QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

SUPPLY UPDATE

Week 8 saw 384,676 cartons of Cavendish sent. Over the last week in the far north, early A.M. temperatures have ranged 21.0 - 26.6 C across all major growing regions and day time temperatures have remained warmer ranging 27.0 - 32.2 C. There was a slight increase again in terms of rainfall with 107.8 - 209.0mm across Mareeba and Walkamin; and even more of an increase in falls across Innisfail and Tully with 363.0 - 371.6mm. Despite the continued rain, the weather is still very humid and grow rates are strong.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish bananas this week was as follows: Aldi’s banana ticket price at $3.49/kg; Woolies offered fruit at a ticket price of $4.00/kg; and Coles were offering fruit from $2.30/kg to $4.00/kg dependent upon the store location. Banana quality in stores varied, most displays had good bloom and fruit was found to only have minimal bruising and light scarring.

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 8, 2024 - The industry saw a 19.59% decrease on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 433,869 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 100,000 less tray equivalents) on Week 7, 2024 production. Hass variety supplying 306,643 tray equivalents harvested in addition to 126,031 Shepard and 1,195 trays of assorted other varieties also in this week’s reported figures. Of the total production for the week, it is interesting to note that a little over 94,000 tray equivalents were actually packed as bulks or sent to processing; some 65,000 tray equivalents were exported which left a little over 274,000 for domestic market trade.

Western Australia continues to lead production with hass at 69.55% of the total volume this week, then North QLD with fresh Shepard avocado supply accounting for 27.43%, with a few shepards also coming from Central QLD with 1.61%, and other varietals from Central NSW accounting for 0.92% and Tristate with 0.48%.

· It is forecast that a total of some almost 476,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 9) nationally. This figure can be broken into Hass which will be approximately 227,000 whilst the Shepard variety is expected to take the lead with 249,000 tray equivalents. Hass harvest figures forecast for the next two-three weeks thereafter are expected to steadily decline range between 142K down to 88k tray equivalents per week. Meanwhile, we ae excited to see our Shepard volumes increasing with the next two to three week production from the North Qld region increasing from 248,000 up to 365,000 tray equivalents during this timeframe.

The major supermarkets are either finishing off their WA Hass commitments this week or are looking at stocking both varietals on shelf, hence in the stores visited we didn’t come across a great deal of Shepards this week.

In terms of Avocado retail pricing in Qld shelf prices were as follows - Aldi Qld still stocking only Hass at $1.49 each ; Coles Qld had Hass ticketed at $1.70ea, and Woolworths were retailing dual lines: Hass selling at $1.70ea and Greenskin Shepards at $1.70ea.

AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Woolworths Hass & Shepard; Aldi Hass and Coles Hass Avocados

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

Bananas at Woolworths

Avocados at Woolworths

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI GARDEN CITY

A display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $3.49/kg. Minimal bruising and light greening - some clusters were dull with respect to bloom.
‘Havana Bananas’ priced at $5.49/kg.

ALDI SUNNYBANK HILLS

A display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $3.49/kg - a little dull.
Havana Bananas priced at $5.49/kg - these were green.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES GARDEN CITY

Cavendish bananas displayed at $2.30/kg. Kids packs also priced at $3.50ea.
Red Tips $5.50/kg (many clusters found to be spotting) and Ladyfingers also on display for $7.90/kg. Organic at $6.00/kg.

COLES SUNNYBANK HILLS

Cavendish on display $4.00/kg - good colour.
Kids packs priced at $3.50ea.
Red Tips at $5.50/kg.
Lady Fingers $7.90/kg.
Organic at $6.00/kg.

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS SUNNYBANK HILLS

Cavendish priced at $4.00/kg - Appropriate Eat Now and Eat Later display areas. Kids packs at $2.50ea. Some of these were grown and supplied by Mackays packed 14th February.
Red Tips at $5.50/kg, Lady Fingers at $8.00/kg and Organic variety at $6.00/kg.

WOOLWORTHS GARDEN CITY

A very neat display of Cavendish priced at $4.00/kg. Kids packs at $3.50ea.
No other banana stock on display today?

AVOCADOS AT ALDI