Fruit Quality Update

Quality increases in September as bruising drops

Australian Hass avocados were 91% acceptable in September, up from 86% in August and exceeding the industry target of 90% (Figure 1). This improvement in quality is due to a more than 5% reduction in bruising. Most of the bruised fruit came from Perth, where 17% were unacceptably bruised. This is likely related to a high proportion of soft fruit combined with low stock levels on display.

To investigate whether bruising was occurring during the supply chain or at the retail level, an additional sampling round was conducted in Perth, only sampling fruit from trays in the back of stores. These samples were 97% acceptable, with only 3% of fruit showing unacceptable bruising. This indicates that the higher bruising rates seen in Perth over the last two months are most likely caused by poor handling at the retail store display.

Figure 1. Unacceptable Australian grown fruit by defect type (>10% defects) in August and September 2025.

Maturity monitoring program continues targeting Western Australian and Tristate Hass

The AV22011 wholesale maturity monitoring program continued through September, with a focus on Western Australian and Tristate Hass. A total of 18 samples were collected during this period, with 8 from Western Australia and 10 from Tristate. Of these, 1 Tristate and 1 Western Australian sample failed to meet the industry minimum standard of 23% dry matter (Figure 2). Maturity monitoring of Tristate fruit has now ended for the season.

Figure 2. September 2025 Hass dry matter levels

Well done to growers Agriexchange Renmark, Boallia Avocados, Chinoola Orchards, Costa (Capel Orchard), Delroy Orchards, Happy Valley Fruits, HJK Farms, Koola Frove, Manjimup Avocados, O & S Caristo, Ruabon Orchard – TAC, Sunnybank Grov and Dalzell Fruits whose fruit was sampled and exceeded the minimum maturity standard since the last Guacamole update.

To ensure consumers have the best eating experience, make sure that fruit you harvest meets the minimum dry matter standards of 21% for Shepard and 23% for Hass. Continue to monitor your dry matter levels as your harvest progresses. More information on dry matter testing is available HERE.

This article appears as part of the 10 October 2025 issue of Guacamole, AAL’s enewsletter.

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