AU: Highest Winter avocado prices in memory
Only 150,000 5.5kg trays came out of the north of the region this year, a 50% overall reduction. The yields were badly affected by a wet flowering period in the Spring and the continuation of heavy rain during the Summer season.
The same weather factors made for a 40% reduction in Central New South Wales, with just 450,000 tray s making it on to the market.
The Murray-irrigated Mildura Tri-State region was in a cyclical poorer yield season and turned off about 300,000 trays compared to last season’s 600,000.
Despite higher yields in Queensland, the supply drop was enough to force prices up to $35 for trays of larger fruit and $30 for standard sizes.
Last year, when the yield was high, the prices went as low as $14 per tray.
Avocados Australia’s northern NSW representative Tom Silver, Alstonville, said he could not remember seeing prices that high during winter in his 25 years of growing avocados.
“The wet seasons have taken a big toll on tree health across the northern NSW region with an increased incidence of root rot disease and orchards generally looking less healthy,” he said.
“The dry spell this spring, however, has meant there has been the best fruit set for three years and the hope is for a big crop next year.
“The major chains have been very supportive of Australian products and the beauty of short supply is that fruit moves quickly so quality is very good, which assists the long-term marketing of avocados.”
Western Australian avocados are now dominating the market, with 230,000 tray equivalents supplied to key city markets around the country last week.
WA is expected to harvest its largest-ever crop at more than three million trays this season, which continues until March.
Avocados Australia chairman Jim Kochi, Atherton, Queensland, said the bumper western crop could be attributed to excellent seasonal conditions and increased land moving into avocado production.
“WA fruit has been on the market since the end of September, but there is no oversupply and prices are expected to hold at that level through until next autumn,” he said.
“Consumer demand has increased to the point where the supply demand balance is now about 200,000 trays per week – up 50,000 from what it was five years ago.
Queensland produced more than four million trays this season – slightly above average courtesy of strong yields in the north of the State.
Across the eastern States, flowering conditions and fruit set has been positive, and, while the dry run is testing water sources, growers say crops are on track to be heavier next year.
Source: theland.farmonline.com.au