QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 40 - A total of just 337,292 trays were harvested and transported last week which represents a 5% increase ( approx. 16,000 more trays) on Week 39, 2022 production. This week we saw WA climb to the top of the leader board in terms of production contributing 23% of the total volume; followed by Tristate at 22% and New Zealand at 22%; then Central NSW at 19% and South Qld at 13% of the overall total. The remaining 1% is made up of contributions from Tamborine, Sunshine Coast and Northern Rivers.

· It is forecast that a total of 366K trays will be despatched this week nationally. The Hass forecast for the next two to three weeks is for supplies to be strengthening with volumes of approximately 380K to 400K trays per week expected. The current four week average dispatch figures continues to fall below 400K at 325,545 trays.

Major supermarkets differed in the way they approached the avocado ticket price this week with offers on pricing for premium Hass ticketed at $1.69 to $2.00ea. Market pricing in Brisbane and Sydney has continued to firm, which is great news for growers, prices range $24-$32 with main sales $28-$32 ( the odd $34/tray fore real glamour fruit). In Victoria, the increased supply of quality WA fruit has seen pricing of $30-$34/tray for premium fruit; $26-$30 on other Australian grown hass. Prices for class one fruit have been falling within a range of $14 -$21/tray. There have been some class one and second bulks on the market this week with prices ranging $10-$24.

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 9-17.5C and daytimes warming up to 16-26C whilst rain has continued its presence this week with a total of 10-24mm across the region. Our Packing team are working tirelessly to ensure fruit quality is within specification each week - we are continuing to find a slightly higher presence of nodule damage with continued wet weather, with the more heavily marked pieces being removed from the packs to ensure fruit is in spec. This will be the final week of packing for this region. Our growers from SW NSW, more specifically in the region of Barham are also working hard to ensure specifications - supplies expected for another two weeks, dependent upon the weather. We are also please to announce that Avonova in WA are commencing their hass harvest late this week, just starting slowly.

Hass Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing. Fruit age ranged 8 to 30 days from packed date on tray labels that were visible, with NZ sourced fruit being 22 to 30 days. This week we saw New Zealand fruit as a component of the offering in all three of the major supermarkets in Brisbane.

In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld had NZ Hass selling this week at a ticket price of $1.69ea in store; Coles Qld had Australian and NZ Hass ticketed at $1.50 to $1.80ea depending upon store location, whilst Woolworths had both Central Qld grown Hass and NZ Hass selling at $1.70 to $2.00/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.

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Garden City, Redbank Plains and Toowoomba - Kearny Springs and Clifford Gardens

Coles stores had Hass avocados priced at $1.80ea. 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 ‘Tree 2 Me’.
5pks selling for $7.90ea and 1kg prepacks on special priced $5.90ea

Below: Aldi Displays from Garden City, Redbank Plains and Toowoomba - Kearny Springs

Hass in counts 23/25 loose @ $1.69 each.
Fruit age ranging 6 to 15 days.
5 piece Hass nets at $5.99ea and 1kg market packs at $5.79ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Garden City, Redbank Plains and Toowoomba - Kearny Springs and Clifford Gardens

Stores had Hass avocados at $2.00 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 $6.30ea and 5 piece packs at $5.90ea.

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

National transport figures for last week declined by 4% to 465,316 cartons (some 21,800 ctns less than last week). In this last week in the far north, early A.M. temperatures ranged 18.4 - 23 C across the growing regions - whilst day time temperatures were considerably warmer ranging 28 to 32C -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 except Mareeba, experienced falls across the week 15 to 43mm in the north. Cavendish banana bunch age is currently at 16 weeks with this expected to be back to 16-17 weeks by mid-October; as the weather continues to warm. We continue to see the presence of underpeel chill after previous winter growing periods of cold overnight and morning lows. We expect to see a lessening 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 $2.29 to $3.69/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 fruit of less bright appearance present in varying degrees. There was a presence of minor dry scar; speckle; small rub marks and sap staining.

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 $3.99/kg; whilst Woolies offered fruit at a super hot ticket price of $2.00 to $2.50/kg in stores frequented and Coles were offering fruit at $3.00/kg dependant upon location 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 Garden City, Redbank Plains and Toowoomba - Kearny Springs and Clifford Gardens Displays

Cavendish was priced at $3.00/kg and Kids packs at $3.00ea.
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 $5.50/kg. Red Tips at $5.50/kg.

Below: Aldi Garden City, Redbank Plains and Toowoomba - Kearny Springs Displays

Stores had Cavendish @ $3.99/kg- there was a presence of slightly green fruit, light skin marking and neck damage.
Lady Fingers were priced at $5.49/kg, these were of similar quality in each store, with about half of the stock being green.

Below: Woolworths Garden City, Redbank Plains and Toowoomba - Kearny Springs and Clifford Gardens Displays

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $2.00/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $2.00-3.00. 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/kg and Organic Clusters $6.00/kg