QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

The weather in the past week has seen minimal rain fall across all North Qld growing regions - the heaviest falls ranging 6 to 20mm per day in the last three days particularly in Innisfail and Tully. The temperatures have continued to be milder with morning temperatures ranging 13 to 21.1C and daytime temperature ranges of 23 to 28.8C. With the cooling of the seasonal weather this slows the growth rate and pushes the average bunch age out, we are now harvesting at 16 weeks and expect this to push out to 17 weeks in another week or so. National production is expected to be within the region of 340 to 360,000 cartons this week.

Whilst there is still a presence of bat marking, it is significantly less and we are pleased to say that finally we believe we have turned a corner towards better quality fruit. The harvesting team have been proactively cutting fruit slightly thinner in order to prevent bronzing damage and as already stated average bunch age is now at 16 weeks. With the cooling of overnight and morning temperatures and slightly shorter days we will see production slow somewhat in the coming weeks. Our packing crew in the shed have been vigilant in continuing to grade out excessive bat scratching and visible bronzing defects to ensure fruit is within spec on arrival to our customers.

Quality on shelf this week was varied - some lines presented very well with minimal marking and good colour; whilst others were dull, with evidence of bronzing, sap staining, rub marking, neck damage and of course still a little bat/bird marking as you do doubt see in the photos included.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland is indicative of the shorter supply with cavendish retail tickets all above $4/kg. The offer varied between the major supermarkets with Aldi offering fruit at $4.49/kg; Woolworths at $4.00 to $4.90/kg and Coles offering fruit at $4.30 to $4.90/kg dependent upon the store locality.

BANANA SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Aldi; Coles and Woolworths Cavendish Displays

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

North Qld is not ready to let go of the lead in avocado production accounting for 63% of the total harvest of some 459,180 trays last week; followed by Central Qld with 36%; and the remaining 1% came from combined regions of South Qld and Sunshine Coast. This production figure represents a 15% increase on week prior and a 9% increase on what was forecast for this period. The volume of fruit in all markets has significantly increased and pricing is coming back quickly. Australian Hass are now truly in season with other available varietals in much lower volumes with hass harvest figures accounting for 89% of the avocados that were harvested this week. Avocado market sales for premium trays are in the range of $20 -$26/tray. Pricing for class one fruit (main sales) is ranging $14 --$18 per tray; whilst the bulk market has been experiencing prices for premium in the range of $40 --$50/ctn towards the end of this week and for class one and 2nd bulks $10 --$18/ctn.

The production of Hass this week is forecast to be in the vicinity of 390,000 trays and then is forecast to lift to 413K and then 406K per week in the following fortnight. Dry matter test results conducted in the last week are ranging 22.1 to 25.3% on medium to large fruit - we are continuing to pick accordingly only fruit from blocks that have returned dry matter results that exceed 23%.

Presentation in Qld stores this week was good with a greater focus on the Hass variety as the main display, but we have also seen the Greenskin Gmax avocado varietal in all three majors this week - displays seen of this variety to date do not have any consumer information pertaining to how this variety ripens or what it looks like as it ripens.

Prepack formulations continue for be a value offer and an opportunity to move greater volumes in a single purchase. Aldi were offering their 6 piece nets at $6.99 ea; Woolworths had the 5 pack on offer for $6.50 - $7.50 and the 1kg Odd Bunch ticketed at just $6 to $7/bag depending upon location; whilst Coles had both their 5 piece pack and 1kg I’m Perfect packs selling at $8.90ea.

In terms of Hass retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld had Greenskin Gmax Avos and Hass priced at a competitive $1.49 per single piece; Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays of Hass and Greenskin Gmax Avos ticketed at $1.50 ea to $2.00 ea depending upon store location; whilst Coles in Qld continued their offer of Greenskin Gmax Avos and Hass at $1.80 each or 3 for $5.00. Coles is running a late week special with radio and press advertising supporting with an offer of Hass 4 for $5.00 - this special is on offer in SE Qld, NSW and Victoria.

Avocados Australia have commenced their marketing campaign with the launch of “Our Green Gold” commercial bursting onto television screens now through until the end of June which will be supported by social media, digital advertising and public relations.

coles newspaper advertisment for late week hass avocado special 4/$5.00 - 21/05/21 in sydney

AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

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

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

Bananas at Woolworths

Avocados at Woolworths

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI SPRINGWOOD

Cavendish Bananas were priced at $4.49/kg - a degree of skin marking, neck damage and rust thrip present and a high proportion of the fruit was backward in condition
Lady Fingers were priced at $6.99/kg

ALDI GARDEN CITY

Cavendish were priced at $4.49 with skin marking including bat scratches, neck damage whilst condition of fruit included a percentage being dull in appearance.
Lady Fingers were presented quite averagely, priced at $6.99/kg

ALDI CARINDALE

Cavendish Bananas were priced at $4.49/kg - a degree of skin marking, neck damage and rust thrip present

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES SPRINGWOOD

Cavendish bananas were displayed at $4.90/kg and kids packs at $4.90/kg - stock positioned on a banana barge at the rear of the department opposite the meat refrigerated unit. This fruit was predominantly backward - and the cold air coming from the refrigerated units opposite will not help fruit condition. Kids banded clusters had a few skin marks and bat marks. Some neck damage, bronzing and sooty mould visible on cavendish.
Lady Fingers were also available at $7.90/kg- minimal fingers on display.
All varieties had a presence of minor skin marking and green fruit

COLES GARDEN CITY

Cavendish at this store were ticketed at $4.30/kg and kids packs were the same.
Lady Fingers were also available at $7.90/kg and Red tips at $5.00/kg
Most clusters of fruit had questionable condition, approximately 40% had either dull appearance, sooty mould, neck damage etc - the display presented poorly for this centre. Display would need to be refilled soon.

COLES CARINDALE

Cavendish were priced at $4.30/kg with kids packs priced the same - again a presence of dull fruit, neck damage and a little bat marking - sizing of clusters varied somewhat.
Cavendish had decent colour and bloom, however some were slightly green
Lady Fingers were on display at $7.90, these had good colour but also were decently marked

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS SPRINGWOOD

Cavendish bananas priced at $4.90/kg- a few clusters will dull bloom and minor skin scarring included bat marking, light sap staining.
Lady Fingers were at $7.90/kg a few clusters with rub marking and a little bat marking
Red tips were priced at $5.50/kg.

WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY

Cavendish at this store were priced at $4.00/kg
In the cavendish variety, one display had only a few backward clusters, a few with light scarring or sap staining but generally good colour/bloom
Lady Fingers were priced at $7.90/kg; whilst Lil Sana clusters at $4.50/kg and red tip variety $5.50/kg had fairly good colour

WOOLWORTHS CARINDALE

Cavendish were priced at $4.50/kg with stock supplied by Mackays Bananas packed 6th May therefore stock age is 13 days. Kids packs were selling at the same ticket price. Fruit presented well but perhaps with too high a percentage being a little backward.
Lady Fingers were clean skinned and had good colour with a ticket price of $7.90/kg and organic variety were priced at $5.90/kg

AVOCADOS AT ALDI