YOUR LEVY AT WORK
Newly elected Chair of New Zealand Avocado Growers’ Association Inc, Linda Flegg, inspects avocados at KauriPak, the Katikati family business of which she is a Director
Profitable, sustainable businesses – Linda’s goals AVOCADO FEATURE
Ensuring the industry association is relevant and sustainable into the future and grower views are well represented are among the goals for newly elected Chair of New Zealand Avocado Growers’ Association Inc, Linda Flegg. By Elaine Fisher
An independent review of the structure of the avocado industry in 2020 highlighted a number of areas that growers felt could be improved, Linda says. “We’ve never undertaken a formal review before, so it’s a real milestone for the industry. The information in the final report will give us recommendations to decide on a pathway to ensure we’re relevant for the next 10 years and beyond. That relevance is all about how we as an industry association support our members to have profitable and sustainable businesses. “In combining the two organisations, NZ Avocado Growers’ Association Inc, and Avocado Industry Limited under the NZ Avocado banner, NZAGA lost its visibility as an organisation. The review reported that growers want to see that visibility restored, and I support that.” 16
The ORCHARDIST : MARCH 2021
Other challenges ahead include competition from Chile, particularly in Australia; ensuring Asian markets receive the quality fruit they require; and handling the significant on-shore crop increases predicted to come on stream within the next 10 years. “Chile exported around 400,000 trays of avocados to Australia this season and that’s probably less than one percent of its total crop, so that’s a concern. While ensuring we retain our place in the Australian market, we also have to pay attention to Asian markets to ensure we retain and grow export volumes there.” In the current season, 1,016 New Zealand growers exported around 4.6 million trays of avocados, up from 2.9 million trays in the 2018–2019 season.
