NZ avocados on a world stage at next month’s World Avocado Congress
8 March 2023
New Zealand avocados will be showcased on a world stage at the World Avocado Congress next month, which NZ is hosting for the first time ever.
There are around 5,000 hectares of avocado trees planted in New Zealand, primarily in the Bay of Plenty and Northland regions. With the regions’ (typically) warm climate and fertile soil, we are renowned for producing delicious avocados, says Jen Scoular, current Chair of the World Avocado Congress Committee and CEO of New Zealand Avocado.
“The World Avocado Congress is such a ripe opportunity to have our incredible avocados more than world famous in New Zealand. The congress will showcase New Zealand avocados on the world produce stage and also promote the New Zealand experience. The world really is our oyster, or perhaps I should say ‘the world is our avocado!’,” says Ms Scoular.
The World Avocado Congress is the largest ever global delegation coming to New Zealand for a horticultural event with more than 1100 people representing 32 countries. Over 700 of the delegates are coming from outside New Zealand, and many will be travelling to New Zealand for the first time.
“These numbers have exceeded all our expectations. We are so excited to host such a large contingent of the global avocado community, including international and national growers, researchers, marketers, retailers, tech innovators, investors and more. This week we have released the congress programme so things are getting real!”
Taking place next month (2-5 April), the World Avocado Congress will cover a diverse range of nationally and globally relevant topics across the entire avocado value chain, including the future of food, sustainability, climate change, food trends, food security, global supply chains and the lifecycle for avocado production. The congress is comprised of a three day academic programme with eight international and national keynote speakers and more than 130 presentations.
“A considerable part of New Zealand’s primary production sector has been impacted by recent weather events so we all need to hear experts talk about the future of food, climate change and the global impacts on horticulture right now.”
“It’s been a tough few years for our growers and the whole industry has faced ongoing challenges with the supply chain. At the congress we’ll dive deeper into the changing world of avocado production; the global industry’s responsiveness, the opportunities and risks facing the future of the industry and how the global avocado industry can evolve more sustainably and respectfully.”
Before the congress officially begins, delegates have the opportunity to attend field days in the Bay of Plenty, Northland and South Auckland where they will experience the diversity of avocado growing systems and supply chain processes in New Zealand.
In 2019 New Zealand won the bid to host the 10th World Avocado Congress. New Zealand was one of three countries to put forward a bid to win the hosting rights for the 2023 event and was up against Mexico, the largest avocado exporter in the world, and Kenya, the sixth largest exporter of avocados globally.
For more information about the World Avocado Congress visit the website: wacnz2023.com
For general World Avocado Congress queries please contact: info@wacnz2023.com
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