Pineapple consumption has been increasing, as Australian suppliers come out of what was a relatively mild winter in Queensland. “We’ve had good volume, and quantity has been good across the board. The Topless Gold varieties in particular has been doing very well,” says Tropical Pineapples Sales and Marketing Director Joe Craggs. “Volume is a little down on the Smooth Cayenne variety, but compensated by better availability of good quality Gold varieties.”
Growing conditions were affected by cyclones, sunburn and extreme weather early in the year, but since March Mr Craggs says the pineapples have matured to a very good size, and a dip in demand in June is now a distant memory. “Through the winter months we’ve had pretty strong results, good supply and demand as well. With pricing we’re seeing real stability because there’s been consistent supply.”
Supply is likely to peak around mid-spring, in November, but Mr Craggs says growers and retailers are trying to match supply as close as possible to demand. “Growth over the last five years in volume of the winter crop would be 30-40 percent,” he adds. “Apart from a marketing effort through Australian Pineapples, there is good planning with the retailers and consistent promotion through winter and into spring. The biggest impact on that growth has been consistent supply of a great eating winter product. Consumer feedback is good and there are buying again”
In terms of export crops, Mr Craggs says that there is no volume in exports, and domestically demand is enough to match supply. “You might get the odd spot purchase, but there’s no coordinated export for pineapples right now.” There is an opportunity in the future though, for our high quality winter fruit into Asian summer.
The Tropical Pines group consists of 22 growers across Queensland, and Mr Craggs says for them, and the majority of Australia’s 40-45 growers the main concerned is the forecast El Nino. “Right now growers are concerned at the lack of moisture in the northern part of Queensland, and that could impact the late spring and summer crop for the whole industry,” he adds. “There was concern about importing pineapples from Malaysia, and importing the so-called ‘Ghost Disease’ with it, and that’s still at the highest level of the biosecurity agenda. Those imports have been held up at the moment with everyone aware of the potential dangers to the industry.”
