QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

HOT OFF THE PRESS... PRICING FOR PREPACKS JUST LIFTED FROM 6TH AUG 5PK SELLING FOR $50 AND 1KG SELLING FOR $48

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HOT OFF THE PRESS... PRICING FOR PREPACKS JUST LIFTED FROM 6TH AUG 5PK SELLING FOR $50 AND 1KG SELLING FOR $48 〰️

🥑SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 30, 2024 - The industry saw a 8.13% decrease on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 436,720 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 40,000 less tray equivalents) on Week 29, 2024 production.

Production across the country saw Central Queensland resume the lead in production accounting for 58.25% of the total volume, North Queensland accounting for a further 20.16%, then a growing supply from Central NSW accounting for 9.37%, South Queensland with 6.80% and finally WA/NT, TNR and Sunshine Coast with harvests accounting for 2.13%; 1.61% and 1.52% respectively. Whilst North Qld has had a share of the cold weather in the last few weeks, luckily Rock Ridge Farming only have 2-3 weeks remaining of our hass season… so we are looking to finishing on a high in regards to maintaining the quality of fruit, right to the very end.

Our grower partner, Cherry Creek Estates, located in the SE corner of the state has experienced a few light frosts which has impacted a few blocks, overall fruit quality is looking good with an average size of 23 expected - packing is underway! Whilst our grower partners located in and around Barham/Cobram have been hit with some icy weather, not just the bitter cold associated with low temperatures but several frosts have been experienced which has unfortunately caused a percentage of crop damage. Dry matter tests conducted on fruit from some of the 3 year old trees have been gradually improving week on week, with results a week ago reaching harvestable maturity of 23.2%. One of the farms in this region is looking to commence picking at the end of this week, whilst the others are holding off under later this month, before commencement.

We also took some time to visit a few of our growers in the west this week, with another trip planned for later this month. A number of growers confirmed how dry the weather has been; with many farms greatly in the need of rain - thankfully last week they received 40-50mm, but dams are still in need of more water for the season ahead. Fruit that we saw on trees is looking good, it is sizing nicely with reported dry matter results for younger trees already in the 24-25% dry matter range. If you are interested in BOM’s long term weather forecast, covering August to October, please highlight and click on the below U-Tube link:

https://youtu.be/GHakC1_zsQQ?list=PLbKuJrA7Vp7naJL31deES8QAV5E0q6U_H

· It is forecast that a total of some 403,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 31) 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 292 to 382K 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 slowly started to come from the other major growing regions: including Central NSW, Tri-states and WA. Domestic market pricing for hass seems to be holding with a top of $30/tray on premium 16’s and $30-$32 on premium 18-25’s; class one fruit seems to be selling at $18-$23/tray with a variation in price linked directly with quality and age of fruit. Supplies of smaller fruit for prepacking are starting to tidy up.

In terms of Avocado retail in the major supermarkets in Qld and WA this week we saw shelf prices as follows - Aldi’s Hass this week holding steady with shelf tickets at $1.99 each; Coles Qld stores visited had Hass avos at $2.20ea, and Woolworths Qld with Hass at $2.20ea.

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Mandurah Forum, WA and Sunnybank Hills Qld

Coles stores had Hass on display in size 20-25 at $2.20ea. Fruit with packed dates of 10th July therefore fruit age is 21 days from pack. In WA - fruit supplied Dorian Hass in Ct 23 whilst Qld - had fruit supplied by Purpleskin.
5 piece packs at $4.50-6.50ea and 1kg packs at $5.50ea.

Below: Aldi Displays from Mandurah, WA and Sunnybank Hills,Qld

Purpleskin and Avolution supplied Hass @ $1.99 each all Ct20/25. Packed dates of 11th to 16th July therefore fruit age is 8 to 13 days from pack.
1kg Avocado nets at $4.69ea and 5 piece packs at $5.49ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Mandurah Forum, WA and Sunnybank Hills Qld

Hass avos in Ct20/23/25 primarily from Purpleskins and Simpson Farms were retailing at $2.20ea.
Odd Bunch 1kg packs at $5.00ea and 5 piece packs at $4.90-5.00ea.

BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

National transport figures for Bananas in Week 30 were 380,000 which is an increase of some 2,500 cartons on harvested volumes in Week 29, 2024. The forecast for Week 31 was for a similar volume. Weather patterns, as you no doubt understand have a tremendous impact on production and during the winter months, this is very much the case. The weather experience for the last week in the far north have seen early A.M. temperatures fall within a range of 12.6 - 18.9 C across all major growing regions which is warmer than last week; and day time temperatures ranging 19.9 - 26.7 C. Most of the North Qld banana growing regions had very minimal rainfall this week with Mareeba and Walkamin experiencing falls of 0-1.2mm; whilst slightly more fell across Innisfail and Tully regions with 24.2mms each. With cool temperatures overnight/early morning, we will also experience a further slowing growth rates, with bunch age still out to 19-20 weeks.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland and WA for cavendish bananas has remained stable this week in two of the three maors with pricing as follows: Aldi’s banana ticket price at $3.99/kg; Woolies offered fruit at a ticket price of $4.50/kg; and Coles were offering fruit at $4.90/kg in the stores visited.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Mandurah Forum, WA and Sunnybank Hills,Qld

Cavendish were priced at $4.90/kg.
Red Tips at $5.50/kg.
Most blooms with good colour, minimal bruising and neck injuries.

Below: Aldi Mandurah, WA and Sunnybank Hills, Qld

Stores had Cavendish @ $3.99/kg. Mandurah display totally empty.

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

Below: Woolworths Mandurah Forum, WA and Sunnybank Hills, Qld

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $4.50/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $3.00-3.50.
Red tips were at $5.50-6.00/kg and Organic Clusters at $7.50/kg.