QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

🥑SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 31, 2024 - The industry saw a 0.47% decrease on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 434,631 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 2,000 less tray equivalents) on Week 30, 2024 production. Of the total quantity harvested approximately 60K trays were exported; some 126K tray equivalents were bulks or processing, leaving a little over 247K tray equivalents for the domestic market.

Production across the country saw Central Queensland lead the production table accounting for 52.54% of the total volume, North Queensland accounting for a further 20.86%, then a growing supply from Central NSW accounting for 11.60%, South Queensland with 9.06% and finally WA/NT, TNR and Sunshine Coast with harvests accounting for 2.72%; 1.99% and 0.47% respectively. Sadly the Rock Ridge Farming hass season is coming to an end with only 1-2 weeks remaining of our hass harvest, but our grower partners in SE Qld, Cherry Creek Estates, will be ramping up their harvest; followed then by our grower partners in the Barham/Cobram districts who are planning on commencing their harvests week commencing 19th August. Cherry Creek hass dry matter results have been consisting ranging in the 23.5-26%, whilst our Barham/Cobram growers latest test results were within a range of 23-25%.

· It is forecast that a total of some 366,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 32) nationally, with the majority of this being hass. Production for the next three week period thereafter, is expected to fall within the range of 295 to 350K tray equivalents per week. North Qld and Central Queensland are expected to continue supplying the majority of available fruit through until mid August, then our main supply will come from SE Qld followed by the other major growing regions of Victoria, Tri-states and then from October on from WA. Pricing in the markets this week saw main sales of $30-$32/tray for premium fruit, Melbourne selling at a high of up ot $34/trays on a couple of lines. Class one fruit was selling for $20-$23/tray depending upon the status of each market’s supply. Bulks have tidied somewhat and as such the pricing has lifted slightly.

In terms of Avocado retailing in the major supermarkets in Qld 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 $2.00ea, and Woolworths Qld with Hass at $2.00ea.

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Forest Lake and Carindale

Coles stores had Hass on display in size 23-25 at $2.00ea supplied by Rockridge; Cherry Creek; Costa, Simpson and Dorian.
5 piece packs at $6.50ea and 1kg packs at $5.50ea.

Below: Aldi Displays from Forest Lake and Carindale

Avolution supplied Hass @ $1.99 each all Ct23/25. Some packed 29th July so fruit age 9 days.
1kg Avocado nets at $3.99ea (Super Saver) and 5 piece packs at $5.49ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Forest Lake and Carindale

Hass avos in Ct20/23/25 were retailing at $2.00ea. Fruit supplied by Simpson & Avorama at Carindale and and Simpson at Forest Lake. Forest Lake store at time of visit had minimal stock on display, truck had just landed and staff were busy trying to fill the entire department - stock to be added to display was packed by Lava Valley (supplied by APP) looked good - 4th pic below.
Odd Bunch 1kg packs at $5.50ea and 5 piece packs at $6.00ea.

BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

National transport figures for Bananas in Week 31 were 372,518 which is an decrease of some 7,000 cartons on harvested volumes in Week 30, 2024. The forecast for Week 32 is 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 experienced last week in the far north have seen early A.M. temperatures fall within a range of 12.6 - 18.1 C across all major growing regions which is warmer than last week; and day time temperatures ranging 20.7 - 26.3 C. Whilst some North Qld banana growing regions had very minimal rainfall this week like Mareeba and Walkamin experiencing falls of 2.2mm each; heavier falls were experienced across Innisfail and Tully regions with 58.0 - 86.0mms each.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish bananas has remained stable this week with pricing as follows: Aldi’s banana ticket price at $4.29/kg; Woolies offered fruit at a ticket price of $4.50/kg; and Coles were offering fruit at $1.99 - 4.30/kg in the stores visited.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Forest Lake and Carindale

Cavendish were priced at $4.30/kg. Also at $4.30/kg were the kids packs.
Red Tips at $5.50/kg. Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg.
Most blooms with good colour, minimal bruising and neck injuries.

Below: Aldi Forest Lake and Carindale

Stores had Cavendish @ $4.29/kg. Some clusters found with split peel, bronzing developing.

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

Below: Woolworths Forest Lake and Carindale

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $4.50/kg, Lil Sana kids banded clusters at $3.50.
Red tips were at $5.50/kg and Organic Clusters at $6.50/kg. Ladyfingers were $8/kg - low to no stock levels.