Prediction of five-million tray season

Avocado growers across the Bay of Plenty will be among hundreds of people toasting a successful third season under AVOCO at the company’s conference later this month.

The event at the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre in Auckland on June 25 is an opportunity for growers to come together under one roof, enjoy each other’s company and hear from the industry’s leading technical experts from New Zealand and overseas.

They’ll also hear AVOCO’s marketing team outline their export plan for 2016-2017 – a season that’s shaping up to be a record-breaker for New Zealand growers.

It’s estimated the national export avocado crop will be five million-plus trays, exceeding the record 4.5 million trays that went offshore in 2014-2015, with conference attendees set to hear how AVOCO will handle its share of the massive projected volume.

The full-day programme will culminate with dinner, entertainment and the presentation of the AVOCO Grower Awards. These are awards of excellence and public recognition for growers who operate at the top of their game.

Careful planning

AVOCO director John Carroll says Saturday’s conference will be an opportunity for growers to learn from experts in their field as well as celebrate with their peers in an industry that’s going from strength to strength.

“Growers are feeling excited about their future but, like AVOCO, they’re aware success only comes from a lot of hard work and careful planning,” says John.

“The conference will arm growers with the technical information they need to make sound decisions in their own orchards as well as hear our latest plans for market development.

“At the same time, it’s also important to recognise our very best growers and congratulate them for an outstanding season.”

This month’s conference features three avocado industry leaders from Australia as well as the United States. Simon Newett has been honoured for his technical contribution to Australia’s industry and he’ll be sharing with AVOCO growers results from an observational study of the 2015 flowering season in Australia and lead a discussion on irrigation.

Biotechnologist Professor Neena Mitter will share her latest avocado research from the University of Queensland while Professor Carol Lovatt from the US will draw on her considerable knowledge of Hass avocado crops to discuss alternate bearing and foliar fertilisation to increase both yield and fruit size.

Other guest technical speakers include Dr David Pattemore, who leads Plant and Food Research’s Pollination and Apiculture team, and Dr Marisa Till, who was appointed the Avocado Industry Council’s new research and development manager in February.

Health-driven

AVOCO, a collaborative partnership between Bay of Plenty-based Southern Produce and Auckland-based Primor Produce, has enjoyed enormous success in its first three years.

Last season was a low volume year nationally, with AVOCO exporting more than 61 per cent of the 2.5 million trays exported. A little more than 80 per cent of shipments went to Australia while the remainder was sent to mostly Asian markets and marketed through AVANZA.

AVOCO director Alistair Young says health-driven consumers across Asia would be targeted as exporters worked to maximise the value of New Zealand avocados sent to Australia at key times.

“For us to extract the strongest Orchard Gate Return values for growers, flow planning will be critical. The main message for our growers is to consider the real financial benefits to harvesting later in the season and especially after Christmas, which is the time we know generates the highest values.”


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