QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 26, 2023 - The industry saw a 12.83% increase on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 494,368 trays harvested and transported ( approx. 60,000 more trays) on Week 25, 2023 production. Hass variety supplying 469,562 trays harvested in addition to 24,806 trays of assorted other varieties also in this week’s reported figures, Central Qld is still in the lead for overall production at 52.35% of the total volume; North Qld contributing 29.15% of the volume followed by a combined effort of South QLD (7.43%), WA (4.03%), Central NSW(3.28%) and the balance coming from the Sunshine Coast/Tamborine an Northern Rivers (3.75%).

· It is forecast that a total of 394K trays will be despatched this week nationally. Hass harvest figures forecast for the next two to three weeks thereafter are expected to range between 360K and 390K per week, whilst total avocado production across this same period is expected to hit around 380K to 410K per week (including other varieties). The current four week average dispatch figure now sits at 423,982 trays. Whilst the market has come back a little in value as a result of the increased volume over the last two weeks, it is thought to hold steady for the next week or two at least. The majority of growers in far North Queensland have now finished their harvest with the last of the supply from this region expected to be finalised by late July; Central Qld is expected to finish sometime mid-late August. Depending upon how much fruit is to come from Central Qld, there may be a couple of lighter weeks in late August when we may see a percentage increase in value before the Tristates region really gets underway,

In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows - Aldi Qld had Hass ticketed at $1.49ea; Coles Qld had Hass ticketed at $1.50ea, and Woolworths had Hass also selling at $1.50/ea. There were no loose GMAX in any stores visited this week, however a couple of the Aldi stores had their GMAX 3 piece nets.

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

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Browns Plains, Indooroopilly and Sunnybank Hills

Coles stores had Hass Avocados at $1.50ea.
1kg I’m Perfect at $6.50ea and 5 piece packs at $6.50/pack. Organic variety at $3.80ea.
Fruit packed 20th to 23rd June, so fruit age ranges 12 to 15 days.
Overall good condition, some fruit with bruising and dry marks.

Below: Aldi Displays from Browns Plains, Indooroopilly and Sunnybank Hills

Purpleskin, Avolution; The Strand and Simpson Hass @ $1.49 each.
Fruit packed 13th to 23rd June so fruit age is 12 to 22 days.
5 piece packs priced at $6.49ea and 1kg packs at $5.99ea. GMAX 3pk at $5.99ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Browns Plains, Indooroopilly and Sunnybank Hills

Stores stocked Purpleskin Hass and Simpson Hass in counts 20/23, priced at $1.50ea.
1kg prepacks priced at $6.50ea. Organic variety at $3.30ea.
Fruit packed 23rd to 26th June so fruit age is 9 to 12 days.

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

Week 26 saw a national harvest figure decline slightly to just over 362,000 cartons there was little change in the retail landscape. Over the last week in the far north, early A.M. temperatures have ranged 12.5 - 22.1 C across all major growing regions - whilst day time temperatures were warmer ranging 20.5 to 29.8 C. There was a little more rain this week for Mareeba and Walkamin receiving 10.4mm and 18.0mm respectively; whilst Tully and Innisfail received considerably more than previous weeks, with 49.6 - 59.2mm across the week in each region. The weather bureau is forecasting cooler overnight temps/early morning which will contribute to a dulling of fruit bloom (especially smaller fruit). Production for the next four week period is not expected to increase significantly.

Cavendish presented this week with relatively good bloom, less green fruit and although still a presence of rub marks, with minor neck injuries and bruising, less than previous weeks.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland on bananas was uniform across the three chains as follows: Aldi’s banana ticket price at $3.99/kg; Woolies offered fruit at a competitive ticket price of $4.00/kg; and Coles were offering fruit also competitively at $4.00/kg.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Browns Plains, Indooroopilly and Sunnybank Hills

Cavendish were priced at $4.00/kg and Kids packs were at $4.00ea.
The majority of fruit had good bloom. Some clusters found with neck damage and skin rub marking.
Lady Fingers were priced at $7.90/kg, Red Tips at $5.50/kg. Organic price varied $6.00ea.

Below: Aldi Browns Plains, Indooroopilly and Sunnybank Hills

Stores had Cavendish @ $3.99/kg- generally decent bloom. A few neck injuries, light brusing and skin marking observed.

Lady Fingers priced at $5.99/kg.

Below: Woolworths Browns Plains, Indooroopilly and Sunnybank Hills

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $4.00/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $3.50.
Lady fingers were priced at $8.00/kg (one store without stock), Red tips were priced at $5.50/kg and Organic Clusters at $6.00/kg.