QUICKLINKS

February has vanished!

BANANA OVERVIEW

🍌SUPPLY UPDATE

There was very little change in the National Banana transport figures for Week 10 were approximately 495,000 cartons which represents a reduction of some 3,800 cartons on the previous week. Temperatures in the far north are similar to be last week with early A.M. temperatures falling within a range of 19.6 - 25.3C across all major growing regions; and day time temperatures still ranging 26.0- 33.7C with varying degrees of humidity. North Qld banana growing regions experienced further rainfalls associated with the aftermath of the tropical lows off the coast last week with Mareeba receiving 53mm for the week to date; Walkamin with 82mm; the coastal regions like Innisfail had falls totaling 85mm and South Johnston totaling 78mm across the week! The impact of the tropical lows moved further south and we saw flooding in the Bundaberg district with both coastal and inland routes temporarily flooded, but trucks were soon on the move again. Rainfall should be lessening, but further showers are expected in the week to come.

We are seeing the impact of the wet, humid weather throughout a number of Banana displays with blotchy mould present, somewhat dull fruit, light skin marking, thrip damage, sap staining etc - some better displays than others out there.

Queensland major retailers had bananas priced as follows: Aldi’s banana ticket price at $4.49/kg; Woolies offered fruit at a ticket price of $4.50/kg; and Coles were offering fruit at $3.99 - $4.50/kg depending upon store location and stock condition.

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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 10, 2025 - Avocado production for this week reached 576,559 tray equivalents, approximately 78,000 less than the previous week. If we break this quantity into the Hass vs Shepard figures, we see approximately 191K Hass and 379K Shepard tray equivalents produced. Export is definitely getting a work out with a number of parties sending smaller sized Shepards abroad, in an effort to keep the local market somewhat respectable.

Production across the country saw North Queensland take the lead with 60.08% (Shepard) of production; followed by WA/NT (Hass) accounting for 32.78% of the national production; then Central Queensland accounting for 6.72%; Central NSW for 0.29% and Tristate for 0.14% of the total production for the week. Despite an increasing supply volume of Shepards at 60% of the total supply - hass still account for 33% of the volume and this is still impacting the sales of Shepards. The continued rain in North Queensland combined with the high humidity is having an impact on fruit with a number of stores visited this week with the presence of a few pieces with rots. Postharvest treatments are a very necessary step in the preparation for market, but unfortunately will prevent all types of breakdown.

It is forecast that a total of some 529,408 tray equivalents will be dispatched this week (Week 11) nationally, with the majority of these being Shepard! Total production for the next three week period thereafter, is expected to fall within the range of 541K-584K tray equivalents per week.

In terms of Avocado retailing in the major supermarkets in Qld this week, we saw hass pricing as follows - Aldi had Shepard’s at $1.49 each; Coles Qld stores visited had Shepard avos at $1.00 each; and Woolworths were retailing Shepards at $1.00-$1.20ea depending upon store location.

AVOCADO SNAPSHOT

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

STOCK IN STORES

QUICKLINKS

🍌Bananas at Aldi

🥑Avocados at Aldi

🍌Bananas at Coles

🥑Avocados at Coles

🍌Bananas at Woolworths

🥑Avocados at Woolworths

BANANAS AT ALDI

ALDI SUNNYBANK HILLS

Cavendish Bananas priced at $4.49/kg. Mostly clean, a few sap stains and small skin marks noted.
Havana bananas at $4.49/kg.

ALDI BROWNS PLAINS

Cavendish Bananas priced at $4.49/kg. A few sap stains, rust and skin marks noted.
Havanas bananas at $4.49/kg.

ALDI CARINDALE

Cavendish Bananas priced at $4.49/kg. Main display backward in condition, carryover stock with good colour. Again some dull fruit and sap staining present.
Havana bananas at $4.49/kg.

BANANAS AT COLES

COLES SUNNYBANK HILLS

Cavendish at $3.99/kg. Kids packs at $4.50ea. Fruit was full colour, some clusters found with split peel, neck injuries and a few with significant marking.
Red Tips at $5.90/kg and Lady Fingers at $8.90/kg (nil stock on display). Organic at $6.50/kg.

COLES BROWNS PLAINS

Cavendish at $4.50/kg. Kids packs at $4.50ea.
Red Tips at $5.90/kg. Lady Fingers at $8.90/kg. Organic at $6.50/kg - very dull in appearance.

COLES CARINDALE

Cavendish on display $4.50/kg. Kids packs at $4.50ea. Fruit was in need of a refill - mixed bloom.
Red Tips at $5.90/kg - odd cluster poor condition. Lady Fingers $8.90/kg.

BANANAS AT WOOLWORTHS

WOOLWORTHS SUNNYBANK HILLS

Cavendish priced at $4.50/kg. Kids packs at $3.70ea. Eat now and eat later displays fully stocked. A few neck injuries evident and light skin marking.
Red Tipped bananas at $5.90/kg and Sly Fox Lady Fingers at $8.00/kg. Organic at $5.90/kg.

WOOLWORTHS BROWNS PLAINS

Cavendish priced at $4.50/kg. Sooty mould on some clusters of cavendish. Kids packs at $3.70ea.
Red Tipped bananas at $5.90/kg and Lady Fingers at $8.00/kg. Organic at $5.90/kg.

WOOLWORTHS CARINDALE

Cavendish priced at $4.50/kg. Kids packs at $3.70ea. Very neat presentation.
Red Tipped bananas at $5.90/kg and Lady Fingers at $8.00/kg. Organic at $6.50/kg.

AVOCADOS AT ALDI

ALDI SUNNYBANK HILLS

Ct 23 NQ SHEPARDS ticketed at $1.49ea supplied by Avocado Collective - Grower AuDacia packed 13th February so fruit age was 26 days old? if label is correct?. Fruit was firm.

1kg prepacks at $4.49ea. 5 piece packs at $4.99ea but no stock on display. Some rots found in both prepack formats.

AVOCADOS AT COLES

COLES SUNNYBANK HILLS

CT 20 WA Hass Avocados priced $1.50ea. Packed 20th February so fruit age was 19 days from date of pack.
Prepacks: 1kg I’m Perfect packs at $5.00ea.

COLES BROWNS PLAINS

Ct 23 Shepard Avocados priced $1.00! Mix of Simpson Farms ; Rockridge; Freshmax Bananas (Grower Reidy Avos a few with body rots) and Rockley Packing supplied by Murray Bros. Most of the fruit appeared to be packed on 26th February, therefore fruit is 13 days from date of pack.
Prepacks: 1kg packs at $5.00ea - but no stock in the bin; and Avo 5pk stock at $5.50ea.