QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

Last week the total industry production was just shy of 453K cartons which is some 11,211 cartons less than the previous week. The weather patterns of heat, sunshine and plentiful rain have again been a constant this week in far north Queensland. Morning temperatures have continued to be rather balmy across all NQ regions with early a.m. temps falling within a range of 20 to 24.9C; whilst day time temperatures have been somewhat milder close to a top of 32C within a range of 28.5 to 32.2C. In terms of rainfall up to Wednesday all major North Qld growing regions received moderate falls with Tully receiving the most rain with some 137mm; Innisfail receiving 116mm; Walkamin receiving 12mm; and Mareeba with a total of 79mm falling across the week. Cavendish banana bunch age is now at 14-15 weeks, with fruit quality generally found to be good overall in the packshed. With the warm days coupled with the rainfall this will continue to promote hastened fruit growth so it is important for all farms to stay on top of girth measurements to ensure overall fruit length and girth is not exceeding specification.

Independent retailers were selling bananas at $2.99 to $3.49/kg this week. The markets all have moderate supplies of cavendish relative to demand with fruit selling at $14-$26 per carton, dependent upon quality and quantity each agent has.

Cavendish in general this week presented reasonably well. Again there was a presence of heat stress fruit on a number of shelves. With the extremes of heat in the various growing regions over the last month; depending farm location, elevation and the irrigation programme being followed etc some farms have a percentage of heat stressed plants which subsequently produce heat stressed bunches. To minimise the impact of heat stress on plants, Rockridge ensures irrigation programmes are adjusted and undertaken at suitable times of the day. Fruit at the stores visited this week were found to have a presence of low level minor dry scar; rust thrip damage; bronzing; bruising; small rub marks and sap staining. Colour was generally good with more plentiful supplies of fruit that was ready to eat.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland on bananas with little variance this week amongst the major supermarkets with Aldi’s banana ticket price at $3.49/kg; Woolies offered fruit at $3.50/kg and Coles also offered fruit at $3.50/kg.

BANANA SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Aldi; Coles and Woolworths Cavendish Displays

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

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

Week 7 - 517,807 trays harvested and consigned this week which represents a 5% increase ( or some 23,473 additional trays) on Week 6 2022 production - WA production accounted for 64% of this; NZ contributed 18% (again shipping delays have impacted this proportional supply); 15% from North Qld (new season Shepards equating to a little over 131K trays) and the remaining 3% came from Central NSW and Tristate.
The average industry dispatch per week over the last four week period has been 535,656 trays.
It is forecast that a total of 534K trays will be despatched this week nationally with approximately 32% of these being new season Shepards.

All major supermarkets are selling premium Hass at $1.19- $1.80 per piece, whilst independents were selling class one fruit for $1.50-$2.00/piece or 2 or 3 large pieces for $5 depending upon variety/quality/size. It should be noted that Woolworths stores visited were stocking Hass as well as Shepards which were selling at $1.50ea whilst larger Hass (both NZ and WA) were selling at $1.80ea. Sadly there were a number of Shepards seen in store with stings and developing body rots. Within the markets we are still seeing good volumes of Hass with pricing continuing to be in the range of $18 -$24/tray for premium fruit depending upon size and quality of each line; whereas premium NZ fruit is fetching $16-$20. Pricing for class one fruit has remained stable (main sales) is ranging $10 -$16per tray; whilst the bulk market has been experiencing prices for premium in the range of $8 to $16 (2nds) --$18-$28/ctn for premium bulks depending upon grade, quality and count size. The markets are receiving North Qld Shepards with some farms electing to commence spot picking their larger Shepards ; supplies on the market are of mixed quality this week with a presence of a couple of lines that are immature; there were also some lines with a number of stings with potential to develop rots. Demand for Shepards is slowly attracting attention, with a number of independents now stocking both Hass and Shepard alongside each other in their stores.

With the primary production state continuing to be Western Australian it is pertinent to consider the weather in this region. The weather in Manjimup has seen early somewhat milder morning minimum temps ranging 11.6 to 16.2C and daytime maximum temps of 20.4 to 35.4C. The available meteorological data for the Pemberton region shows milder early mornings temps of 11.2-13.7C; unfortunately there were no recordings for day time temperatures in this region this week though there was 1 mm of rain recorded since the previous Wednesday. Our hass supply from WA has seen the curtain drawn to a close for the WA season - not due to the cessation of fruit but rather an end to the availability of sufficient labour to pick the remaining fruit. The quality throughout the period has been excellent with just the last week or two marred by the presence of some nodule damage/lenticel which we believe to be attributable to the extreme heat. Our focus will now turn to our North Qld Shepard crop which promises to be a good season…. though Mother Nature is threatening with the forecast of some wet weather over the next couple of weeks which may slow the harvest.

Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing with pricing being one of the main variables in the major supermarkets offering based upon store location; sizing stocked and banner. The majority of stores this week were still stocking NZ Hass, with fruit age in all stores was found to be ranging 20 to 26 days. A number of Woolworths stores were found to be stocking both Hass (NZ and WA) and new season Shepards; with half of the display devoted to each varietal. At Carindale, the Shepards were positioned on the rear of the A Frame display - count 20’s selling for $1.50ea whilst the front display of Hass count 16/18’s were selling at $1.80ea. A number of the Greenskin Shepards had stings and there were also a number of body rots found throughout the display.

In terms of Hass retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld Hass avos selling with a ticket price of $1.19ea; Coles Qld had Hass ticketed at $1.30 ea; and Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays of Hass (large sizes) ticketed at $1.80 and Shepards at $1.50ea depending upon fruit size and store location. The fruit on shelves varied in condition with maturity ranging just yielding to firm.

Announcing the North Queensland Shepard Avocados season is here….

The North Queensland Shepard season is finally underway. All of our farms have had their fruit tested for dry matter composition with the goal for all results to be 21% or greater. We are pleased to confirm that a range of sizes were submitted and the results were found to be ranging 20.9% to 26.2%. This is very promising indeed and should present customers with an excellent eating experience. This is just want we want - a positive experience so that repeat purchases are encouraged. After a successful light first week to enable training of new staff and testing of all our systems, we will again undertake a light pick this week and ramp harvesting up from the following week.

Some of the region has been experiencing rainy periods over the last two-three weeks (ranging 12mm to 116mm) and unfortunately the forecast for the next couple of weeks is for more rain. We will of course be monitoring conditions and adjusting our harvest schedule accordingly, to avoid picking fruit in the rain in an effort to minimise lenticel damage.

AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

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

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

Bananas at Woolworths

Avocados at Woolworths

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI CARINDALE

Cavendish Bananas were priced at $3.49/kg - some marking on a few clusters - fruit colour was generally good.
Lady Fingers were priced at $5.99/kg - no stock.

ALDI TOOWOOMBA

A full display of Cavendish were priced at $3.49/kg with some clusters presenting with considerable marking - mix of bronzing and rub marking. Display was full, a small quantity of slightly backward fruit present.
No Lady Fingers in stock.

ALDI INDOOROOPILLY

Cavendish Bananas were priced at $3.49/kg with minimal marking a mix of ready to eat and some backward clusters. Minor skin marking and light neck creasing observed.
Lady Fingers were displayed at $5.99/kg - these had been clustered.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES CARINDALE

Cavendish bananas displayed on the banana barge with fruit selling at $3.50/kg, Kids packs (only four clusters present) were also priced at $3.50/kg.
Red Tips at $4.90/kg and Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg - very clean presentation.

COLES TOOWOOMBA

Cavendish displayed at $3.50/kg. Some light rub marking - a percentage of clusters with dull bloom.
Kids packs also at $3.50ea, slightly backward in colour, Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg some quite green and others with heavy rub, Red tips at $4.90 and Organic variety at $5.50/kg, these were very dull possibly refrigerated?

COLES INDOOROOPILLY

Cavendish bananas displayed at $3.50/kg with some slightly green - in fact majority of fruit on display was semi condition.
Red tips in stock at $4.90/kg and Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg - a few clusters with light bat scratching and light bronzing.
Kids banded clusters also ticketed at $3.50 - a few packs contained bananas the same size as the standard line.

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS CARINDALE

Cavendish were priced at $3.50/kg - fruit presented quite cleanly, odd cluster with scarring - a percentage of the display was quite dull, perhaps heat affected. Display was neat. Kids banded clusters selling at $2.50.
Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg and Red Tips at $4.50/kg.

WOOLWORTHS TOOWOOMBA

Cavendish bananas priced at $3.50/kg. The majority of fruit presented well and fairly free of marking - small rub, light scars - bloom was good. Howe Farming fruit packed on 8th Feb - so fruit age 15 days.
Ladyfingers ticketed at $7.90/kg; Kids packs $2.50ea and Red tips ticketed at $4.90/kg.

WOOLWORTHS INDOOROOPILLY

Cavendish bananas priced at $3.50/kg with good bloom and some with light marking - couple found with superficial development of crown mould. A neat display.
Lady Fingers priced at $7.90/kg (some clusters with rub and developing maturity bronzing) and Red tips at $4.90/kg.

INDEPENDENT STORE CARINDALE

Cavendish Bananas at $3.49/kg or packs at $2.99ea
Lady Fingers at $7.99/kg - note both loose and prepack option showing maturity bronzing and rub marking.

AVOCADOS AT ALDI