QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

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

Week 9, 2023 - A total of just 363,495 trays were harvested and transported last week which represents a 6.57% increase ( approx.22,000 more trays) on Week 8, 2023 production. Of the total, approx 304,000 trays of this volume were new season Shepard avos and so it is of no surprise that we saw North Qld maintain the lead in production at 85.76% of the total volume; Central Qld have commenced their season contributing 6.46% of the volume followed by WA at 5.79% (contributing Hass). The balance of approx 2% came from Central NSW and Tristate (other varieties). The despatch from North Qld has been adversely affected by the continued wet weather this week and this not forecast to improve until across the weekend.

· It is forecast that a total of 363K trays will be despatched this week nationally. The Shepard forecast for the next two to three weeks is for supplies to be strengthening with volumes of approximately 300K to 360K trays per week expected, whilst total avocado production across this same period is expected to hit around 330-380K per week. The current four week average dispatch figure sits at 367,546 trays. The weather in far north Queensland from whence the bulk of primary production is currently being grown has been rather relentless in terms of rainfall - this obviously has an impact on our ability to harvest and puts more pressure on the packing crews to ensure that the fruit is handled with extra care as it tends to be more prone to lenticel damage the good news, is the weather is expected to clear by the weekend.

We saw a more uniform retail ticket price of avocados by major supermarkets this week with offers on pricing for premium Shepard in Qld ticketed at $1.99 to $2.00ea. Market pricing in the three eastern seaboard locations was steady with prices ranging $20-$28/tray(odd $30/tray for really good fruit) for premium fruit and $14-$22/tray for class one. WA Hass supply continues to trickle through with the last of supplies expected in southern markets this week. Market pricing for Shepard bulks, premium; class one and second bulks, have been ranging $6.00-$30.00/ctn.

Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing. Fruit age ranged 14 to 22 days from packed date on tray labels that were visible. A little nodule/lenticel damage present on some lines which is not surprising considering the amount of rain the far North has been experiencing. Found a presence of anthracnose and body rots, bruising amongst a few lines as can be seen in store images below.

In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows - Aldi Qld had NQ Shepard ticketed at $1.99ea; Coles Qld had new season Shepards ticketed at $2.00ea, and Woolworths also had NQ Shepards selling at $2.00/ea instores visited. The fruit on shelves varied in condition with maturity ranging just yielding to just about ready to eat. You will see in a couple of the store display shots that Greenskins have an additional sticker on the fruit that simply states “Eat Now” - this is a part of the Woolworths ripe programme - fruit has been ripened so that it is ready to eat for customers.

For this weeks sales pricing please see the info below….

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Garden City, Browns Plains and Loganholme

Coles stores had Shepard avocados in Count 23-25 priced at $2.00ea. Fruit was well presented with packed dates of 14th to 20th Feb meaning fruit was 13 to 20 days old. Growers included Greenskins; Howe Farming; Rock Ridge; Cadorin (supplied by Murray Bros). Majority of fruit was of good quality though there was a presence of bruising and odd pieces with evidence of shrivelling, rotting and anthracnose.
5 piece prepacks on special priced at $5.90ea and Ikg I’m Perfects at $6.90/pack - note the new packaging wrap that is now in use which is recyclable.

Below: Aldi Displays from Garden City, Browns Plains and Loganholme

Greenskin Shepard in counts 25 loose @ $1.99 each - some nodule damage and skin scarring present.
5 piece packs priced at $6.49ea and 1kg packs at $5.99ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Garden City, Browns Plains and Loganholme

Stores had Count 23 and 25 Greenskin Shepard avocados at $2.00 each. All avocados packed 22nd Feb so age is therefore 14 days old. Did find a few pieces with rots and bruising throughout the displays.
1kg Odd Bunch packs at $5.90ea and 5 piece packs at $7.50-7.90ea.

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

National transport figures for last week (Wk 9/2023) of some 357,255 cartons saw a further decline of 7.2% (some 27,500 ctns less than previous week). Over the last week in the far north, early A.M. temperatures have ranged 14.6 - 24.2 C across all major growing regions - whilst day time temperatures were warmer ranging 25.0 to 33.6C. In terms of rainfall, all major growing regions continue to be impacted by rainfall. Both Mareeba and Walkamin received in the vicinity of 85-89mm each across the week, whilst Tully and Innisfail have received 184 to 245mm across the week - the continuance of rain and cloudy skies (despite being warm) have an impact on harvesting and on fruit growth rates. Further rain is forecast for the next few days, there may be a reprive by the weekend.

Independent retailers were selling bananas at $2.79 to $3.99/kg this week. The markets have moderate supplies of cavendish relative to demand.

The presentation of Cavendish presented this week had good bright bloom with a light presence of minor dry scar; small rub marks; neck injury and sap staining.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland on bananas was varied this week with Aldi’s banana ticket price at what seems like a standard $3.49/kg - Browns Plains and Loganholme with very good displays; Woolies offered fruit at a ticket price of $4.00/kg at all three locations visited; whilst Coles were offering fruit at $2.99/kg to $3.50/kg dependent upon locations visited. Fruit was presented neatly on assigned displays, there was a presence of some minor rub and skin scarring as noted above.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Garden City, Browns Plains and Loganholme

Cavendish were priced at $2.99-3.50/kg depending upon store location and Kids packs were also at $3.50ea.

Quality across stores varied with some clusters having minor skin marking. Bloom was generally bright.
Lady Fingers were priced at $6.50/kg. Red Tips at $5.50/kg.

Below: Aldi Garden City, Browns Plains and Loganholme

Stores had Cavendish @ $3.49/kg, there was a presence of light skin marking, rub marking, neck injury- good bloom generally.
Lady Fingers were priced at $5.99/kg.

Below: Woolworths Garden City, Browns Plains and Loganholme

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $4.00/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $3.00. A light degree of marking but across the board the stores visited had neatly presented displays.
Lady fingers were on special priced at $6.00/kg, Red tips were priced at $5.00/kg and Organic Clusters at $5.50/kg.