Solid start to avocado export sales
Tauranga, 11 October 2013
The first of this season’s New Zealand avocados have started hitting the supermarket shelves in Japan this week in a
buoyant start to export sales there, and opening prices in Australia are at their best.
Rival Mexican supply is lower, which has allowed Avanza, the international export brand channel for AVOCO, to start
early season negotiations in Japan at significantly improved market prices. While this is partly offset by an
unfavourable exchange rate it still reflects a significant improvement in grower OGR (orchard gate returns).
At the same time, interest in New Zealand avocados is proving to be strong in developing markets such as Singapore,
Thailand and Malaysia and there are encouraging signs that Avanza sales will resume in Hong Kong after a two-year
absence.
Japan recognises New Zealand as a premium supplier during a particular window, September through January, as part of its
12-month sourcing strategy. The first New Zealand shipments arrived at the tail end of September and have now been
ripened by local distributors ready for sale.
Ted Thomas, Primor Produce export manager, says Avanza has made a significant change in its distribution arrangements in
Japan this season with new focus on distributor Fresh Systems. “Working with Fresh Systems brings together a long-term
plan that Avanza have been working on with its business partner Mission Produce based in California. We expect Fresh
Systems will handle about 80-90% of Avanza’s Japanese supply in year one, with big growth plans beyond this season.”
Mr Thomas says it is exciting to be involved with Fresh Systems, which has significant clout in the market. “Fresh
Systems shares our focus and has the infrastructure capability to supply high-quality ripe fruit to customers, a key
strategy in continuing to grow the avocado category in this important market.”
The great start to the export season is good news for AVOCO, the grower group formed this year to present a unified face
in export markets. AVOCO, which represents about 75% of New Zealand avocado growers, is now forecasting its sales will
top the $50 million mark in all markets this season through to August. Its sales into countries other than Australia are
being handled by Avanza, with AVOCO’s growers sharing equally in AVOCO’s returns from all markets.
AVOCO director Alistair Young says the early season prices have excited growers, but it is important to structure the
harvest to maintain a targeted supply.
“We are aware of strong grower pressure to pick more fruit in this early phase of the season, but all the market
forecasts show values strengthening strongly in December, January and February. To get ahead of ourselves now will
potentially place the strong values we are working towards at risk.
“On the upside, the opening prices in Australia are the best we have seen and the returns will build a good foundation
for the grower pool going forward. Careful planning of harvesting will get the most from our growers’ crops and allow us
to return the best possible result for AVOCO.”
Fellow AVOCO director John Carroll says the industry is better placed this season because of the formation of AVOCO,
which unites the export marketing efforts of Southern Produce and Primor Produce, the two biggest exporters of avocados.
“We are rapt that so many of our suppliers and customers feel connected to what AVOCO has become, after nine months of
hard work to set it up.
“Many favourable comments were made about how smart AVOCO looked at the recent Australasian conference in Tauranga, yet
it is what lies underneath that matters most – the broad network of committed New Zealand suppliers united behind a
strong marketing team to present New Zealand at its best to the world marketplace.”
ENDS