whilst again some minor neck damage and light skin marking .
Lady fingers were priced at $7.00/kg, Red tips were priced at $5.50-6.50/kg and Organic Clusters $6.50-7.00/kg