QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

Last week total banana industry production was again in the vicinity of 410K cartons. The weather patterns are showing signs of change with slightly cooler mornings and peaks under 31C in the far North this week. Morning temperatures have been falling within a range of 18.1- to 23.5C; whilst day time temperatures have been similar to last week with a top of just 30C -within a range of 24.9 to 31.1C across the week. In terms of rainfall, all major North Qld growing regions receiving moderate to heavy falls with increasing precipitation across last weekend and early this week. Both Innisfail and Tully regions received 271mm to 334mm accumulatively throughout the week. Walkamin and Mareeba experienced falls totalling 75mm to 86mm for the week. Cavendish banana bunch age is still in the vicinity of 15 weeks, with fruit quality generally found to be good overall in our packshed though we continue to grade out some light scarring. 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 $1.99 to $3.49/kg this week. The markets all have moderate supplies of cavendish relative to demand with fruit selling at $12-$26 per carton, dependent upon quality and quantity each agent has.

The presentation of Cavendish presented reasonably well, in fact if making a generalised statement across all major banners there was considerable improvement with cleaner fruit with good bloom. There was still a presence of minor dry scar; minor neck damage; as well as bronzing; bruising; small rub marks and sap staining but less significant in comparison to the the preceding four week period. Colour was generally good; though notably a number of stores seemed to have a higher proportion of semi-colour fruit at all three stores visited this week.

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-$2.50/kg depending upon location visited.

BANANA SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Aldi; Coles and Woolworths Cavendish Displays

**First harvest of the 2022 Hass season for Rock Ridge Farming....**

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

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

· Week 16 - 230,512 trays harvested and consigned this week which represents a significant 32% decrease ( or some 109,531 less cartons) on Week 15 -2022 production – North Qld maintains the lead in production accounting for 67% of this; followed by Central Qld with 29%; then WA at 3%; and the remaining 1% coming from South Qld.

· The average industry dispatch per week over the last four week period has been 344,201 trays.

· It is forecast that a total of 242K trays will be despatched this week nationally, lower volumes indicating that the Shepard season is nearing its end but also been impacted by reduced harvestable days due to Anzac day and Labour Day public holidays in North Qld, This week Shepards are forecast to make up appoximately half of this total and Hass the balance. Hass volumes are expected to double in week 18 and are forecast to be in the early 300,000’s trays per week through until the end of May.

Hass Avocado projections for the next few weeks according to industry figures supplied by Avocados Australia by week number with forecasts as follows: Week 17 W/E 29/4 - 129K; Week 18 W/E 6/5- 256K; Week 19 W/E 13/5 - 315K and Week 20 W/E 20/5 - 305K. By these industry projections, fruit supplies from Week Ending 13th May will be starting to reach numbers that will ensure a consistent supply of Hass.

All major supermarkets are selling premium Shepards’ at $0.99 to $1.40ea . Hass, new season NQ fruit, were found at Woolworths stores selling these at $1.80 per piece and Coles for $1.20 (where in stock), though there is a difference in size of fruit; whilst independents were selling larger class one NQ Shepards for up to 2/$4.00 - depending upon variety/quality/size. Hass pricing remained steady with a top now of $18/tray and a range of $14 -$18/tray for premium. Shepard’s are only fetching a top of $10.00-$13.00/tray for premiums in the market; with class one Shepards’ back to $6-$9/tray and Bulks $3 to $12 depending upon grade and quality.

The weather in North Qld for our avocado crop has seen daytime temperatures ranging 17.5 to 31C with moderate to heavy rain since last weekend with accumulative weekly falls of 75-200mm - this has significantly impacted harvesting with a number of days this week whereby there has been no picking, or only a light pick later in the day. Rock Ridge have harvested the last of our Shepards this week, though we may have a very light pick of small fruit for prepacks this coming Tuesday. We are also very excited to announce that we have commenced our Hass harvest with a light pick across Thursday/Friday - the first harvest is looking very nice (see image above), we are very conscious of the impact of the recent rainfall can have on fruit and are treating fruit very gently throughout the harvest/packing process and watching for the development of lenticel and nodule damage throughout our processes.

All of our farms have had Hass tested for dry matter percentages and I am very pleased to report that all growers have at least some of their farms that are ready to commence harvesting with results of 23.2 to 27.1% dry matter, there are a couple with results in the early to mid 22 percentiles that we will not harvest for another couple of weeks and have further dry matter testing before harvest commences on these blocks.

Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing. Pricing this week varied was once again a little more uniform across all major supermarkets in relation to Shepards, though there was a greater variance in Hass pricing and whether these were stocked as yet or not. Fruit age for Shepards age ranged 7 to 21 days; whilst new season Hass tended to be around 7-14 days old. Both Woolworths stores and Coles stores are stocking NQ Autumn varieties of Hass as well as the green skin Shepards; with half of the display devoted to each varietal in most cases. Woolworths offer the different varieties at different price points; whilst Coles are offering both varieties at the same price point.

In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld had Shepard avos selling again this week at a hot ticket price of $0.99ea; Coles Qld had both NQ Shepards and new season Autumn Hass ticketed at $1.20 ea; and Woolworths Qld had prominently positioned instore displays Shepards at $1.40ea and new season NQ Hass ticketed at $1.50-$1.80ea, depending upon location. The fruit on shelves varied in condition with maturity ranging just yielding to firm. There was a greater proportion of Hass yielding to gentle pressure in comparison with Shepards in general.

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 Woolworths

Avocados at Woolworths

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI KENMORE

A full display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $1.99/kg - Neck injury and scarring common. Fruit bloom was generally very good at this store, just the odd cluster that was quite dull.
Lady Fingers at $5.99/kg, in clusters for customers.

ALDI GARDEN CITY

A display of Cavendish were priced at $1.99/kg. approximately 40% of the display were semi-colour in condition - fruit was reasonably clean though some light neck creasing and small marks on skin found.
No Lady Fingers at this store.

ALDI MT GRAVATT

A full display of Cavendish priced at $1.99/kg. Most stock at this store was semi-colour in condition. Light skin marking could be found but generally fruit was presenting much better than in recent weeks in this chain.
Lady Fingers priced at $5.99/kg.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES KENMORE

Cavendish bananas displayed at $2.00/kg - a fairly well presented display; some minor skin marking but generally good bloom. Kid’s packs at $2.50ea.
Red Tips at $4.90/kg and Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg. Ladyfingers were quite thin and also a little backward in condition.

COLES GARDEN CITY

Cavendish displayed at $2.00/kg - a predominance of semi colour fruit on this display. Kid’s packs at $2.50.
Red tips at $4.90/kg, Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg - both of these lines presented green.

COLES MT GRAVATT

Cavendish bananas, display priced at $2.00/kg. Display was completely bare, waiting for stock refill. Kid’s packs priced at $2.50ea. Lost sales opportunity.
Red tips in stock at $4.90/kg and Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg - both little to no stock on display.

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS KENMORE

Cavendish priced at $2.00/kg - fruit presented quite cleanly, odd cluster with scarring; definite eat now and eat later sections found on this display. Kids packs at $2.50ea. Display was neat. A lot of fruit in cartons on the floor. Neck damage evident.
Lady Fingers at $6.90/kg and Red Tips at $4.90/kg. Organic Variety at $4.90/kg.

WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY

Cavendish bananas priced at $2.00/kg - a very neatly presented display through more semi condition fruit than ready to eat - small rub, light scar and neck damage present. Kids packs at $2.50ea.
Ladyfingers ticketed at $6.90/kg.
Red Tips priced at $4.90/kg and Organic variety at $4.90/kg.

WOOLWORTHS MT GRAVATT

Display of Cavendish in single layer, needing a refill, were priced at $2.00/kg. Display was predominantly clean.
Lady Fingers priced at $6.90/kg and Organics at $4.90/kg.

INDEPENDENT STORE - KENMORE

Display of Cavendish were priced at $3.49/kg. Display was on the greener side, but relatively clean.

AVOCADOS AT ALDI