QUICKLINKS

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BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

National transport figures have shown the bananas harvested in Week 29 to be 377,475 cartons which is approximately 6000 more cartons than what was available in Week 28. Weather patterns, as you no doubt understand have a tremendous impact on production and during the winter months this is very much the case. The weather experience for the last week in the far north have seen early A.M. temperatures fall within a range of 4.4 - 19.0 C across all major growing regions; and day time temperatures ranging 20.0 - 26.2 C. We haven’t had temperatures as low as 4C in the tropical north for quite some time, so you can expect developing fruit with underpeel discolouration - this is caused by a temporary cessation of sap flow due to the cold resulting in cellular damage in the sub-epidermal layer which results in a greying or dulling of fruit bloom. Most of the North Qld banana growing regions had very minimal rainfall this week with Mareeba and Walkamin experiencing falls of 0-0.6mm; whilst slightly more fell across Innisfail and Tully regions with 11.2-12.8mms. With cool temperatures overnight/early morning, we will also experience a further slowing growth rates, pushing bunch age out to 19-20 weeks.

Retail ticket pricing in Queensland for cavendish bananas has remained stable this week with pricing as follows: Aldi’s banana ticket price at $3.99/kg; Woolies offered fruit at a ticket price of $4.50/kg; and Coles were offering fruit at $4.00/kg in 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 29, 2024 - The industry saw a 10.02% increase on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 475,346 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 45,000 more tray equivalents) on Week 28, 2024 production. The national harvest included Hass variety supplying the entire 475,346 tray equivalents in this week’s reported figures.

Production across the country saw Central Queensland resume the lead in production accounting for 53.87% of the total volume, North Queensland accounting for a further 30.37%, then a growing supply from Central NSW accounting for 6.30%, South Queensland with 5.10% and finally WA/NT, TNR and Sunshine Coast with harvests accounting for 2.25%; 1.19% and 0.92% respectively. Whilst North Qld has had a share of the cold weather in the last few weeks, the SE corner of the state has as well - whilst our grower partners located in and around Barham/Cobram have been hit with some icy weather, not just the bitter cold but several frosts have been experience with more expected this week which will cause a percentage of crop damage. Whilst in the west of this great country of ours, it has been rather dry with many farms greatly in the need of rain - thankfully they are currently experiencing some relief with a little more rain falling last week and this week but more is needed.

· It is forecast that a total of some 424,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 30) nationally, all of which is expected to be hass. Production for the next three week period thereafter, is expected to fall within the range of 355 to 434K tray equivalents per week. North Qld and Central Queensland are expected to continue supplying the majority of available fruit through until early to mid August, even though supply has slowly started to come from the other major growing regions: including Central NSW, Tri-states and WA. Market pricing seems to be holding steady this week, harvests over the next couple of weeks will further determine the direction of pricing.

In terms of Avocado retail in the major supermarkets in Qld and Adelaide this week we saw shelf prices as follows - Aldi’s Purpleskin and Avolution Hass this week with shelf tickets at $1.99 each; Coles Qld stores visited had Rock Ridge Hass avos at $1.80ea, and Woolworths Qld with Purpleskin and Howe Farming supplied Hass at $2.20ea.

AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

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

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

🍌Bananas at Woolworths

🥑Avocados at Woolworths

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI CARINDALE

Cavendish Bananas priced at $3.99/kg. Some minor skin marking and neck injuries still the main find.
Havana bananas also at $3.99/kg. Clean skin but green.

ALDI BROWNS PLAINS

A display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $3.99/kg - a few cuts and bruising observed.
Havana bananas at this store this week, $3.99/kg - quite a number were cut/bruised and green/under ripe.

ALDI INDOOROOPILLY

A very full display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $3.99/kg - a low percentage of green tinged fruit on the display.
No Havana bananas.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES CARINDALE

Cavendish on display $4.00/kg, minimal with a green tinge.
Kids packs priced at $4.00ea.
Red Tips at $5.50/kg and Lady Fingers $7.90/kg.

COLES BROWNS PLAINS

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

COLES INDOOROOPILLY

Cavendish on display $4.00/kg. Kids packs priced at $4.00ea. Defects found: neck injuries, bruising and skin marking.
No Red Tips. Lady Fingers $7.90/kg.

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS CARINDALE

Cavendish priced at $4.50/kg. Bloom was varied with some bright hued and others dull. Kids packs at $2.50ea.
Lady Fingers $8.00/kg. Red Tips at $5.50/kg. Organic at $6.50/kg.

WOOLWORTHS BROWNS PLAINS

The display of Cavendish priced at $4.50/kg. Good colour and appropriately sectioned in ‘Eat Now’ and ‘Eat Later’. Kids packs at $3.50ea.
Lady Fingers $8.00/kg and Red Tips $5.50/kg. Organic at $6.50/kg.

WOOLWORTHS INDOOROOPILLY

Cavendish bananas priced at $4.50/kg. Well presented.
Lady Fingers at $8.00/kg and Red Tipped at $5.50/kg.
Organic at $6.00/kg.

AVOCADOS AT ALDI

ALDI CARINDALE

Avolution supplied Count 23/25 Hass Avocados priced at $1.99 each.
1kg packs for $4.69ea. 5 piece Hass packs at $5.49ea.

ALDI BROWNS PLAINS

Count 23/25 Hass Avocados priced at $1.99 ea. Packed on 16th July so fruit is therefore 8 days old.
1kg prepacks at $4.69ea and 5 piece packs at $5.49ea.

ALDI INDOOROOPILLY

Hass Avocados priced at $1.99 ea.
5 piece Hass packs at $5.49ea. 1kg prepacks at $4.69ea.

AVOCADOS AT COLES

COLES CARINDALE

Loose Rock Ridge Hass Avocados - ticketed at $1.80 ea.
Prepacks - 1kg $4.50ea and 5 piece packs $4.90ea.

COLES BROWNS PLAINS

Count 25 loose Hass Avos from Rockridge- $1.80 ea - packed 11th July therefore fruit age is 13 days.
1kg prepacks at $4.50ea and 5 piece at $4.90ea. Organic at $3.80ea.