Retail Market Week 31 - 2024

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BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE


National transport figures for Bananas in Week 30 were 380,000 which is an increase of some 2,500 cartons on harvested volumes in Week 29, 2024. The forecast for Week 31 was for a similar volume. 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 12.6 - 18.9 C across all major growing regions which is warmer than last week; and day time temperatures ranging 19.9 - 26.7 C. Most of the North Qld banana growing regions had very minimal rainfall this week with Mareeba and Walkamin experiencing falls of 0-1.2mm; whilst slightly more fell across Innisfail and Tully regions with 24.2mms each. With cool temperatures overnight/early morning, we will also experience a further slowing growth rates, with bunch age still 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 $4.90/kg in the stores visited.



























































BANANA SNAPSHOT

Left to Right: Aldi (Mandurah WA); Coles and Woolworths Cavendish Displays

AVOCADO OVERVIEW

🥑SUPPLY UPDATE

In a nutshell the national production figures for last week were as follows: 

·       Week 30, 2024 - The industry saw a 8.13% decrease on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 436,720 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 40,000 less tray equivalents) on Week 29, 2024 production.

Production across the country saw Central Queensland resume the lead in production accounting for 58.25% of the total volume, North Queensland accounting for a further 20.16%, then a growing supply from Central NSW accounting for 9.37%, South Queensland with 6.80% and finally WA/NT, TNR and Sunshine Coast with harvests accounting for 2.13%; 1.61% and 1.52% respectively. Whilst North Qld has had a share of the cold weather in the last few weeks, luckily we only have 2-3 weeks more of our NQ season remaining. Our grower partner, Cherry Creek Estates in the SE corner of the state has experienced a few light frosts which has impacted some blocks, overall fruit quality is looking good with a size average of 23 expected - packing is underway - 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 experienced which has unfortunately caused a percentage of crop damage. Dry matter tests conducted on fruit from 3 year old trees have been gradually improving week on week, with results a week ago reaching harvestable maturity of 23.2%. One of our farms in this regions is looking to commence picking at the end of this week, whilst the others are holding off under later this month before commencement.

We took some time to visit a few of our growers this week in the west, with another trip planned later this month. A number of growers confirmed how dry the weather has been; with many farms greatly in the need of rain - thankfully last week they received 40-50mm, but dams are still in need of more water for the season ahead. Fruit that we saw on trees is looking good, it is sizing nicely with reported dry matter results for younger trees already in the 24-25% dry matter range. If you are interested in BOM’s long term weather forecast, covering August to October, please highlight and click on the below U-Tube link:

https://youtu.be/GHakC1_zsQQ?list=PLbKuJrA7Vp7naJL31deES8QAV5E0q6U_H

·       It is forecast that a total of some 403,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 31) nationally, with the majority of this being hass. Production for the next three week period thereafter, is expected to fall within the range of 292 to 382K 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.

In terms of Avocado retail in the major supermarkets in Qld and WA this week we saw shelf prices as follows - Aldi’s Hass this week holding steady with shelf tickets at $1.99 each;  Coles Qld stores visited had Hass avos at $2.20ea, and Woolworths Qld with 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 ALDI

ALDI MANDURAH, WA

  • Cavendish Bananas priced at $3.99/kg. No stock whatsoever here.

  • Perhaps waiting on delivery?

ALDI SUNNYBANK HILLS

  • A display of Cavendish Bananas ticketed at $3.99/kg - light skin marking and some minor neck damage observed.

  • Havana bananas at this store this week, $3.99/kg - quite a number were suffering from bat/bird damage and were green/under ripe.

 

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES MANDURAH FORUM, WA

  • Cavendish on display $4.90/kg, some with bruising and neck injuries.

  • Red Tips at $5.50/kg.

COLES SUNNYBANK HILLS

  • Cavendish on display $4.90/kg. Kids packs priced at $4.90ea.

  • Red Tips at $5.50/kg. Lady Fingers $7.90/kg. Organic at $6.00/kg were dull in appearance.

 

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS MANDURAH FORUM, WA

  • Cavendish priced at $4.50/kg. Bloom was varied with some bright hued and others dull. Kids packs at $3.00ea.

  • Red Tips at $6.00/kg. Organic at $7.50/kg.

WOOLWORTHS SUNNYBANK HILLS

  • 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.

AVOCADOS AT ALDI

ALDI MANDURAH, WA

  • Delroy supply of Avo West fruit in Count 28 Hass Avocados priced at $1.99 each.

  • Prepacks also on display.

ALDI SUNNYBANK HILLS

  • Count 23/25 Hass Avocados priced at $1.99 ea.

  • 1kg prepacks at $4.69ea and 5 piece packs at $5.49ea.

 

AVOCADOS AT COLES

COLES MANDURAH FORUM, WA

  • Loose Count 23 Hass Avocados - ticketed at $2.20 ea - Dorian fruit packed 10th July so fruit was 21 days old.

  • Prepacks - 1kg $5.50ea and 5 piece packs $6.50ea.

COLES SUNNYBANK HILLS

  • Count 25 loose Hass Avos from Rockridge- $1.90 ea.

  • 1kg prepacks at $4.50ea and 5 piece at $4.90ea. Organic at $3.80ea.

 

AVOCADOS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS MANDURAH FORUM, WA

  • Simpson Farms Hass avocados priced at $2.20ea.

  • Prepacks: 1kg prepacks at $5.00ea. 5 piece packs at $5.00ea.

WOOLWORTHS SUNNYBANK HILLS

  • Count 23/25 Howe Farming and Purpleskin Hass at $2.20ea. Note this store still had the Shepard Avo signage on display.

  • 1kg Odd Bunch at $5.50ea. 5 piece packs at $4.90ea.