Mixed week for Berries: Blueberries rise, other categories ease back.
The berry category softened slightly this week, with total berry revenue down 1.8% and volume down 3.8%. Blueberries continued to lead the category, recording a 28.2% increase in volume and a 17.7% lift in revenue. This reflects a strong build in industry supply as we move toward full-season production, particularly from QLD, NSW, and VIC regions.
Blueberries dropped week on week, and we expect similar numbers again, but we are likely on our last main harvest of the 1111 (Opi) season before we see volume drop in the last week of October.
After the wild weather the week before, we were bracing for a tough week regarding quality. However, despite almost every consignment of all berries being checked last week on inbound arrivals at retail DC…
Wild Weather currently affecting different parts of the country for different reasons.
If you’re based in Southeast QLD or Northern NSW, you would have experienced the extreme heat over the weekend. Official records in some places are showing 33-35 degrees. However, we have seen temperatures upwards of 37 on the 31st of August and the 1st of September
Rain is expected until at least Wednesday, continuing the trend of a tough season for South East QLD and Northern NSW.
The last 24 hours have been very wet for the Northern Rivers, and it looks like it will continue for the next few days. The Coffs Coast has not seen as much rain, but it has still been significant with the last 24 hours in some areas, and it’s unlikely that we will see much of a harvest from outside growers until Thursday at the earliest.
Blueberry volumes rise with good weather.
Blueberry volumes continue to rise with the good weather, Strawberries move sideways after the first flush on the east coast, Raspberries picked up after 3 weeks of drops in volume, and Blackberry production has dropped to its lowest volume since September 2023.
El Nino Declared Inactive, with warnings of La Nina later in the year.
The ENSO Outlook is currently at ‘Inactive’, meaning an El Niño or La Niña
is not underway in the tropical Pacific Region
La Niña could be back in Australia for the fourth time in five years.
By winter, La Niña could be back in Australia for the fourth time in five years.
Humidity continues – but why?
Over the last two months, most conversations I have begin with, “How humid is it? I’ve never experienced anything like this before
Berries stay steady as schools commence for 2024.
Berries continue to be steady with back-to-school starting next week, which should see demand increase as weather continues to be extreme across the country.
The bureau of Meteorology calls active El-Nino
The Bureau of Meteorology has finally called an active El Nino, which coincides with the Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) for Australia. What to expect?
