QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

🥑SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 9, 2024 - The industry saw a 1.53% increase on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 440,651 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 8,000 more tray equivalents) on Week 8, 2024 production. The harvest included Hass variety supplying 234,930 tray equivalents and 205,326 Shepard tray equivalents along with 395 trays of assorted other varieties in this week’s reported figures. Of the overall total, 87K tray equivalents were sent to processing; 65K tray equivalents were exported; leaving just over 289K tray equivalents for the domestic market.

Western Australia continues to lead production with hass at 52.36% of the total volume this week, then North QLD with fresh Shepard avocado supply accounting for 43.62%, with a few shepards also coming from Central QLD with 2.88%, and other varietals from Central NSW accounting for 0.91% and Tristate with 0.23%.

· It is forecast that a total of some almost 472,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 10) nationally. This figure can be broken into Hass which will be approximately 138,000 whilst the Shepard variety is expected to take the lead with 334,000 tray equivalents. Hass harvest figures forecast for the next two-three weeks thereafter are expected to steadily decline range between 115K down to 98k tray equivalents per week. Meanwhile, we are excited to see our Shepard volumes increasing with the next two to three week production from the North Qld region increasing from 334,000 up to 386,000 tray equivalents during this timeframe.

In terms of Avocado retail - this is the first week we see all three major supermarkets with Shepards on shelf and in prepack form. Pricing in Qld saw shelf prices as follows - Aldi Qld changed over to Shepards this week with shelf tickets at $1.49 each ; Coles Qld had Hass and Shepard ticketed at $1.50ea, and Woolworths were retailing dual lines also: Hass selling at $1.70ea and Greenskin Shepards at $1.50ea.

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Carindale, Loganholme and Garden City

Coles stores had primarily Shepards on display with the odd few trays of Hass Avocados still in stock in sizes 23/25 at $1.50ea. Greenskins and Costa Shepards found exhibiting some lenticel damage and body rots.
5 piece packs at $6.50ea and 1kg packs at $6.00ea. Organic at $3.90ea.

Below: Aldi Displays from Carindale, Loganholme and Garden City

Shepards @ $1.49 each all Ct23/25. Some stores with no loose stock on display at all. Shepards featured in this week’s catalogue “heralding the new season”.
1kg Avocado nets at $5.49ea.
5 piece packs priced at $5.49ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Carindale, Loganholme and Garden City

Stores stocked Count 18-20 WA Hass with packed dates of 19th to 21st Feb so fruit age was 14-16 days , were priced at $1.70ea. Whilst the Shepard avos in Ct23/25 from Greenskins were packed 15th to 20th Feb with fruit age of 15-20 days were retailing at $1.50ea. A few pieces were found to have shrivelled skins, with body rots forming.
Odd Bunch 1kg packs at $6.00ea and 5 piece packs at $6.50ea - both contained shepards. Organic Hass at $3.90ea.

BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

WE are still waiting on figures from ABGC for the total harvested and transported in Week 9. Over the last week in the far north, early A.M. temperatures have ranged 20.4 - 24.7 C across all major growing regions and day time temperatures have remained warmer ranging 28.6 - 32.6 C. There has finally been somewhat of a reprieve in terms of the rainfall with only 0.6 - 12.6mm across Mareeba and Walkamin; whilst moderate falls continued across the regions of Innisfail and Tully with 88.2 - 93.4mm.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish bananas this week was as follows: Aldi’s banana ticket price at $3.99/kg; Woolies offered fruit at a ticket price of $3.50/kg; and Coles were offering fruit at $4.00/kg. Banana quality in stores varied, most displays had good bloom and fruit was found to only have minimal bruising and light scarring.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Carindale, Loganholme and Garden City

Cavendish were priced at $4.00/kg and Kids packs were at $4.00ea.
Lady Fingers were priced at $5.90/kg, Red Tips at $5.50/kg. Organic at $6.00ea.
Generally good bloom, some odd clusters found to be dull. Some of the red tips displays were found to be spotting.
Posma ladyfingers found with “sooty mould”? blotchy marking.

Below: Aldi Carindale, Loganholme and Garden City

Stores had Cavendish @ $3.99/kg - generally good bloom, odd dull cluster.

Lady Fingers priced at $4.99/kg - no stock.

Below: Woolworths Carindale, Loganholme and Garden City

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $3.50 to $4.00/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $2.50.
Lady fingers were on special priced at $5.90/kg - fruit generally presented cleanly, Red tips were priced at $5.50/kg and Organic Clusters at $6.00/kg.