QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

🥑SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 28, 2024 - The industry saw a 5.44% increase on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 427,726 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 23,000 more tray equivalents) on Week 27, 2024 production. The national harvest included Hass variety supplying 423,242 tray equivalents along with 4,484 trays of assorted other varieties in this week’s reported figures. We should note that of this total volume some 129K tray equivalents were in the form of bulks for prepacking/processing and 53K tray equivalents were exported which left a little over 245K tray equivalents for the domestic market. The markets appear to have plentiful supplies of smaller fruit and as such the value on these lines is not as strong.

Production across the country saw Central Queensland resume the lead in production accounting for 57.66% of the total volume, North Queensland accounting for a further 33.80%, then a growing supply from Southern Queensland accounting for 4.64%, WA/NT with 1.84% and finally CNSW, TNR and Sunshine Coast with harvests accounting for 1.29%; 0.40% and 0.38% respectively.

· It is forecast that a total of some 451,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 29) nationally, all of which is expected to be hass. Production for the next three week period thereafter, is expected to fall within the range of 400 to 410K tray equivalents per week. North Qld and Central Queensland are expected to continue supplying the majority of available fruit through until early to mid August, even though supply has started to come from the other major growing regions: including Central NSW, Tristates and WA. It is worth noting, that our grower partners located in SE Qld and in Victoria/Tri-states growing regions have all been experiencing very cold overnight/early morning temps, some have had frosts for several mornings in a row and are seeing the a percentage of their crop suffering frost damage and slowing growth rates - the most recent fruit maturity test results from the southern regions are still a way from being ready for harvest with readings of 21 to 21.3% this week.

In terms of Avocado retail in the major supermarkets in SE Qld this week we saw shelf prices as follows - Aldi Avolution and Purpleskin supplied Hass this week with shelf tickets at $1.79 each; Coles Qld stores visited had Rock Ridge supplied Hass avos at $2.20ea, and Woolworths Qld with Purpleskin and APP (Howe Farming) supplied Hass at $2.00ea - $2.20ea depending upon store location. Independents in the same centres were found to be selling large class one fruit 2 for $5.00 and netted smaller avos in bundles of 5-8 for $3.99/bag.

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Carindale, Mt Ommaney and Mount Gravatt

Coles stores had Hass on display in size 20-25 at $2.20ea. Fruit with packed dates of 4th July therefore fruit age is 13 days from pack.
5 piece packs at $4.90ea and 1kg packs at $4.50ea.
Organic avos at $3.80ea.

Below: Aldi Displays from Carindale, Mt Ommaney and Mount Gravatt

Purpleskin and Avolution supplied Hass @ $1.79 each all Ct23/25. Packed dates of 4th to 8th July therefore fruit age is 9 to 13 days from pack.
1kg Avocado nets at $4.69ea and 5 piece packs at $4.79ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Carindale, Mt Ommaney and Mount Gravatt

Hass avos in Ct20/23/25 primarily from Purpleskins and APP - Howe Farms were retailing at $2.00ea. Packed dates of 3rd to 4th July meaning fruit age is 13 to 14 days from pack.
Odd Bunch 1kg packs at $4.50ea and 5 piece packs at $6.00ea.

Independents…. Avocados

Mt Ommaney loose large class one Hass 2/$5.00 and class one nets of 5-8 pieces for $3.99 ea

Mt Ommaney Independent 17-07-24 Avos.jpg

Mt Ommaney Independent Bulks 17-07-24.jpg

BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

Banana industry transport figures for fruit harvested in Week 28 indicate minimal change on Week 27 with a total of 371,916 cartons harvested nationally. The weather patterns for the last week in the far north have seen early A.M. temperatures fall within a range of 9.4 - 16.3 C across all major growing regions; and day time temperatures ranging 24.6 - 28.7 C. Most of the North Qld banana growing regions had very minimal rain this week with Mareeba and Walkamin experiencing falls of 0-0.2mm; whilst 0-0.4mms fell across Innisfail and Tully regions. With cool temperatures overnight/early morning, we will no doubt continue to see the impact on fruit bloom and also resulting in slower growth rates, pushing bunch age out.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish bananas has remained stable this week with pricing 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 $3.99/kg in the stores visited.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Carindale, Mt Ommaney and Mount Gravatt

Cavendish were priced at $3.99/4.00/kg and Kids packs were at $4.00ea.
Lady Fingers were priced at $7.90/kg, Red Tips at $5.50/kg.
Organic at $6.00/kg.

Below: Aldi Carindale, Mt Ommaney and Mount Gravatt

Stores had Cavendish @ $3.99/kg.

Havana Bananas back in some stores this week at $3.99/kg.

Below: Woolworths Carindale, Mt Ommaney and Mount Gravatt

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $4.00/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $2.50.
Lady fingers were priced at $8.00/kg, Red tips were at $5.50/kg and Organic Clusters at $6.00/kg.