World Avocado Congress comes to New Zealand

AVO UPDATE

World Avocado Congress comes to New Zealand

By Jen Scoular : NZ Avocado chief executive

In April 2023, New Zealand will host the World Avocado Congress for the first time ever.

As our borders reopen after the challenges of the global pandemic, we are delighted to welcome avocado visitors to New Zealand to showcase our industry and our beautiful country.

Taking place in Auckland from 2 to 6 April 2023, the World Avocado Congress will demonstrate New Zealand growing practises, food safety and quality systems and the ethical treatment of growers and communities that live in avocado growing regions. It also provides the opportunity to access innovation, global knowledge and science to support the growth of the sector. The World Avocado Congress takes place every four years and attracts up to 3000 people from 50 countries. With a global avocado market worth US$8 billion in 2020 and expected to grow to US$17 billion by 2025, the congress has become the most prestigious global event to celebrate the avocado sector.

Supporting our showcase of avocados on a world stage, we are excited to have Mission Produce, one of the largest avocado growers and marketers in the world, join as first global foundation partner. We are very pleased to have the early commitment and support of New Zealand sponsors too: Darling Group as the Kiwi sponsor, Avoco and Radfords Software as the Tui sponsors, and Seeka as the Kereru sponsor. We also welcome our science partner Plant & Food Research Ltd, and event partners Auckland Unlimited, Tourism New Zealand and Horticulture New Zealand. Conversations are ongoing regarding further sponsorships and event partnerships, so don’t hesitate to get involved. After a tough season, the World Avocado Congress is something positive for us to look forward to. It is an amazing opportunity to have the scientific and technical brains of the global avocado community in New Zealand, sharing their knowledge, hearing about our industry and being part of the collective approach seeking to increase both supply and demand of avocados. The congress is anticipated to attract some of the brightest minds in avocados, including growers, researchers, marketers, retailers, tech innovators and investors. The event will include a three-day academic programme with international keynote speakers, regional field days and plenty of opportunity to mix business with pleasure. With less than a year to go, a lot of preparation is required to ensure we deliver a world-class World Avocado Congress. Ultimately, we want all participants to come away and say wow! The website will be live with ticket sales from 1 June. The exhibition stands, sponsorship packages and the portal to submit abstracts will open on 16 June.

Register your interest, and get the latest updates on our website

www.wacnz2023.com

NZ Avocado Growers’ Association Inc. Commodity Levy Rates and Fees

Commodity Levy rates for the 2022-23 season were approved following the AGM on 31 March 2022.

Commodity levies:

• For avocados grown and sold in New Zealand for consumption as fresh fruit – the commodity levy will reduce from 3% to 2.5% of the selling price at the first point of sale. • For avocados grown in New Zealand and exported from New Zealand – 35 cents per 5.5 kg tray.

Export systems fee:

• The export systems fee to deliver the strategy set out in the Export Marketing Strategy will be 20 cents per 5.5 kg export tray.

For further information contact New Zealand Avocado on 0800 286 2236 or email info@nzavocado.co.nz