QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

The industry transport figures Week 18 cut was approximately 380K cartons which is about 4000 cartons less than what was harvested in Wk 17/2024. We can confirm the weather patterns for the last week in the far north, early A.M. temperatures have ranged 17.3 - 22.6 C across all major growing regions and day time temperatures have remained warmer ranging 25.0 - 28.5 C. There has been a slight decrease in terms of rainfall across the regions of Mareeba and Walkamin with falls of 0 - 1.2mm; whilst another slight increase in the level of rain falls across Innisfail and Tully regions of 74.8mm - 86.8mm throughout the week. Similar weather patterns have been in existence now for several months with on/off rainfall impacting fruit quality.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish bananas this week was as follows: Aldi’s banana ticket price at $3.99/kg; Woolies offered fruit at a ticket price of $4.00/kg; and Coles were offering fruit at $4.00/kg in the stores visited. Banana quality in stores still varied with the main defects being still minor neck damage, sooty/blotchy mould and minor skin marking. Stores continue to have signage with regards to these defects being indicative of the growing conditions across the country.

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 18, 2024 - The industry saw a 0.17% decrease on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 470,764 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 800 less tray equivalents) on Week 17, 2024 production. The national harvest included 175,939 Shepard tray equivalents along with Hass variety supplying 294,657 tray equivalents together with 168 trays of assorted other varieties in this week’s reported figures.

Production across the country has somewhat evened out with North QLD Shepard variety accounting for 51.74% of the total production volume this week, Central Queensland accounting for a further 41.65% (Shepard and hass), then Western Australia with supply accounting for 6.58% (primarily Hass) and other varietals from CNSW with 0.04%.

· It is forecast that a total of some 419,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 19) nationally. This figure can be broken down by variety with the Shepard variety expected to represent some 47,000 tray equivalents whilst Hass will contribute approximately 358,000 of this total. Shepard harvest figures are expected to be gradually declining in volume as their season is coming to an end by mid to late May, forecast for the next three weeks to be within a range of 17K down to zero tray equivalents over the next three weeks, whilst on the flip slide, Hass production will be rapidly increasing with forecasts of 380K up to 476K over the next three to four weeks.

In terms of Avocado retail in the major supermarkets in Qld we saw shelf prices as follows - Aldi Shepards this week with shelf tickets at 89c each; Coles Qld had Shepard avocados ticketed at 90c ea, and Woolworths with Greenskin Shepards also at $1.00-1.20ea. Coles also had Autumn avocados on display, competitively priced at $1.50ea.

AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Woolworths Shepard; Aldi Shepard and Coles Shepard Avocados in Queensland stores

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

🍌Bananas at Woolworths

🥑Avocados at Woolworths

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI DREWVALE

A display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $3.99/kg - better colour this week, though still seeing some slightly green fruit and some minor neck injuries.
Havana bananas at $3.49/kg as Aldi Super Savers. Any Havana bananas seem to be of less than optimal condition, being green and bruised at this store this week.

ALDI SUNNYBANK HILLS

Cavendish Bananas priced at $3.99/kg - most fruit green here.
Havana bananas priced at $3.49/kg (Aldi Super Savers), not the best quality.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES SUNNYBANK

Cavendish bananas displayed at 4.00/kg.
Kids packs priced at $4.00ea.
Ladyfingers on display for $5.90/kg. Red Tips for $5.50/kg.

COLES SUNNYBANK HILLS

Cavendish on display $4.00/kg, mostly good colour. A few dull clusters found, but less marking this week.
Kids packs priced at $4.00ea.
Signage for Red Tips at $5.50/kg and Lady Fingers $5.90/kg - however none on display.

COLES IPSWICH

Cavendish on display $4.00/kg. Kids packs priced at $4.00ea.
Red Tips at $5.50/kg - no fruit just signage. Lady Fingers $5.90/kg.

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS CALAMVALE

Cavendish priced at $4.00/kg. Some very minor skin marking but generally good colour. Kids packs at $2.50ea.
Red Tips at $6.00/kg, Lady Fingers at $5.90/kg and Organic variety at $6.00/kg.

WOOLWORTHS SUNNYBANK HILLS

The display of Cavendish priced at $4.00/kg. Decent colour - minor neck damage. Kids packs at $2.50ea.
Lady Fingers $5.90/kg and Red Tips $5.50/kg.

WOOLWORTHS IPSWICH

Cavendish bananas priced at $4.00/kg.
Kids packs at $2.50ea.
Lady Fingers at $5.90/kg. Red Tipped at $5.50/kg.
Organic at $6.00/kg.

AVOCADOS AT ALDI

ALDI DREWVALE

Count 23 Greenskins loose Shepard Avocados priced at 89c ea, packed 25th-30th April (9-13 days).
1kg prepacks on special at $3.99ea and 5 piece packs at $5.49ea.

ALDI SUNNYBANK HILLS

Green skins Count 25 Shepard priced at 89c each.
5 piece prepacks at $4.99ea and 1kg for $3.99ea.

AVOCADOS AT COLES

COLES SUNNYBANK

Count 23 Shepard Avocados - ticketed at 90c ea.
Autumn Avocados were also ticketed at $1.00ea.

COLES SUNNYBANK HILLS

Count 20 loose Shepard Avos from multiple growers - 90c ea.
Autumn hass also available for $1.50ea.
1kg prepacks at $4.00ea.

COLES IPSWICH

Count 23 loose Shepard Avos - 90c ea. Fruit packed dates of 15th April so fruit age is 23 days.
Avocado Prepacks at this store: 5pk at $3.90ea and 1kg packs at $4.00ea.