South Burnett avocado growers report ‘best season ever’ as weather creates huge oversupply of fruit

‘Cheaper than lettuce’: Weather conditions have lead to the ‘best ever’ avocado season for many of the Burnett’s producers, with harvest already exceeding last year’s totals with months left to go. Full report:

Avocado growers across the Burnett region are reporting their best harvest ever, saying there is already so much fruit available that residents will need to find new ways to consume it.

Blackbutt producer Barry Trousdell said while the flooding rains of the past 12 months had brought devastating consequences for many farmers, the weather had been beneficial for avocado crops and yielded an already-massive harvest.

“Rain gives everyone confidence and it must give the trees confidence,” Mr Trousdell said.

“We can irrigate all the time but you can’t beat rain.”

CASH CROP: Barry Trousdell at Mt Binga Orchards. Photo Barclay White / South Burnett Times

He said the bumper crop was not unique to the South Burnett, with growers across the country reporting massive takings.

“We’re on record harvesting – we’ve picked more already this season than we normally pick in a whole season,” Mr Trousdell said.

“And we’ve still got another four months ago.”

International agribusiness bank Rabobank associate analyst Pia Piggott said there had been a major supply boom across the country, with per capita supply of avocados rising 26 per cent to 22 avocados per Australian.

“A bumper 2021-22 crop in Western Australia was a turning point,” Ms Piggott said.

“With industry estimates of avocado production in the state being up a staggering 265 per cent on the previous year.”

Australia’s total avocado production for 2021-22 is estimated at 124,000 tonnes, which coupled with estimated imports of 12,500 tonnes for the year has meant abundant supplies for consumers.

Barry Trousdell, Mt Binga Orchards, in southeast Queensland, producing avocados

The huge numbers have meant avocados have become some of the cheapest produce on the market, while residents battle rising living costs across the board.

Mr Trousdell encouraged South Burnett consumers to eat more of the breakfast favourite avo on toast, or find other ways to get it in their diet.

“They're actually cheaper than lettuce,” he said.

“Instead of using lettuce, use avocado.”

While the drop in prices has squeezed many growers’ margins, the Mt Binga Orchards owner said a strong international market was keeping profits high, even with a tight labour market and flu or Covid outbreaks making harvesting more of a challenge than usual.

Rabobank has reported the average volume increased in each Australian household by 31.2 per cent from 2021-22, with this Sunday marking International Avocado Day.