QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

🥑SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 35, 2024 - The industry saw a massive 8.53% increase on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 427,771 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 30,000 more tray equivalents) on Week 34, 2024 production. It is worth noting that whilst this week’s harvest was a little stronger some 81K tray equivalents were in the form of bulks/processing fruit and almost 17K tray equivalents were exported - this left just shy of 330K tray equivalents for the domestic market.

Production across the country saw Central NSW take over lead production accounting for 26.17% of the total volume, Central QLD accounting for a further 18.80%, followed by WA/NT accounting for 16.55%, Tristate with 15.64% and finally Southern Queensland, North Queensland and NZ with harvests accounting for 14.07%; 5.05% and 2.09% respectively of the total production for the week. It is expected that the WA supply will continue to grow week on week with a number of farms starting to pack from next week.

· It is forecast that a total of some 393,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 36) nationally, with the majority of this obviously being hass - which means a similar quantity is expected for domestic supply to last week. Production for the next three week period thereafter, is expected to fall within the range of 365 to 385K tray equivalents per week meaning pressure will still be on supply and pricing is expected to further slightly strengthen or hold it’s current situation within the central market place.

In terms of Avocado retailing in the major supermarkets in Qld this week we saw shelf prices as follows - Aldi’s Hass this week shelf tickets at $2.19 each; Coles Qld stores visited had Hass avos at $2.50ea, and Woolworths Qld with Hass at $2.20ea - however Springwood Hass priced $2.90ea! Independent traders are either stocking larger premium/class one counts and retailing 2/$5 or 2/$7 depending upon size and quality or they are using for e.g. Ct 25 class one loose fruit and selling at $1.99ea depending upon their customer base. Independents are also making good use of a variety of bulk bags of varying sizes containing between 4 and 12 pieces.

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Garden City, Coomera and Helensvale

Coles stores had Hass on display in size 20-23 at $2.50ea. Some of the stores were light on stock.
5 piece packs at $7.50ea and 1kg packs at $6.90ea. Organic avocados at $3.80ea.

Below: Aldi Displays from Garden City, Coomera and Helensvale

Hass @ $2.19ea all Ct23/25. Fruit packed 25/27th August meaning fruit age from date of pack is 8-10 days.
1kg Avocado nets at $6.79ea and 5 piece packs at $7.29ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Garden City, Coomera and Helensvale

Hass avos in Ct20/23/25 were retailing at $2.20. Fruit packed 16th-26th August meaning fruit is 9-19 days old. First time we have found both WA Hass in WW Qld stores and also NZ Hass courtesy of the Darling Group (JH Leavy) - NZ stock was very firm and a presence of ridging was noted.
Odd Bunch 1kg packs at $6.90ea and 5 piece packs at $7.50ea.

BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

Banana national figures this week 35 harvest were up again by a further 27K cartons to a total of some 464,555 cartons. Weather patterns in the major growing regions have continued to warm! Temperatures in the far north have seen early A.M. temperatures fall within a range of 13.1 - 22.3 C across all major growing regions which is a touch warmer than last week; and day time temperatures ranging 26.6 - 29.3 C. Rainfall in North Qld banana growing regions this week were minimal yet again. Mareeba and Walkamin experienced falls of 0.2-0.3mm each; and decreased falls were experienced across Innisfail and Tully regions with recordings of 0mms.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish bananas has remained stable this week with pricing as follows: Aldi’s banana ticket price at $4.49/kg; Woolies offered fruit at a ticket price of $4.50/kg; and Coles were offering fruit at $3.99-4.50/kg in the stores visited.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Garden City, Coomera and Helensvale

Cavendish were priced at $4.50/kg. Also at $4.50/kg were the kids packs.
Red Tips at $5.50/kg. Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg. Organic at $6.50/kg.
Most blooms were relatively good though a mix of duller fruit is present. Skin marking appeared to be on the rise this week and included bruising, rub and split peel.

Below: Aldi Garden City, Coomera and Helensvale

Stores had Cavendish @ $4.49/kg. Most with good colour, some minimal marking.

Havana Bananas back in some stores this week at $3.99/kg - good colour mostly, some stores with green fruit.

Below: Woolworths Garden City, Coomera and Helensvale

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.