We invite you to join fellow growers and international experts for this not to be missed avocado industry event. This is your opportunity to increase your awareness of the amazing nutritional properties of the avocado, gain knowledge about increasing the health of your orchard and learn about how we can ensure we maintain a strong and sustainable industry. Register for NUTRITIONAL VALUES now to take advantage of the early bird rates. What are the specific health properties of avocado? How do we increase the visibility of these attributes? And how does what we do in our orchards and throughout the value chain impact on the final product we deliver to consumers? The Nutritional Values conference will explore these questions and more, while providing you with an opportunity to reconnect, make new connections and discuss your ideas with peers and experts. The programme features international speakers and experts from Australasia who will present the latest knowledge on issues important to maximising value for the New Zealand and Australian avocado industries. Attendees will also spend time visiting successful orchards and postharvest facilities in the Bay of Plenty. Exciting programme, fabulous location, and memorable social events. Register for Nutritional Values at avocadoconference.co.nz Conference organising committee: Ashby Whitehead Chairman NZAGA Jim Kochi Chairman, AAL Jen Scoular CEO, NZ Avocado John Tyas CEO, AAL
Te Puke orchardist and NZAGA Grower Rep of seven years, Ashby Whitehead, is the new chairman-elect of NZAGA and AIC. "I am excited about the excellent opportunities available for avocados from New Zealand but also very aware of the challenges we face as an industry. I look forward to leading the industry through this phase of change and improvement, with the development of new markets in Asia, building the nutritional platform for avocados and strengthening the avocado category in the New Zealand market,” Mr Whitehead said. Mr Whitehead will replace current chairman John Schnackenberg when he steps down from the position in May as part of a planned succession. Mr Schnackenberg has served as chairman since 2007 and will continue as a Grower Representative on the NZAGA Executive and AIC Ltd Board. Mr Whitehead has been one of the eight grower-elected directors on AIC's ten-member board since 2006. Mr Whitehead has been a successful avocado grower since 1996. He and wife Linda purchased a run-down apple orchard in Te Puke in 1991, converting to avocados after much tidying up and rehabilitation of the land. In 2000 they acquired the neighbouring orchard and planted a further 0.75ha of avocados and 3.5ha of kiwifruit. Ashby has had a long career in engineering, something which he has recently come back to following the effects of Psa-V. He is very active in the Te Puke avocado and kiwifruit communities and also sits on the AIC Finance committee, the Recognised Product Group, Quality Standards Committee and Local Market Committee. "I look forward to addressing the joint New Zealand and Australian avocado growers' conference in September in Tauranga in my new role as Chairman. It will be an excellent opportunity to connect with New Zealand and international avocado growers.” Says Mr Whitehead. Mr Whitehead takes the Chairmanship at a time when there is major activity on the horizon for NZ Avocado. "We are currently working on a business case for a Primary Growth Partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries and also worked closely with Plant & Food Research to submit a bid for avocado research funding from the Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment,” says Mr Whitehead. "The crown investment will allow us to significantly accelerate our projects and implement solutions to create a far more profitable industry going forward.” Outgoing chairman John Schnackenberg said "Ashby brings a strong grower focus to the chairmanship.” NZAGA Grower Representative Tony Ponder has been elected as the new Vice Chair of NZAGA. Tony has served on the Board since 2005.
New Zealand's avocado industry is looking to get its house in order to capitalise on what it sees as massive export opportunity in Asia, but the pressure is on to beat South American producers. New Zealand exports close to US$40 million (NZ$48.4m) worth of avocados a year, a level that could grow by US$9m over the next five years if it irons out its production issues, according to a report published by the Coriolis research group late last year. Head of the New Zealand Avocado Jen Scoular said the main issue was irregular bearing, with orchards producing well one year and then poorly the next. "Without consistent volumes, it's hard for export markets to develop," she said. "You don't want to develop good relationships in the market and apologise the next year." She believed the export opportunity was even greater than that stated in the Coriolis report, with the fruit increasingly popular among consumers in Asia. Korea, Malaysia, and China were seen as the "next big markets". China was the jewel in the crown. New Zealand does not currently export avocados to China, but NZA is nearing the process of negotiating phytosanitary access. But time on the clock is ticking. Central and South American avocado producers' exports are 22 times bigger than that of New Zealand. Most Central and South American avocados are sold to the US market, where demand has expanded at a 10 per cent pace for the past 10 years. That's expected to last another five years until supply outstrips demand, at which point the low-cost producers will start looking to target Asian markets. Scoular said New Zealand-produced avocados had the advantage of New Zealand's clean-green brand in the market, but the supply issue remained the real constraint to trade. So far the industry was looking to address this by reproducing orchard management practices of growers whose fruit bearings were more consistent, as well as looking at pollination techniques, such as replacing bees with bumblebees. NZA has also applied for funding from the under the Ministry for Primary Industries, Primary Growth Partnership scheme, and is working with Plant & Food New Zealand and the Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment on research. Scoular said production could also potentially increase in future, as growers shift away from kiwifruit, which has been hit by the Psa disease. However, higher yields on the gold kiwifruit varietal was slowing the adoption.
Visit the conference website to register online now www.avocadoconference.co.nz ASB Arena, Baypark Tauranga, Bay of Plenty New Zealand It is our pleasure to invite you to join us for the 5th quadrennial New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers' Conference, 9-12 September 2013, in Tauranga, New Zealand. Hosted in the Bay of Plenty, the heart of the avocado industry in New Zealand, this conference offers you the opportunity to network and share knowledge with a wide range of national and international representatives from across the avocado industry. Nutritional Values, the conference theme, represents an exciting opportunity for us to increase our awareness and knowledge of the amazing health and nutritional properties of the avocado and explore opportunities to leverage the nutritional benefits of this fruit. Consumers and the media are placing increasing importance and value on "functional” and "super” foods; avocado fits effortlessly into this category but what does this mean for our growers, our marketing and our returns? What are the specific health properties of avocado? How do we increase the visibility of these attributes? And how does what we do in our orchards and throughout the value chain impact on the final product we deliver to consumers? The Nutritional Values conference will explore these questions and more, while providing you with an opportunity to reconnect, make new connections and discuss your ideas with peers and experts. The programme of international speakers including those from Australasia will present the latest knowledge and understanding of issues important to maximising value for the New Zealand and Australian avocado industries. Attendees will also spend time visiting a number of successful orchards and postharvest facilities in the Bay of Plenty. Last held in New Zealand in 2005, this is an industry event not to be missed. We look forward to seeing you in Tauranga in September. Mr Ashby Whitehead Chairman of NZ Avocado Growers' Association Inc. Mr Jim Kochi Chairman of Avocados Australia Limited Ms Jen Scoular CEO, New Zealand Avocado Mr John Tyas CEO, Avocados Australia Limited The programme is made up of three concurrent streams: Marketing Nutrition: You will be inspired by speakers presenting in this stream who will share the amazing health properties of the avocado and explore opportunities to leverage these. The Australian and New Zealand promotion programs will be covered as well as consumer trends and case studies of other industries who are using nutrition to effectively market products. Orchard Health: Speakers presenting in this stream will share the latest techniques and research on orchard management practices which seek to achieve a consistent supply of high quality fruit. Topics include tree nutrition, new cultivars, canopy management, irregular bearing, high density plantings, pollination, plant growth regulators, and pest and disease management. Discussion will be encouraged among growers as case studies of successful orchards are shared. Strong Industry: Speakers in this stream will update you on the current state of the avocado industry and discuss the issues important to the future of the industry. Topics include biosecurity and market access, advances in postharvest technology, quality systems and assurance, export ventures and systems, orchard finances and industry-led innovations. Registration details out April 2013. If you are interested in sponsorship or exhibition opportunities please download the Sponsorship & Exhibition prospectus found below. If you are interested in speaking at this conference please contact Midge Munro mmunro@nzavocado.co.nz or 0800 AVOCADO (286 2236)
Quality standards for Growers, Packers and Exporters covering all aspects of growing, handling and exporting avocados
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Latest, pricing, volumes and conditions for local and offshore markets
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AvoGreen is a requirement for export, so make sure you are compliant by 1 November in the season prior to intended harvest
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Level 5 Harrington House
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PO Box 13267 Tauranga
Freephone (in NZ)
0800 AVOCADO
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