QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

🥑SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 13, 2024 - The industry saw a 24.06% decrease on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 421,184 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 130,000 more tray equivalents) on Week 12, 2024 production. The national harvest included 293,227 Shepard tray equivalents along with WA Hass variety supplying 101,542 tray equivalents together with 26,415 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 68.20% of the total production volume this week, Western Australia accounting for a further 22.91%, then Central Queensland with supply accounting for 8.68% and other varietals from Tristate accounting for 0.12% and Central NSW with 0.09%.

· It is forecast that a total of some 523,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 14) nationally. This figure can be broken down by variety with the Shepard variety expected to represent some 372,000 tray equivalents whilst Hass will contribute approximately 95,000 of this total. Shepard harvest figures are expected to be increasing within a range of 322K to 385K over the next three weeks.

In terms of Avocado retail in the major supermarkets in Qld we saw shelf prices as follows - Aldi Shepard avocados this week returned to a shelf ticket of $1.49 each; Coles Qld had Shepard avocados ticketed at $1.50ea, whilst Woolworths, after leading the charge at $1.00 per piece last week, had a shelf ticket this week at $1.80ea.

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Garden City, Mt Ommaney and Fairfield

Coles stores had Shepards on display in size 20-25 at $1.50ea.
Two of the stores had Autumn Hass avocados also priced at $1.50ea.
5 piece packs at $5.50ea and 1kg packs at $5.00ea.
Fruit packed date 21st March to 25th March so fruit age 9-13 days old.

Below: Aldi Displays from Garden City, Mt Ommaney and Fairfield

Shepards @ $1.49 each all Ct23. Fruit with a pack date of 20th March meaning fruit age 14 days. Predominantly Greenskins fruit, good quality and colour this week.
1kg Avocado nets on special at $4.49ea and 5 piece packs also priced at $5.49ea.
Packed dates of 20 to 21st March so fruit age is 13 to 14 days.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Garden City, Mt Ommaney and Fairfield

Shepard avos in Ct25-28 primarily from Greenskins were retailing at $1.80ea. Packed date of 21st March meaning fruit was 13 days old.
Odd Bunch 1kg packs at $5.00ea and 5 piece packs at $5.50ea - both contained shepards.
Packed dates of 21st and 22nd March so fruit age is 12 - 13 days.

BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

Over the last week in the far north, early A.M. temperatures have ranged 18.6 - 22.9 C across all major growing regions and day time temperatures have remained warmer ranging 26.1 - 30.3 C. Whilst it continues to be warm, there has been a decrease in terms of rainfall across the north regions this week with falls of 37.3 - 70.8mm across Mareeba and Walkamin; and a slight increase in falls across Innisfail and Tully regions of 78.6mm - 111.8mm throughout the week.

The national cut last week was 356,251 cartons which was approximately 26,000 cartons less than the Week 12 cut. As per the last few weeks quality still remains affected by the recent weather conditions of the past few months with an increase in minor skin marking; speckle and sooty mould present.

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 Garden City, Mt Ommaney and Fairfield

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 but visible minor skin marking. Some clusters have a dull hue.

Below: Aldi Garden City, Mt Ommaney and Fairfield

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

Havana Bananas @ $4.99/kg this week.

Below: Woolworths Garden City, Mt Ommaney and Fairfield

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $4.00/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $2.50. Neat presentation in all stores visited.
Lady fingers were priced at $5.90/kg - fruit generally presented cleanly, Red tips were priced at $5.50/kg and Organic Clusters at $6.00/kg.