Avocado growers and international experts meet in Tauranga

2 July 2013

Media Release: Growers and international experts to meet in Tauranga to advance interests of avocado industry

Some of the world’s top avocado experts are coming to the New Zealand industry’s heartland for a major international conference in Tauranga – only held in New Zealand every eight years – enhancing the region’s reputation as a global fruit bowl.

The Bay of Plenty is this country’s prime region for avocado orchards, backed strongly by Northland. Local growers will be able to sharpen their expertise and growing methods at this high-level, three-day conference.

New Zealand Avocado Growers Association Inc. and Avocados Australia welcome all growers and members of the supply chain to attend Nutritional Values, the fifth quadrennial New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers’ Conference, at the ASB Arena Baypark, 9-12 September 2013.

Fifty experts from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and USA will present advanced thinking on pruning techniques, irregular bearing, disease management, new cultivars, nutrient management, pollination, quality improvement, new market development, promotions, economics, biosecurity, and supply chain improvement. Sessions are divided into three topic streams: Marketing Nutrition, Healthy Orchard and Strong Industry.

“We have a fantastic line up of speakers who will inform, inspire and challenge growers,” says Ashby Whitehead, newly appointed chair of the NZ Avocado Growers Association and Avocado Industry Council.

“The theme of nutrition is designed to raise awareness among growers that they are not just growing fruit; we are producing a high-quality product that meets the needs of consumers – consumers who are becoming increasingly conscious of the health benefits of the food they are eating. We need to explore opportunities to leverage the nutritional benefits of this fruit, especially as we seek to further develop markets in Asia.”

The joint New Zealand and Australia Avocado growers’ conference is hosted in New Zealand only every eight years. It is held as part of the memorandum of understanding between NZ Avocado Growers Association Inc. and Australian counterparts Avocado Australia Ltd to foster a stronger working relationship between the two peak industry bodies.

Nutritional Values also represents a great opportunity for avocado industry product and service providers to promote their businesses to growers.

“We have had excellent support from businesses involved in the avocado industry, both local, national and from Australia,” says Midge Munro, NZ Avocado Communications Manager.

New exporter collaboration AVOCO™ is the Nutritional Values Principal Conference Partner. AVOCO™ was created by New Zealand’s two largest avocado exporters – Auckland-based Primor Produce Ltd and Te Puna’s Southern Produce Ltd.

“We are pleased to be able to introduce this new initiative to the industry at what is sure to be an exciting event,” says Alistair Young, a director of AVOCO. “The interests of the New Zealand avocado industry and its growers are best served by a unified entity that is focused totally on getting the best orchard-gate returns for growers.”

Delegates can register for the conference online at www.avocadoconference.co.nz.  Early bird prices and special rates for growers are available.

Speaker highlights

·       Dr Russell Ballard, Independent chair of the Plant Market Access Council, whose involvement is sponsored by Port of Tauranga, will share insights on the New Zealand avocado industry’s potential.

·       NZ Avocado Ambassador Nadia Lim will present on culinary and nutritional aspects of avocados.

·       BNZ’s head of research Stephen Toplis will share the economic outlook for the Asian region – an important growth region for the avocado industry.

·       Lisa Cork, recent winner of the PMA-A marketer of the year award, whose involvement is sponsored by Jenkins Freshpac Systems, Sinclair International and j-tech systems, will share her insights on innovative marketing and messaging.

·       Dr Mark Dreher, a nutrition research advisor to the Hass Avocado Board in the USA, will share information on the latest clinical trials to test effects of avocado on various aspects of health.

·       Dr Jonathan Dixon, formerly of NZ Avocado and now heading the California Avocado Commission’s research programme will share CAC’s research focuses and how they are tackling their biggest challenges.

·       Dr Zelda Van Rooyen from South Africa will share the South African experience of growing avocados and the evaluation and commercialisation of new cultivar and rootstock material.

·       Tim Knox, Ministry for Primary Industries and Simon Hegarty, Horticultural Export Authority will each speak on market access for New Zealand avocados into overseas markets

·       Top avocado researchers from Plant and Food Research New Zealand, University of Queensland and Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Australia will present on a variety of orchard management and post-harvest topics.

About New Zealand Avocado

Avocados are the third-largest fresh fruit export from New Zealand. New Zealand Avocado works with the New Zealand industry to set export standards, facilitate market access, promote avocados from New Zealand and provide technical information to all New Zealand growers, of which there are more than 1600, based mainly in the Bay of Plenty and Northland.

Website: www.nzavocado.co.nz/industry/

About AVOCO™ – Nutritional Values Principal Conference Partner

AVOCO™ is an exciting hybrid company created by the two largest avocado exporters from New Zealand: Primor Produce Ltd and Southern Produce Ltd.

Formerly very competitive international rivals, they have recognised that the interests of the New Zealand avocado industry and its growers are best served by a unified entity. Together as AVOCO™, they now account for about 75% of the export market for avocados to leading supermarket chains and distributors in Australia.

This move in Australia is the final piece in the marketing jigsaw that marries Primor Produce and Southern Produce in all avocado markets, with their exports to other countries handled by AVANZA.

ENDS

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