QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

In the last week, morning temperatures have been falling within a range of 16.6- to 21.7C; whilst day time temperatures have been similar to last week with a top of just under 28C -within a range of 24.7 to 27.4C across the week which for NQld is mild. In terms of rainfall, all major North Qld growing regions have been experiencing precipitation of light to moderate falls with increasing precipitation across latter part of the week. Both Tully and Innisfail regions received 104mm to 126mm accumulatively throughout the week. Walkamin and Mareeba experienced more sporadic light falls totalling 0.6mm to 2.1mm for the week. Cavendish banana bunch age is still in the vicinity of 15 weeks, with fruit quality generally good overall in our packshed though we continue to grade out some light scarring. Fruit bloom at this stage is still bright but as we are now in the autumnal season the weather will continue to cool and not only will we will see bunch age increase over the coming weeks and months but if field temperatures fall below 10C we may start to see a dulling of fruit in appearance.

Independent retailers were selling bananas at $3.29 to $3.99/kg this week. The markets all have moderate supplies of cavendish relative to demand with fruit selling at $16-$30 per carton, dependent upon quality and quantity each agent has.

The presentation of Cavendish presented reasonably well and fruit is exhibiting 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. Colour was generally good.

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 $3.49/kg; whilst both Woolies offered fruit at $3.50 to $3.90/kg and Coles offered fruit at $3.00 to $3.50/kg depending upon location of the stores visited.

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 20 - 487,639 trays harvested and consigned this week which represents a significant increase of 37% ( or some 130,000 or so extra cartons) on Week 19, 2022 production – North Qld maintains the lead in production accounting for 67% of this; followed by Central Qld with 29%; 2% from South Qld and the remaining 2% is made up of a contribution from Sunshine Coast, Central NSW and Northern Rivers/Tamborine.

· It is forecast that a total of 421K trays will be despatched this week nationally, with the last few weeks continuing to be impacted by reduced harvestable days due to inclement weather across North Qld. The Hass forecast for the next two weeks is for between 400-420K trays per week and then supply is forecast to lighten to approximately 360K trays/week by mid June. The current four week average dispatch as of this week is 381,415 trays.

All major supermarkets are selling premium Hass at $1.49 to $1.80ea . Hass pricing has steadied somewhat this week, with prices ranging between $24-$30/tray for premium and a range of $17 -$25/tray for class one. There continues to be very few bulk Hass on the market currently as what is available is being used for prepacking to service the supermarkets predominantly.

The weather in North Qld for our avocado crop has seen daytime temperatures ranging 16.6 to 27.8C with lighter, more sporadic rain in the last week which has been welcomed. Unfortunately as our fruit travels and time passes we are seeing the development of some nodule damage - despite the fact that every care has been taken to avoid picking fruit when wet and to treat the fruit with due care to minimise damage - a level of lenticel/nodule damage is present. We have our ripening partners assessing fruit to specification and raising a flag if the level exceeds permissible levels to enable us to either seek a temporary variance to spec or move fruit to the market floor depending upon the severity.

Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing though some of the new season hass had a presence of moderate presence of nodule damage relating to recent rain in the growing region. Pricing this week varied with Hass unit pricing differing by $0.20 to $0.30 per unit between retailers. Fruit age ranged 8 to 14 days.

In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows: Aldi Qld had Hass and Gmax avos selling this week at a ticket price of $1.49ea; Coles Qld had NQ Hass ticketed at $1.70 ea and Gmax selling at $1.90 - $2.20ea; whilst Woolworths Qld had Hass selling at $1.70 to $1.80/piece depending upon store location and Gmax selling at $2.50ea. The fruit on shelves varied in condition with maturity ranging just yielding to soft (especially amongst the hass, any piece with a dull hue and sun blemish tended to be quite soft).

AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

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

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

Bananas at Woolworths

Avocados at Woolworths

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI MT OMMANNEY

A full display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $3.49/kg. Fruit has good colour, with minimal scarring.
No Lady Fingers on display.

ALDI COOPAROO

A display of Cavendish were priced at $3.49/kg. approximately 20% of the display were semi-colour in condition - fruit was reasonably clean though some light neck creasing and small marks on skin found.
Lady Fingers at this store very clean, priced at $5.99ea.

ALDI FAIRFIELD

A full display of Cavendish priced at $3.49/kg.
Lady Fingers priced at $5.99/kg.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES MT OMMANNEY

Cavendish bananas displayed at $3.00/kg - fruit that was displayed had minor skin marking. Kid’s packs at $3.00ea.
Red Tips at $4.90/kg and Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg (full stock and minimally marked).

COLES COOPAROO

Cavendish displayed at $3.50/kg, slightly dull. Kid’s packs also at $3.50.
Red Tips at $4.90/kg and Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg.

COLES FAIRFIELD

Cavendish bananas, display priced at $3.00/kg - a percentage of the fruit was found to be full colour and spotting. Kid’s packs priced at $3.00ea.
Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg - minimal skin markings. Red Tips at $4.90/kg, these were quite marked.

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS MT OMMANNEY

Cavendish priced at $3.50/kg - display reasonably tidy, a few clusters with creased necks and some minor skin marking observed, small quantity of fruit in the eat later section. Kids packs at $2.50ea.
Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg and Red Tips at $4.90/kg. Organic Variety at $5.50/kg.

WOOLWORTHS COOPAROO

Cavendish bananas priced at $3.50/kg - a neatly presented display, but a section of the fruit was very long and exhibited signs of being chilled (dull and grey) - small rub, light scar and neck damage present. Kids packs at $2.50ea - a few clusters starting to spot.
Red Tips ticketed at $4.90/kg and Organic variety at $4.90/kg - all semi-colour condition.

WOOLWORTHS MOOROOKA

Display of Cavendish were priced at $3.90/kg. Display was predominantly clean. Kids packs at $2.50ea.
Lady Fingers priced at $7.90/kg, Red Tips at $4.90/kg and Organics at $5.50/kg.

AVOCADOS AT ALDI

ALDI MT OMMANNEY

No stock of any avocado variety at this store!

ALDI COOPAROO

Count 23 Hass supplied from DBM - Ferraro Farming Hass packed 13th May so fruit age is 12 days old - priced at $1.49 each.
5 piece packs at $4.99ea supplied by Simpson Farms and 1kg packs at $5.99ea.

ALDI FAIRFIELD

Ct 23Hass - Ferraro Faming supplied by DBM and GMAX Avocados supplied by Greenskins on display - priced at $1.49 each.
1kg packs at $5.99ea and 5 piece packs at $4.99ea.

AVOCADOS AT COLES

COLES MT OMMANEY

Hass Avocados supplied by various growers including Rock Ridge and Ferraro Farming were presented on a table top display and an end, ticketed at $1.70ea. GMAX Avos priced at $1.90ea.
Both prepacks at $6.50ea.

COLES COOPAROO

On offer Count 25-28 Hass, from Costa’s and Dorian, priced at $1.70ea. Presented on a table top display, fruit packed 9th May so fruit age was 16 days. Mix of maturity on offer, the majority were still quite firm. A few GMAX Ct18’s to be unpacked.

COLES FAIRFIELD

Two displays of loose Hass Avocados at this store in sizes 18 and 23’s - ticketed at $1.70ea - table top and first end opposite entry. Fruit grown by Ferraro Farming supplied by DBM - a light to moderate presence of nodule damage noted.

AVOCADOS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS MT OMMANEY

Purpleskin Hass and Simpson Farms Hass count 25’s, were ticketed at $1.70ea, displayed on an table top bin display just inside the entrance to the produce department with a spillover. Greenskin GMAX Ct 16 avos priced at $2.50ea, also displayed on a table top just inside the produce department. Most lines packed 17th May so fruit is 8 days fresh.
Organic Prepacks at $7.00ea.

WOOLWORTHS COOPAROO

Count 16 Hass Avocados for $1.80 each - this display was good. Fruit supplied by Purpleskins and Rock Ridge Farming packed on 13th May meaning an age of 12 days. Count 16 GMAX variety priced at $2.20ea packed 17th May so 8 days fresh.

WOOLWORTHS MOOROOKA

A display of Howe Farming and Rock Ridge Hass priced at $1.80. GMAX Avos in count 16’s priced at $2.50ea.
5 piece packs were priced at $7.00ea and 1kg packs were also priced at $7.00ea.