QUICKLINKS

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

🥑SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 43, 2024 - The industry experienced a 13.93% increase in production on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 506,197 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 70,000 more tray equivalents) on Week 42, 2024 production. It is interesting to note that of this total approximately 68k tray equivalents were in the form of bulks/processing fruit; 36K were exported which left just over 402K for the domestic market.

Production across the country saw WA/NT lead in production - accounting for 51.81% of the total volume, followed by NZ with a growing volume accounting for 25.27%, then Central NSW accounting for 15.94%, Tristate with 5.77% and finally Southern Queensland accounting for 1.21% of the total production for the week. This week we say thank you to our SE Qld grower partner, Cherry Creek Estates, as their season comes to an end and a thank you to our Tristate regions grower partners, Barham Avocados and Murray Eden Avocados as their seasons also come to a close. Avonova is now in full swing with their WA hass harvest and packing programmes, the WA season is showing signs of being lighter in volume than first anticipated which may mean an earlier finish to the season but supplies will be solid through to Christmas.

· It is forecast that a total of some 502,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 44) nationally, with all of these being hass. Production for the next three week period thereafter, is expected to fall within the range of 450 to 468K tray equivalents per week. Pricing in the markets has remained steady on class one fruit, slight lift on premium trays, especially Australian grown - markets remain relatively tidy.

In terms of Avocado retailing in the major supermarkets in Qld this week we saw stable shelf prices as follows - Aldi’s Hass this week shelf tickets at $2.29 each; Coles Qld stores visited had Hass avos at $2.50ea, and Woolworths Qld with Hass at $2.50ea.

Supermarket confirmed AVOCADO pricing……

Quoted Market pricing….

RETAIL SNAPSHOTS OF AVOCADOS

Below: Coles Displays from Indooroopilly, Mt Ommaney and Carindale

Coles stores had both NZ Hass and Avocado Collective WA Hass in size 20-25 at $2.50ea. The majority of fruit had colour, some sun blemish noted. Australian fruit with packed on dates of 16th October - therefore fruit age was 14 days.
5 piece packs at $9.90ea and 1kg packs at $8.90ea. Organic at $3.80ea.

Below: Aldi Displays from Indooroopilly, Mt Ommaney and Carindale

NZ Hass from @ $2.29ea all Ct23/25.
1kg Avocado nets at $7.49ea and 5 piece packs at $7.99ea.

Below: Woolworths Displays from Indooroopilly, Mt Ommaney and Carindale

Mix of Australian and NZ Hass avos primarily in Ct20/23/25 on display were retailing at $2.50.
Odd Bunch 1kg packs at $8.90ea and 5 piece packs at $9.90ea.

BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

National Banana transport figures for week 43 were down by approximately 10% on the previous week with a total of 388,864 transported. Weather patterns in the major growing regions have seen a little more rain this week and temps are continuing to warm up, particularly in the day with humidity on the increase as well. Temperatures in the far north have seen early A.M. temperatures fall within a range of 17.0 - 24.3 C across all major growing regions; and day time temperatures ranging 29.0 - 33.5 C. Humidity levels are also on the rise. Rainfall in North Qld banana growing regions this week was as follows: Mareeba and Walkamin 0-1.8mm of rain; and Innisfail and Tully regions 13.6-29.6mm of rain this week.

Quality is a still varied on store shelves - visible on display are bat/bird marking; rub marking, and underripe fruit however bloom is slowly improving with each passing week.

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 $4.00- $4.50/kg in the stores visited.

RETAIL SNAPSHOT OF BANANAS

Below: Coles Indooroopilly, Mt Ommaney and Carindale

Cavendish were priced at $4.50/kg. Also at $4.50/kg were the kids packs.
Red Tips at $5.90/kg. Lady Fingers at $6.90/kg. Organic at $6.50/kg.
Most blooms were relatively good though a mix of duller fruit is present.

Below: Aldi Indooroopilly, Mt Ommaney and Carindale

Stores had Cavendish @ $3.99/kg. Most with good colour, some minimal marking. A little powder residue noted, and odd clusters with split peel.

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

Below: Woolworths Indooroopilly, Mt Ommaney and Carindale

Woolworths had Cavendish bananas priced at $4.00/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.
A few empty or low stock shelves represent lost sales opportunities.