QUICKLINKS

BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

National Banana transport figures for week 45 were 397,381 cartons which down by 2.2% on the cut for the previous week. Weather patterns in the major growing regions saw less rain this week and warmer temps, particularly in the day with humidity on the increase as well. Temperatures in the far north have seen early A.M. temperatures fall within a range of 13.4 - 20.5 C across all major growing regions; and day time temperatures ranging 29.3 - 33.6 C. Rainfall in North Qld banana growing regions this week was none existent with: Mareeba and Walkamin receiving 0mm of rain; and Innisfail and Tully regions also with 0mm of rain this week.

Quality is a still varied and there is a visible improvement on the last few weeks - less bat/bird marking; still a little rub marking, and bloom has definitely improved. From our walks around the market and what has been seen on store shelves, we believe the worst of the dull winter fruit has almost come to an end and within the next week, just perhaps we will be saying it is bloomin” bright!

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 $4.00/kg; and Coles were offering fruit at $3.00/kg in the stores visited.

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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 45, 2024 - The industry experienced a 1.46% decrease in production on the previous week’s harvest with a total of 521,849 tray equivalents harvested and transported (approx 7,700 less tray equivalents) on Week 44, 2024 production. It is interesting to note that of this total a little over 81K units were in the form of bulks/processing; 30K units were exported which left just over 410K units for domestic sale.

Production across the country saw WA/NT continue their lead in production - accounting for 63.86% of the total volume, followed by NZ accounting for a further 17.26%, then Central NSW accounting for 12.49%, Tristate with 6.33% and finally Southern Queensland accounting for 0.06% of the total production for the week. Local weather conditions around our growing areas of Manjimup and Pemberton have seen cooler/overcast days this week with temps ranging in the early mornings between 5-9C and days warming up to 18/19C with between 1-11mm of rainfall on a daily basis, which is slowing the harvest task a little. We visited the farms this week and were able to see first hand the impact that the previous summer/mild winter is having on fruit production. Fruit maturity is varied not only between farms but indeed between trees on the same farm; with dry matter results recording consistently high in comparison to other seasons for the same time of year. A number of farms have a percentage of their trees that are shedding fruit (fruit drop) across the region which has prompted some growers to harvest a little more fruit; but other growers are waiting to see if their trees will hold fruit post this “lightening of the load”. The other notable occurrence is the development of tree colour whilst fruit still hanging on the tree - fruit is firm but that renowned varietal purplish/black skin tone. After reviewing and discussing these factors with each of our growers, we will be revising our supply forecast for this season down.

· It is forecast that a total of some 529,000 tray equivalents will be despatched this week (Week 46) nationally, with the majority of these being hass. Production for the next three week period thereafter, is expected to fall within the range of 442 to 479K tray equivalents per week.

In terms of Avocado retailing in the major supermarkets in Qld this week we saw stable shelf prices as follows - Aldi’s Hass this week shelf tickets at $2.49 each featuring them in their weekly catalogue; Coles Qld stores visited had Hass avos at $2.50ea, and Woolworths Qld with Hass at $2.50ea.

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 BUNBURY WA

Cavendish Bananas priced at $3.99/kg. Some with dull or green colour, better quality then the last few weeks.
Desert Sweet Banana packs at $4.69/kg.

ALDI INDOOROOPILLY QLD

Cavendish Bananas priced at $3.99/kg. Some with minor marking.
Havana Bananas also at $3.99/kg - very green.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES EATON WA

Cavendish on display $4.50/kg. Kids packs at $4.50/kg.
Red Tips $5.90/kg.

COLES INDOOROOPILLY QLD

Cavendish on display $3.00/kg. Kids packs at $4.00/kg.
Red Tips and Lady Fingers needing restocking. Organic at $6.50/kg.

COLES TOOWONG QLD

Cavendish on display for $4.50/kg.
Kids Bananas $4.50/pack, Ladyfingers $6.90/kg and Red Tips at $5.90/kg. Organic $6.50/kg.

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS BUNBURY WA

Cavendish priced at $4.50/kg. Appropriately positioned in ‘Eat Now’ and ‘Eat Later’. Kids packs at $4.00ea.
750g packs priced $5.00ea.
Red Tips at $7.00/kg. Organic at $7.90/kg.

WOOLWORTHS INDOOROOPILLY QLD

The display of Cavendish priced at $4.00/kg. Appropriately displayed. Kids packs at $3.50ea.
Red Tips at $5.90/kg, Lady Fingers at $8.00/kg and Organic at $6.50/kg.

WOOLWORTHS TOOWONG QLD

Cavendish priced at $4.00/kg, some green. Kids packs at $3.50ea - needed restocking.
Red Tips at $5.90/kg. Lady Fingers at $8.00/kg. Organic at $6.50/kg.