QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

National transport figures for last week was 379,808 cartons, a touch more than last week by some 2,000 cartons. In the last week, morning temperatures have been noticeably cooler falling within a range of 12.5- to 20.7C; whilst day time temperatures have been similar to last week with a top of 26.3C -within a range of 19.3 to 26.35C across the week which for NQld is mild. In terms of rainfall, Mareeba and Walkamin had no rain or just under 1mm; whilst Tully and Innisfail had falls across the week totalling 19-23mm, though heavier rain is predicted for late this week. With these weather patterns industry production should be similar this week. 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 $2.49/kg this week. The markets all have moderate supplies of cavendish relative to demand with fruit selling at $10-$24 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 was fairly uniform this week in comparison to the week prior with Aldi’s banana ticket price at $2.99/kg; whilst Woolies offered fruit $3.00/kg and Coles offered fruit at $2.80/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 25 - 373,096 trays harvested and consigned this week which represents a moderate decrease of 12% ( or almost 53,000 trays) on Week 24, 2022 production – North Qld maintains the lead in production accounting for 46% of this; followed by Central Qld with 45%; 5% from South Qld. The remaining 4% is made up of contributions from WA (yes that’s right, a low volume is already trickling in) Central NSW and Northern Rivers/Tamborine and Sunny coast.

· It is forecast that a total of 374K trays will be despatched this week nationally. The Hass forecast for the next two weeks to three weeks is for between 340K then dropping to 320K trays per week. The current four week average dispatch as of this week is 411,953 trays.

Major supermarkets were quite varied in their approach to avo pricing this week with premium Hass ticketed at $0.99 to $1.40ea . Hass market pricing has been awful with some marketers sitting on a lot of old fruit in the system bringing prices down unnecessarily on fresh, good quality lines. Prices ranging between $8-$16/tray for premium and a range of $4 -$9/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 12 to 25C with minimal rain during last week but considerable rain forecast for late this week. Fruit quality from our packing shed has been good and we are still harvesting a major proportion of our crop in the count 14-18 sizing. There is still a presence of light lenticel damage but we continue to grade out anything with heavier marking to ensure fruit is in spec.

Avocado display presentation in Qld stores this week was generally pleasing though some of the hass had a low level presence of light to moderate lenticel/nodule damage relating to recent rain in the growing region. Fruit age ranged 14 to 19 days. A few of the GMAX avos were found to be soft with bruising.

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 only $0.99ea; Coles Qld had NQ Hass ticketed at $1.00ea, and Gmax selling at $2.00ea; whilst Woolworths Qld had larger counts Hass selling at $1.00-$1.40/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 FAIRFIELD

A full display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $2.99/kg. Fruit had developing colour, most clusters had minimal scarring. There were a few clusters that were quite dull thrown into the mix as well as a few heavier marked clusters (perhaps carry-over from the previous days trade).
Lady Fingers for $5.99/kg but no stock.

ALDI SUNNYBANK

A display of Cavendish were priced at $2.99/kg- a low level presence of some light minor skin marks and dry sap staining noted. Bulk of the display was semi-colour in terms of condition.
Lady Fingers at this store priced at $5.99/kg.

ALDI LOGANHOLME

A display of Cavendish were priced at $2.99/kg- a low level presence of some light minor skin marks and dry sap staining noted. Odd dull cluster found.
Lady Fingers at this store priced at $5.99/kg. Marking along ridges and some sap stains.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES FAIRFIELD

Cavendish bananas displayed at $2.80/kg - fruit that was displayed in single layer on each step. Fruit supplied by DBM. Kids packs at $2.80ea.
Red Tips at $4.90/kg and Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg.

COLES SUNNYBANK

Cavendish priced at $2.80/kg, Kid’s packs also at $2.80. Majority of fruit had good colour. Steps needed to be swept and cleaned.
Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg and Red Tips at $4.90/kg.

COLES LOGANHOLME

Cavendish bananas displayed at $2.80/kg and Kids packs priced the same. Fruit from Lizzio and Ferraro Farming supplied by DBM. Bloom was good at this store.
Red Tips at $4.90/kg and Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg. Organic variety at $4.90/kg.

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS MOOROOKA

Cavendish priced at $3.00/kg - display tidy and full. Quality of fruit was definitely the best at this store. Kids packs at $2.50ea. Packed on date 14th June so fruit age 15 days.
Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg minimal stock on show and Red Tips at $4.90/kg. Organic bananas at $5.50/kg.

WOOLWORTHS SUNNYBANK

Cavendish bananas priced at $3.00/kg - a neatly presented display- a low level presence of minor scarring. Kids packs at $2.50ea. Eat now and eat later options in the correct locations.
Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg and Organic variety at $5.50/kg. No Red Tips at this store.

WOOLWORTHS LOGANHOLME

Cavendish priced at $2.50/kg on special - display tidy and full. Kids packs at $2.50ea. Growers Howe Farming; Mackays and Collins - packed date of 14th June so fruit age 15 days.
Lady Fingers at $7.90/kg minimal stock and Red Tips at $4.90/kg with neck damage and minor skin marking. Organic at $5.50/kg with some minor and major skin marking and bruising noted.

INDEPENDENT- LOGANHOLME

Cavendish priced at $2.49/kg and Lady Fingers at $6.99/kg.

AVOCADOS AT ALDI