YOUR INDUSTRY
Gary and Helen Patterson
Home is where the avocados are
AVOCADO FEATURE
Helen and Gary Patterson were pretty keen to get out of Auckland, and originally had a five-year plan which quickly turned into a five-week plan after they started looking around for an orchard property in the Bay of Plenty. by Claire Ashton The avocado orchard and home on Plummers Point Road in Whakamarama jumped out at them and when they went to view the property, Helen walked into the house and says “it just felt like home.” They acted quickly, won the auction, and invested in their two-hectare avocado orchard and home in the Bay of Plenty. They preferred avocado to kiwifruit as avocado is less labour intensive and less susceptible to adverse weather, disease, and cyclical downturns. Helen had been involved in the kiwifruit industry some years back so had first-hand knowledge and experience. They both continue with other jobs. Gary is a fitter and turner by trade and the orchard work of mowing, fertilising and weeding fits in alongside
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The ORCHARDIST : MARCH 2021
