QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

🥑SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 12, 2024 - The industry saw a 9.67% increase on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 554,651 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 53,000 more tray equivalents) on Week 11, 2024 production. The national harvest included 393,535 Shepard tray equivalents along with WA Hass variety supplying 126,011 tray equivalents together with 35,105 trays of assorted other varieties in this week’s reported figures.

North QLD has well and truly taken lead production with the Shepard variety accounting for 52.26% of the total production volume this week, Central QLD accounting for a further 25.36%, then Western Australia with supply accounting for 22.07% and other varietals from Central NSW accounting for 0.22% and Tristate with 0.09%.

· It is forecast that a total of some 471,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 13) nationally. This figure can be broken down by variety with the Shepard variety expected to represent some 324,000 tray equivalents whilst Hass will contribute approximately 103,000 of this total. Shepard harvest figures are expected to be increasing within a range of 334K to 381K over the next three weeks, whilst Hass harvest figures are forecast to be steadily declining from 103K this week down to 94K 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 $0.99 each, competitive to Woolworths’ special of $1.00 per piece; Coles Qld had Shepard avocados ticketed at $1.50ea initially but then matching competition at $1.00ea later in the week.

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Browns Plains and Loganholme

Coles stores had Shepards on display in size 20 at $1.50ea.
One store had Autumn avocados priced at $1.00ea but no stock.
5 piece packs at $5.50ea and 1kg packs at $5.00ea.
Fruit packed date 21st March so fruit age 6 days old.

Below: Aldi Displays from Browns Plains and Loganholme

Shepards @ $0.99 each all Ct23. Fruit with a pack date of 19th March meaning fruit age 8 days. Predominantly Greenskins fruit, good quality and colour this week.
1kg Avocado nets at $5.49ea and 5 piece packs also priced at $5.49ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Browns Plains and Loganholme

Shepard avos in Ct25-28 primarily from Greenskins and Howe Farming were on on special retailing at $1.00ea. Packed date of 13th March meaning fruit was 14 days old.
Odd Bunch 1kg packs at $5.00ea and 5 piece packs at $5.50ea - both contained shepards. Also available were Organic mini avocado 550g packs priced at $4.50ea.

BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

Over the last week in the far north, early A.M. temperatures have ranged 20.6 - 25.2 C across all major growing regions and day time temperatures have remained warmer ranging 25.9 - 32.0 C. Whilst it continues to be warm, there has been a significant increase in terms of rainfall across the north regions this week with falls of 124.6 - 149.4mm across Mareeba and Walkamin; and a slight decrease in falls across Innisfail and Tully regions of 67.7mm - 84.6mm throughout the week.

The national cut for last week was 381,837 cartons which was a slight decrease on Week 11 of almost 27,000 cartons. Still seeing the impact of the weather conditions over recent months with minor skin marking, a presence of varying degrees of speckle and some light sooty mould throughout retail displays.

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/kg; and Coles were offering fruit at $4.00/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 Browns Plains and Loganholme

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 this week.

Below: Aldi Browns Plains and Loganholme

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

No Lady Fingers or Havana Bananas this week.

Below: Woolworths Browns Plains and Loganholme

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.