QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

The national banana cut last week was fairly stable with just under 361,000 cartons harvested. National production is expected to be within the range of 360-370K cartons next week. The weather in the past week has been milder with minimum temperatures ranging 18.0 - 24.3C and maximum day temps of 28.9 to 34.1C. Minimal rain in the last week though more is forecast late in the week particularly for the Innisfail and Tully regions.

Quality on shelf this week was again quite disappointing with dull, grey/bronzed fruit with various skin markings being a common finding particularly in Coles and Aldi stores - this is most likely as a result of recent weather conditions. Pleased to say however that there is less visible bat/bird marked fruit being seen on retail shelves.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish varied between the major supermarkets with Aldi offering fruit at $3.29/kg; Woolworths at $3.30 to $3.90/kg and Coles offering fruit at $3.50 to $3.90/kg dependent upon the store locality. As already stated, quality varied greatly with a number of lines having visible skin marking including neck damage, sap staining, rust thrip damage and rub marking.

BANANA SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Woolworths, Aldi and Coles Cavendish Displays

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

North Qld maintains the lead in production with their Shepard season accounting for 82% of the total production of some 278,000 last week; followed by Central Qld with 17%; with the remaining 1% coming from Central NSW. Pricing has continued its downward trend as volumes increase in the market place. Australian Shepard main sales for premium are in the range of $20 -$30/tray, odd $32/tray around. Pricing for class one fruit (main sales) is ranging $16 --$20 per tray; whilst the bulk market has been experiencing prices for premium in the range of $40 --$45/ctn and for class one and 2nd bulks $10 --$30/ctn.

North Qld Shepard avocados are forecast to be lighter next week with Easter late in the week with around 230,000 to 240,000 trays expected from the region. The forecast for the next two week period shows the tray volume starting to decline slightly with harvests within the range of 210,000 to 220,00 per week. Presentation in stores this week was again generally good with fruit having good shape and glossy skins.

Prepack formulations offer a great opportunity for both the retailer and the customer alike - offering real value and an opportunity to move greater volumes in a single purchase. All major supermarkets now have their 5 or 6 piece prepacks as well as their value 1kg nets filled with shepards.

In terms of Shepard retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld price was a competitive $1.99 per piece; Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays of Shepards ticketed at $2.20 ea whilst Coles in Qld had Shepards $2.00 each. Coles ran a late week special, running Friday to Monday with 3 for $5.00 in Qld and NSW stores to stimulate demand.

The humble Shepard has been copping some slack in the media this week, first there was an article in “Delicious” magazine that reported a few incorrect facts about the Shepard and then Brisbane radio station B105’s breakfast crew painted an unflattering picture of the qualities and flavour of the Shepard. Not happy with this, Rock Ridge sprang into action alerting Avocados Australia so that as an industry these two media outlets could be approached and the facts put straight and we also delivered a tray of beautiful Shepards to the radio station which gained an on-air apology from the team and a declaration about how good the Shepard avocado really is!

AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Woolworths Shepards, Aldi Shepards and Coles Shepards Avocados

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

Bananas at Woolworths

Avocados at Woolworths

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI MT OMMANEY

Cavendish Bananas were priced at $3.29/kg - a degree of minor skin marking as well as at least one-third of the fruit spotting as well as multiple dull clusters.
At least half the display of fruit was backward in colour development and ripeness.
Lady Fingers were priced at $5.99/kg and Lil Snackers packs were priced at $2.99/ 750g pack.

ALDI INDOOROOPILLY

Cavendish bananas at $3.29/kg - mixed condition with some clusters very dull, greying in colour, with neck injuries and skin marking prevalent.

ALDI FAIRFIELD

Had Cavendish bananas at $3.29/kg, 50-70% of fruit was quite backward; sizing of fruit varied greatly, again somewhat of a dull appearance with minor skin marking.
Lady Fingers were priced at $5.99/kg and Lil’ Snackers packs at $2.99/ 750g pack.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES MT OMMANNEY

Cavendish bananas were displayed at $3.50/kg, Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg and kids packs at $3.50/kg
All varieties had a presence of backward fruit and minor skin marking.

COLES INDOOROOPILLY

Cavendish bananas priced at $3.90/kg, marked fruit on display also having a dull/grey appearance, some clusters with wounds.
Kids banded clusters were priced at $3.90/kg
Lady Fingers - priced at $7.90/kg

COLES FAIRFIELD

Cavendish priced at $3.50/kg - a few clusters questionable being very dull or quite visibly marked.
This Coles store also had kids clusters priced at $3.50/kg and Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg - again some fruit very dull clusters and backward kids clusters.

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS MT OMMANNEY

Cavendish bananas priced at $3.30/kg. Good colour and generally good bloom (odd cluster will dull bloom), light skin marking.
Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg with good colour, Little Sana banded packs were priced at $3.30, red tips at $4.50/kg and organic variety at $4.90/kg, all fruit with minimal marking

WOOLWORTHS INDOOROOPILLY

Cavendish bananas at $3.30/kg - odd cluster with light bat marking

Ladyfingers at $7.50/kg - fairly clean fruit
Kids packs at $3.30, red tips at $4.50 and organic variety at $4.90

WOOLWORTHS MOOROOKA

Cavendish were priced at $3.90/kg, some with marking
Red tips were at $4.50, Lady Fingers at $7.90 half of the display was slightly backward but fruit appearance was generally clean (odd cluster with rust thrip marking) and kids packs at $3.90
Organic variety were also on display at this store for $4.90

AVOCADOS AT ALDI

ALDI MT OMMANNEY

Shepard Avos count 25’s from Howe Farming and Freshmax, stock presented in tray priced at $1.99
6 piece packs of Shepards were priced at $7.99
Fruit had slight marking but in general was well presented