Retail Market Week 12 - 2022

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QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

Last week the total banana industry production was in the vicinity of 470K cartons. The weather patterns of heat and sunshine have definitely continued but so has the rain in the far North this week.  Morning temperatures have continued to be a touch cooler across all NQ regions with early a.m. temps falling within a range of 18.6- to 23.8C; whilst day time temperatures have definitely been a little milder with a top of just 30.8C -within a range of 26.2 to 30.8C across the week.  In terms of rainfall, all major North Qld growing regions experienced varying falls with Mareeba recording a total fall of 20mm; Walkamin receiving 24mm; whilst both Innisfail and Tully had much heavier total falls of 262mm and 282mm respectively across the week.  Cavendish banana bunch age is still in the vicinity of 14-15 weeks, with fruit quality generally found to be good overall in our packshed.   As we are now in the autumnal season the weather will continue to gradually cool and we will see bunch age increase over the coming weeks and months.

Independent retailers were selling bananas at $0.99 to $2.29/kg this week.  The markets all have moderate supplies of cavendish relative to demand with fruit selling at $14-$24 per carton, dependent upon quality and quantity each agent has.

The presentation of Cavendish presented reasonably well though there has still been a lower level presence of heat stressed fruit on a number of shelves.   Fruit at the stores visited this week were found to have a presence of minor dry scar; minor neck damage; as well as bronzing; bruising; small rub marks and sap staining.  Colour was generally good; definitely more ready to eat fruit now, than eat later options.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland on bananas with little variance this week in comparison to the week prior and amongst the major supermarkets with Aldi’s banana ticket price at $1.99/kg; whilst both Woolies and Coles offered fruit at $2.00 to $2.50/kg at the stores visited.





BANANA SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Aldi; Coles and Woolworths Cavendish Displays

Coles Produce Feature in their March Magazine…. Avocados in a few tempting recipes….

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

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

·       Week 11 - 480,987 trays harvested and consigned this week which represents a  4% increase ( or some 18,642 more trays) on Week 10-2022 production – North Qld maintains the lead in production accounting for 61.2% of this; followed by WA with 25.8%; then Central Qld at 12.8% and Central NSW with the remaining 0.2%.

·       The average industry dispatch per week over the last four week period has been 453,487 trays.

·       It is forecast that a total of 427K trays will be despatched this week nationally with approximately 73% of these expected to be new season Shepards.

All major supermarkets are selling premium Shepards’  at $1.19 to $1.20ea .  Hass, new season NQ fruit, were only found at Woolworths stores selling these at $1.50 per piece, whilst independents were selling class one fruit for $2.00/piece or 2 or 3 large pieces for $6 depending upon variety/quality/size.   Hass pricing did come back a little with a top now of $20/tray and a range of $16 -$20/tray for premium.  Shepard’s are still only fetching  a top of $15.00/tray for premiums in the market; with class one Shepards’ back to $8-$10/tray.

The weather in North Qld for our Shepard crop has seen daytime temperatures ranging 19 to 30C with rain showers being scattered throughout the week.  There continues to be varying levels of rainfall across regions like Mareeba who received a total of 20mm across the week and yet other regions receiving 24mm-40mm - with this in mind,  we structure our harvesting programme on our farms to suit the prevailing weather conditions ie if it has been raining overnight, we don’t commence picking until mid-morning to allow the fruit time to dry off all in an effort to reduce the likelihood of lenticel damage; on days with heavier falls we do not pick at all.

Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing with pricing being a consistent offer across major supermarkets - the variation this week was noted in the sizing stocked by each banner.  All three major supermarkets are now stocking new season Shepards,  Fruit age for WA Hass was found to be in the vicinity of 16 days - whilst  Shepards age was 7 to 13 days.  A number of Woolworths stores were continuing to stock both Hass (WA) and new season Shepards; with half of the display devoted to each varietal. 

In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows:  Aldi Qld had new season Shepard avos selling with a ticket price of $1.19ea;  Coles Qld had Shepards ticketed at $1.20 ea; and Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays Shepards  at $1.20 and new season NQ Hass ticketed at $1.50ea.  The fruit on shelves varied in condition with maturity ranging just yielding to firm. 

 

 



AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Top Woolworths Shepard and Woolworths Hass'; Bottom left -Aldi Shepard and Right -Coles Shepard Avocados

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

 

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI LOGANHOLME

  • A very full display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $1.99/kg - a few dull clusters found throughout the display; also a presence of minor skin marking.

  • Lady Fingers at $5.99/kg, these were also semi colour

ALDI SPRINGWOOD

  • A neat, single layer display of Cavendish were priced at $1.99/kg. Display was predominantly just slightly backward - again a presence of minor skin marking noticed.

  • Lady Fingers in stock priced at $5.99/kg - some of the cleanest hands seen in weeks - Insta worthy you might say.

 

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES LOGANHOLME

  • Cavendish bananas displayed on the banana barge at the rear of the produce department with fruit selling at $2.50/kg - a definite eat now and eat later sections; a few very dull clusters observed scattered throughout this display; some minor skin marking. Kids banded clusters also ticketed at $2.50 ea.

  • Red Tips ticketed at $4.90/kg with rub and skin marking; and Lady Fingers with some bruising at $7.90/kg.

  • Organic variety also on offer at $4.00/kg

COLES SPRINGWOOD

  • Cavendish displayed at $2.50/kg. A better display in terms of fruit bloom being brighter though still a presence of some semi-colour fruit with a dull hue. Some light rub marking and minor scarring. Kid’s packs also at $2.50.

  • Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg and Red tips at $4.90/kg - but no display of these.

COLES INDOOROOPILLY

  • Cavendish bananas displayed at $2.00/kg. A low level presence of skin marking including neck injuries and major bruising observed.

  • Red tips in stock at $4.90/kg (again a couple of clusters with major bruising) and Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg - better bloom in this store.

  • Bananas featured on the ‘Specials’ board at the front of the store.

 

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS LOGANHOLME

  • Cavendish priced at $2.50/kg - fruit presented quite cleanly, odd cluster with scarring; definite eat now and eat later sections found on this display.

  • Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg were heavily marked, Organic at $5.50/kg and Red Tips at $3.90/kg - also a number of clusters with rub and skin marking.

WOOLWORTHS INDOOROOPILLY

  • Cavendish bananas priced at $3.00/kg - small rub, light scar and neck damage - bloom was good. Found some very long clusters on show.

  • Ladyfingers ticketed at $7.90/kg - generally very clean and presented in hands

INDEPENDENT STORE - LOGANHOLME

  • Cavendish were priced at $0.99/kg- well presented but all slightly green.

 

AVOCADOS AT ALDI

ALDI LOGANHOLME

  • Count 23 Greenskin Shepard and Simpson Farms Shepards priced at $1.19 each on special, packed 15th March (8 days old). Shepards featured on the front page of Aldi’s weekly catalogue with one of the Costa Farm growers.

  • 6 piece Market Buy packs priced at $5.49ea - now contain shepard as well.

ALDI SPRINGWOOD

  • Count 25 Shepards with supplies from Greenskin and Simpsons were on display and selling well - priced at $1.19 each, packed 11th March (12 days old). Some lenticel damage found on a few of the Greenskin pieces.

  • 6 piece Market Buy packs of shepards were ticketed at $5.49ea.

 

AVOCADOS AT COLES

COLES SPRINGWOOD

  • Count 23/25 Shepard Avocados supplied by various growers were presented on a table top display just inside the front store entry as well as on the third end, ticketed at $1.20ea. Supplies from Zebra Avos (Murray Bros); Ferraro Farms (from Freshmax); and Greenskins were observed. Fruit packed dates varied from 8th to 11th March with fruit age therefore ranging 12 to 15 days. Fruit maturity was found to be yielding to firm.

  • 5 piece packs at $5.50ea and 1kg I’mPerfect packs on special for $3.90ea.

COLES INDOOROOPILLY

  • On offer new season Count 23 Greenskin Shepards priced at $1.20ea displayed on a table top to the right inside store entry as well as on the end of the second row and Count 23 Hass at $1.20ea on a separate display.

  • 5 piece Shepard packs at $5.50ea.

COLES LOGANHOLME

  • Two end displays of loose Shepard Avocados at this store - ticketed at $1.20 ea. Fruit supplied by Howe Farming (Aust Produce Partners), Kureen Farming (Rockridge) and Dorian Consultancy (Majestic Fruit Co). Fruit was firm to yielding in terms of maturity. Packed dates ranged 11th to 16th March, so age was 7 to 12 days.

  • Good colour but quite firm. 5 piece shepard packs at $5.50ea and 1kg I’mPerfect nets on special for $3.90 ea. Quick weight check of the 1kg packs showed weights up to 1.25kg.

 

AVOCADOS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS CHATSWOOD

  • Greenskin Shepards packed 10th March (13 days old) and Leadwood Ct 20 Shepards (Aust Produce Partners) packed 10th March and Ct 25 Shepards from Nature’s Fruit Co packed 11th March were ticketed at $1.20 displayed on A frame displays just inside the entrance to the produce department. A little rub and light lenticel noted on a couple of pieces.

  • How to “select” a Shepard card present on front of display - with a notation that this avocado stays green longer.

WOOLWORTHS LOGANHOLME

  • Count 25 Avocados on special for $1.20 each, some with superficial markings.

  • 5 piece packs priced at $5.50ea, these also had fruit with decent skin marking.

WOOLWORTHS INDOOROOPILLY

  • A display of Count 16 Purpleskin Avocado Hass packed 15th March (8 days old and very firm) priced at $1.50 a piece. Count 20 Greenskin Shepards and Leadwood Shepards (Aust Prod Partners) packed 8th to 10th March (13-15 days old) at $1.20 per piece.

  • Both 5 piece packs and 1kg packs were priced at $5.50ea.

INDEPENDENT STORE - LOGANHOLME

  • Large Hass priced at 3 for $5.00 or $2.00ea. Shepards priced at 3 for $3.00 or $1.19ea.

  • Good selection of maturities on offer.

  • Shepard prepacks priced at $2.99ea - 5 to a bag.