Early season Hass showing good robustness under storage challenges

As part of the Monitoring avocado supply chain quality (AV22011) project the monitoring of Queensland avocado domestic consignments is underway and will continue as the season progresses. Samples are being collected from wholesalers and ripening distribution centres, and assessed following a normal commercial ripening program (Standard sample), as well as following a 14-day storage challenge (Challenge sample). Results from this monitoring are presented to the supplying pack house, and used to evaluate fruit quality under normal supply conditions, as well as under the upper limit of best practice ‘time in the supply chain’ conditions.

To recap – two (2) avocado tray samples are taken from each consignment to measure quality and fruit robustness.  Both standard and challenge trays undergo an external quality assessment at collection. The first sample tray (standard) is collected after commercial ripening, kept at 20^oC until med-soft ripe when it is assessed for internal defects. The second sample tray (challenge) undergoes a challenge fruit quality assessment, where fruit are stored for 14 days under recommended storage conditions. Fruit are then commercially ripened, kept at 20^oC until med-soft ripe when it is assessed for internal defects.

A total of 12 Hass consignments from Queensland have been assessed between May and June this year. Overall, 9 out of 12 (75%) challenge samples (orange bars) have achieved  >90% acceptable fruit (<10% defects). This demonstrates that the majority of consignments had consistent fruit quality and good fruit robustness. Five of the 12 paired samples showed no decline in acceptability as a result of the additional 14-day storage challenge, with these reports providing important traceable feedback for packers and their suppliers on the robustness of these batches of fruit.

Average acceptability of the Hass challenge samples assessed from May to June was 89.9%. The average decrease in acceptability between the standard and challenge samples was 4.8%, noting that in the consignments where decreased acceptability was reported, the range of drops in acceptability was from -4% to -30%. No flesh discolouration affecting >10% flesh has been reported in Queensland Hass in 2024 to date. Total rot (>10% flesh affected) was the main defect in challenge samples, rising from 5% in standard samples, to 8% with the additional 14 days cool storage. Under 1% of both standard and challenge samples had bruising (>10% flesh affected)

The average fruit age of standard samples was 14 days and challenge samples was 26 days. A range of Standard sample ripening treatments and collection temperatures have been reported for the consignments sampled (refer below).

Monitoring of Queensland avocado consignments will continue as the season progresses and timely updates on quality will be provided. Key resources available to assist in identifying opportunities for quality improvements relating to monitoring reports from industry and customers include the Avocado Fruit Quality Problem Solver, the Australian Avocado Supply Chain Best Practice Guide, the Traceback Self Assessment guide and the Avocado Problem Solver Field Guide.

For further information on supply chain monitoring results, contact John Agnew from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (john.agnew@daf.qld.gov.au) or Anne Larard (idm@avocado.org.au) from Avocados Australia.

This article appeared as part of the 9 August 2024 issue of Guacamole, AAL’s enewsletter.

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