QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

🥑SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 14, 2024 - The industry saw a 26.46% increase on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 572,747 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 150,000 more tray equivalents) on Week 13, 2024 production. The national harvest included 429,972 Shepard tray equivalents along with WA Hass variety supplying 91,125 tray equivalents together with 51,650 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 63.41% of the total production volume this week, Central Queensland accounting for a further 20.79%, then Western Australia with supply accounting for 15.58% and other varietals from Tristate accounting for 0.16% and Central NSW with 0.04%.

· It is forecast that a total of some 512,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 15) nationally. This figure can be broken down by variety with the Shepard variety expected to represent some 368,000 tray equivalents whilst Hass will contribute approximately 90,000 of this total. Shepard harvest figures are expected within a range of 203K to 332K over the next three weeks.

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

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Carindale, Cannon Hill and Fairfield

Coles stores had Shepards on display in size 23-25 at $1.50ea.
Stores had Autumn Hass avocados priced at $1.50ea.
5 piece packs at $5.50ea and 1kg packs at $5.00ea.
Fruit packed date 24th March to 26th March so fruit age 15-17 days old. A few body rots round on displays.

Below: Aldi Displays from Carindale, Cannon Hill and Fairfield

Shepards @ $1.49 each all Ct23-25. Fruit with a pack date of 27/28th March meaning fruit age 14 days. Predominantly Greenskins fruit, good quality and colour this week. Occasional piece found with rot, but fruit considerably firmer than other supermarket supply.
1kg Avocado nets on special at $5.49ea and 5 piece packs also priced at $5.49ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Carindale, Cannon Hill and Fairfield

Shepard avos in Ct20-25 primarily from Greenskins were retailing at $1.50ea. Packed date of 26/27th March meaning fruit was 14-15 days old.
Odd Bunch 1kg packs at $5.00ea and 5 piece packs at $5.00ea - both contained shepards.

BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

Transport figures are behind, Week 13 had 356,251 cartons sent around Australia. Over the last week in the far north, early A.M. temperatures have ranged 19.0 - 23.6 C across all major growing regions and day time temperatures have remained warmer ranging 28.2 - 31.9 C. There has been a significant decrease in terms of rainfall across the north regions this week with falls of 13.4 - 27.4mm across Mareeba and Walkamin; and also a decrease in falls across Innisfail and Tully regions of 2.0mm - 36.8mm throughout the week.

National banana harvest figures for last week were just shy of 330,000 cartons which was some 26,000 less than Week 13 harvest.

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 greatly which is indicative of the growing conditions in recent months but also handling practises within the supply chain.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Carindale, Cannon Hill 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.
Quality varied from store to stores this week- findings of neck damage; dull fruit; minor skin marking and a few wounds.

Below: Aldi Carindale, Cannon Hill and Fairfield

Stores had Cavendish @ $3.99/kg - some very dull clusters with significant browning and bruising.

Havana Bananas @ $3.99/kg this week.

Below: Woolworths Carindale, Cannon Hill and Fairfield

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $4.00/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $2.50. A few dull clusters, but generally speaking well presented, neat, well stocked, some iminro neck damage, a little sooty mould and odd rust thrip sighted.
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.