QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

National transport figures for last week was 387,606 cartons, some 13,000 less than the week prior. In the last week, morning temperatures have been noticeably cooler falling within a range of 9.2- to 20.5C; whilst day time temperatures have been similar to last week with a top of 25.5C -within a range of 19.8 to 25.5C across the week which for NQld is mild. In terms of rainfall, all major North Qld growing regions have had their first dry week in a long time. Cavendish banana bunch age is still in the vicinity of 15-16 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 the weather continues to cool; not only will we will see bunch age increase over the coming weeks but we may now start seeing a dulling/greying of fruit appearance. This is due to cold temperatures (usually under 10C for a few hours) causing a slowing or temporary cessation of sap flow which results in the sub-epidermal layer browning/greying which reflects outward through the peel, the result is fruit with dull bloom and in more extreme cases the fruit looks grey.

Independent retailers were selling bananas at $1.99 to $2.99/kg this week. The markets all have moderate supplies of cavendish relative to demand with fruit selling at $0-$26 per carton, dependent upon quality and quantity each agent has.

The presentation of Cavendish presented reasonably well and fruit generally exhibiting good bloom - few odd clusters starting to show a presence of dull peel but believed not to be due to growing conditions at this stage. There was 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 has come back a little this week in comparison to the week prior and amongst the major supermarkets with Aldi’s banana ticket price at $2.49/kg; whilst both Woolies offered fruit at $2.50 to $3.00/kg and Coles offered fruit at $2.00 to $3.00/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 23 - 402,307 trays harvested and consigned this week which represents a decrease of 10% ( or some 44,000 or so less cartons) on Week 22, 2022 production – North Qld maintains the lead in production accounting for 56% of this; followed by Central Qld with 37%; 3.8% from South Qld and the remaining 3.2% is made up of a contribution from Central NSW and Northern Rivers/Tamborine and Sunny coast.

· It is forecast that a total of 397K trays will be despatched this week nationally. The Hass forecast for the next two weeks to three weeks is for between 340-371K trays per week. The current four week average dispatch as of this week is 449,580 trays.

All major supermarkets are selling premium Hass at $1.20 to $1.60ea . Hass market pricing is comparable to last week, with prices ranging between $14-$18/tray for premium and a range of $10 -$14/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 10.6 to 25.5C with no rain this week at all. Fruit quality from our packing shed has been good, still seeing some light lenticel damage but we continue to grade out anything with heavier marking to ensure fruit is in spec. We are still experiencing a significant proportion of our crop being count 16’s - we sure do know how to grow them big!

Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing though some of the hass had a presence of light to moderate lenticel/nodule damage relating to recent rain in the growing region. Fruit age ranged 9 to 16 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 $1.29ea; Coles Qld had NQ Hass ticketed at $1.20ea and Gmax selling at $2.00ea; whilst Woolworths Qld had larger counts Hass selling at $1.60/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 INDOOROOPILLY

A full display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $2.49/kg. Fruit had developing colour, most clusters had minimal scarring.
No Lady Fingers on display.

ALDI CARINDALE

A display of Cavendish were priced at $2.49/kg. range of colour at this store, a low level presence of some light minor skin marks and dry sap staining noted.
Lady Fingers at this store priced at $5.99ea.

ALDI MT GRAVATT EAST

A half display of Cavendish priced at $2.49/kg. A few clusters found with rub marking. Display about to be refilled.
Lady Fingers priced at $5.99/kg.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES INDOOROOPILLY

Cavendish bananas displayed at $2.00/kg - fruit that was displayed in single layer on each step. Fruit supplied by DBM. with some cartons showing a pack date of 26th May - so fruit age is 20 days.
Red Tips at $4.90/kg and Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg. Minimal stock on display.

COLES CARINDALE

Cavendish priced at $2.00/kg, Kid’s packs also at $2.00. Majority of fruit was semi colour condition - also noted piling of fruit on the bottom layer which can tend to cause bruising of the bottom layer.
Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg
Organic Variety at $4.90/kg.

COLES MT GRAVATT CENTRAL

Cavendish bananas, display priced at $3.00/kg - approximately 1/3 of stock was semi colour in condition - a little bronzing and scarring observed. Kid’s packs priced at $3.00ea.
Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg supplied by DBM - quite a number of clusters with rub marking and bronzing. Red Tips at $4.90/kg - most clusters with rub marking/bronzing. Organic bananas also at $4.90/kg.

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS INDOOROOPILLY

Cavendish priced at $2.50/kg - display reasonably tidy, a few clusters with creased necks and some minor skin marking observed. 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 CARINDALE

Cavendish bananas priced at $2.50/kg - a neatly presented display- a presence of minor neck damage and scarring - odd cluster found with bat/bird scratches. Kids packs at $2.50ea.
Red Tips ticketed at $4.90/kg, Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg and Organic variety at $5.50/kg.

WOOLWORTHS MT GRAVATT CENTRAL

Display of Cavendish were priced at $3.00/kg. Display was predominantly clean. Fruit supplied by Mackays; Collins with packed dates of 1st June, so fruit age 14 days. Quite a large spillover display of full cartons.
Lady Fingers priced at $7.90/kg, Red Tips at $4.90/kg and Organics at $5.50/kg quite clean.

INDEPENDENT STORE - CARINDALE

Cavendish priced at $2.99 per kg, some developing fruit, all minimal marking.
Lady Fingers at $7.99/kg and Cavendish prepacks at $1.99ea.

IGA - PARKINSON

Cavendish priced at $2.50/kg.

AVOCADOS AT ALDI