QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 30, 2023 - The industry saw a 17.76% decrease on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 357,139 trays harvested and transported ( approx. 70,000 less trays) on Week 29, 2023 production. Hass variety supplying 353,401 trays harvested in addition to 3,738 trays of assorted other varieties also in this week’s reported figures. North Qld has fundamentally finished despite still contributing 6.51% of this production. Central Qld is still in the lead with 33.47% of the total volume; South Qld has lifted this week contributing 20.37% of the volume followed by WA (15.48%), Central NSW (13.26%), and the balance coming from the a combination of Sunshine Coast/Tamborine and Northern Rivers (10.90%).

· It is forecast that a total of 330K trays will be despatched this week nationally. Hass harvest figures forecast for the next two to three weeks thereafter are expected to range between 370K and 410K per week. The current four week average dispatch figure now sits at 425,562 trays.

In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows - Aldi Qld continued to range Hass at $1.19ea; Coles Qld had Hass ticketed at $1.80ea, and Woolworths had Hass selling at $1.50-$1.80ea depending upon store location. There actually was a little confusion with Woolworths pricing as some stores still had their old signage up on the front of their A-frame displays and the new shelf ticket price mounted on the rear of the display.

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

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Garden City, Carindale and Coomera

Coles stores had Murray Bros, Simpsons and Avolution Hass Avocados at $1.80ea.
1kg I’m Perfect at $4.80ea and 5 piece packs at $5.00/pack.
Overall good condition, some fruit with bruising but overall good colour and presentation.
Organic variety of avocados also on display for $2.90ea.

Below: Aldi Displays from Garden City, Carindale and Coomera

The Strand and Simpson Hass @ $1.19 each, as Aldi Super Savers this week.
5 piece packs priced at $4.99ea and 1kg packs at $4.99ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Garden City, Carindale and Coomera

Stores stocked Purpleskin, Simpson and The Strand Hass in counts 16-20, on special, priced at $1.20-1.50ea.
5 piece prepacks at $6.00ea. 1kg prepacks priced at $5.00ea.

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

Week 30 saw the national harvest figure increase slightly to around 405,000 cartons from 399,000 so there was little change in the retail landscape. Over the last week in the far north, early A.M. temperatures have ranged 12.8 - 18.9 C across all major growing regions, whilst day time temperatures were warmer ranging 21.8 - 26.2 C. Not too much variance in rainfall this week for Mareeba and Walkamin receiving 0.8mm and 9.5mm respectively; but significant falls experienced and continuing in Innisfail and Tully have received considerably more rain with 92.8 - 136.8mm across the week! This not only negative impacts upon harvesting but also farm tasks such as fertilising; de-leafing; weeding etc.

Cavendish presented this week with relatively good bloom. Bloom appearing somewhat brighter this week, with less bruising than previous weeks.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland on bananas remained unchanged on last week and relatively 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 $4.00-4.50/kg depending on store location.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Garden City, Carindale and Coomera

Cavendish were priced at $4.00-4.50/kg and Kids packs were at $4.00-4.50ea.
The majority of fruit had good bloom. Some clusters green and with slight bruising.
Lady Fingers were priced at $8.00/kg, Red Tips at $5.50/kg. Organic variety priced at $6.00/kg.

Below: Aldi Garden City, Carindale and Coomera

Stores had Cavendish @ $3.99/kg- good bloom this week, an improvement on previous weeks. Some light brusing and skin marking observed.

Lady Fingers priced at $5.99/kg. This variety needed restocking in some stores.

Below: Woolworths Garden City, Carindale and Coomera

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, Red tips were priced at $5.50/kg and Organic Clusters at $6.00/kg.