QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 41, 2023 - The industry saw a 10.14% increase on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 458,271 trays harvested and transported ( 40,000 more trays) on Week 40, 2023 production. Hass variety supplying 456,487 trays harvested in addition to 1,784 trays of assorted other varieties also in this week’s reported figures. Western Australia leads production and is still on the increase with 65.41% of the total volume this week, then Tristate with 19.86%, South Qld with 6.02%, Central NSW with 4.93%; and lastly Tamborine and Northern Rivers, Sunshine Coast/North Qld/New Zealand with the remaining 3.79%.

· It is forecast that a total of 529K trays will be despatched this week nationally. Hass harvest figures forecast for the next two to three weeks thereafter are expected to range between 530K and 545K per week. The current four week average dispatch figure now sits at 421,965 trays. The market has held firm this week and in some cases lifted by a further $1/tray on some sizing which has been pleasing, however with the volumes forecast for the next few weeks, we will be watching closely to see how this impacts sale prices.

In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows - Aldi Qld with $0.99 -1.19ea on Hass; Coles Qld had Hass ticketed at $1.50ea, and Woolworths had Hass selling competitively also at $1.20ea.

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

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Garden City, Indooroopilly and Morningside

Coles stores had multiple growers Hass Avocados at $1.50ea.
1kg I’m Perfect at $4.50ea and 5 piece packs at $5.00/pack.
Overall good condition, some fruit with bruising but overall good colour and presentation.
Organic at $3.90ea.

Below: Aldi Displays from Garden City, Indooroopilly and Cannon Hill

Hass @ $0.99-1.19 each. Catalogue special for loose at $0.99ea with packed dates from 29th Sept meaning fruit is 19 days old.
1kg Avocado nets at $3.99ea.
5 piece packs priced at $4.49ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Garden City, Indooroopilly and Morningside

Stores stocked Count 20 and 25 Hass, priced at $1.20ea with Eat Later packed dates of 7th to 10th October so fruit is 8 to 11 days old and Eat Now packed dates of 26th Sept so fruit is up to 22 days old.
5 piece prepacks at $4.90ea. 1kg prepacks priced at $4.00ea.

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

The national harvest for last week was a healthy 456,791 cartons which equates to significant 24.4% increase on the week prior, or almost 90,000 additional cartons. Whilst not as sharp an increase as what was experienced back in 2021 for the same week, the current production pattern appears to be mimicking the latter half of 2021 … so we will watch with interest to see how it continues. Over the last week in the far north, early A.M. temperatures have ranged 13.3 - 20.5 C across all major growing regions and day time temperatures have remained warmer ranging 27.3 - 35.1 C. Minimal rain fell across the entire North Qld growing regions this week with Mareeba and Walkamin receiving 0-0.2mm; and falls across Innisfail and Tully significantly less this week with 0mm!

Cavendish this week were found to have relatively good bloom, some stores had fruit on display with a little minor marking including some bat damage; a few displays again had fruit with less colour developed. Ladyfinger quality on show was generally pleasing though there is competition amongst the supermarkets with Aldi selling at $5.99/kg; Woolies at $6-$7.00/kg and Coles with retail ticket pricing at $8.00/kg.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland on cavendish bananas was as follows: Aldi had their banana ticket price at $4.49/kg; Woolies offered fruit at a ticket price of $4.50/kg; and Coles were offering fruit at $4.90/kg.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Garden City, Indooroopilly and Morningside

Cavendish were priced at $4.90/kg and Kids packs were at $4.90ea.
Lady Fingers were priced at $8.00/kg, Red Tips at $5.50/kg. Organic at $6.00ea.

Below: Aldi Garden City, Indooroopilly and Cannon Hill

Stores had Cavendish @ $4.49/kg.

Lady Fingers priced at $5.99/kg.

Below: Woolworths Garden City, Indooroopilly and Morningside

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $4.50/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $2.50.
Lady fingers were priced at $7.00/kg, Red tips were priced at $5.50/kg and Organic Clusters at $6.00/kg.