QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

🥑SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 11, 2024 - The industry saw a 6.19% increase on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 501,012 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 30,000 more tray equivalents) on Week 10, 2024 production. The national harvest included 375,997 Shepard tray equivalents along with WA Hass variety supplying 106,602 tray equivalents together with 18,413 trays of assorted other varieties in this week’s reported figures. The total despatch this week of 501,012 tray equivalents saw approximately 129K in either bulk format/processing; 50K were exported which left just shy of 322K tray equivalents for the domestic market.

North QLD has well and truly taken lead production with the Shepard variety accounting for 59% of the total production volume this week, then Western Australia with Hass avocado supply accounting for 20.73%, Central QLD not far behind accounting for a further 19.69% (Shepard production), and other varietals from Central NSW accounting for 0.46% and Tristate with 0.13%.

· It is forecast that a total of some 523,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 12) nationally. This figure can be broken down by variety with the Shepard variety expected to represent some 374,000 tray equivalents whilst Hass will contribute approximately 122,000 of this total. Shepard harvest figures are expected to be increasing within a range of 373K to 415K over the next three weeks, whilst Hass harvest figures are forecast to be steadily declining from 122K this week down to 90K over the next three weeks.

In terms of Avocado retail in the major supermarkets in Qld we saw shelf prices as follows - Aldi Shepards this week with shelf tickets at $1.49 each; Coles Qld had Shepard avocados ticketed at $1.80ea, and Woolworths with Greenskin Shepards at $1.50ea.

Below: Independent at Mt Gravatt Central

Stocking large WA Hass (Delroy fruit) 2 for $6.00 or $3.49ea - mix of maturities on offer.
Stocking new season Shepard Avos 2 for $5.00 or $2.99ea, again large sizes on offer, fruit very firm.

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Carindale, Mt Gravatt and Cannon Hill

Coles stores had primarily Shepards on display in sizes 20-25 at $1.80ea. Quality generally was good across the board.
5 piece packs at $5.50ea and 1kg packs at $5.00ea.
Fruit packed dates ranging 29th Feb to 8th March so fruit age ranging 12 to 20 days.

Below: Aldi Displays from Carindale, Mt Gravatt and Cannon Hill

Shepards @ $1.49 each all Ct23/25. Fruit with pack dates of 6th to 7th March meaning fruit age 13 to 14 days. Predominantly Greenskins fruit, some pieces found with lenticel damage and rots forming.
1kg Avocado nets at $4.49ea on promo and featured in their weekly catalogue.
5 piece packs priced at $5.49ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Carindale, Mt Gravatt and Cannon Hill

Shepard avos in Ct23 primarily from Greenskins were retailing at $1.50ea. Packed dates of 5th and 6th March meaning fruit was 14 to 15 days old.
Odd Bunch 1kg packs at $6.00ea and 5 piece packs at $6.00ea - both contained shepards.

BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

Over the last week in the far north, early A.M. temperatures have ranged 17.5 - 24.5 C across all major growing regions and day time temperatures have remained warmer ranging 24.7 - 33.6 C. There has been a significant increase in terms of rainfall in most regions this week with falls of 65.4 - 69.7mm across Mareeba and Walkamin; and falls across Innisfail and Tully regions of 312.0mm - 316.0mm throughout the week, all of which will continue to impact fruit quality and shelf life.

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 $4.00-4.50/kg; and Coles were offering fruit at $4.00-4.50/kg in the stores visited. Banana quality in stores varied, most displays had good bloom, with a percentage of green or dull fruit also.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Carindale, Mt Gravatt and Cannon Hill

Cavendish were priced at $4.00-4.50/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 this week.

Below: Aldi Carindale, Mt Gravatt and Cannon Hill

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

Lady Fingers priced at $4.99/kg - green stock in stores this week.

Below: Woolworths Carindale, Mt Gravatt and Cannon Hill

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $4.00-4.50/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.