Avoscene Spring 2012

T H E N E W Z E A L A N D AV O C A D O G R O W E R S ’ J O U R N A L

Inside this Issue

Nadia Lim named as ambassador

Commodity Levy referendum successful

SPRING 2012

Update on NZAGA Research Projects

Directors Bay of Plenty Ashby Whitehead Ph 07 573 6680 m. 027 283 2192 alwhitehead@xtra.co.nz Far North Ian Broadhurst Ph 09 406 7308 m. 021 395 906 kingavocado@xtra.co.nz

Contents Regular Columns

Mid North Mike Eagles Ph 09 434 7271 m. 027 727 1381 m.eagles@xtra.co.nz At Large Roger Barber Ph 09 435 0785 m. 021 488 124 barbers@ihug.co.nz John Cotterell Ph 07 552 6880 m. 0274 513 138 jccotterell@actrix.gen.nz John Schnackenberg (Chairman) Ph 07 549 0717 m. 021 731 437 jschnack@ihug.co.nz Tony Ponder Ph 07 552 4223 m. 0274 733 712 tony@southernproduce.co.nz Rest of NZ David French Ph 09 238 3359 m. 0274 375 315 famille@ps.gen.nz Export Directors Andrew Darling, Alistair Young

Avoscene Advertising & Editorial Avoscene is published by NZ Avocado Growers’ Association Inc. For editorial contact: Natasha Mitchell Sun Media Ltd No.1 The Strand, Tauranga Ph: 07 578 0030 Fax: 07 571 1116 email natasha@thesun.co.nz For advertising contact: Daphne Keller at Sun Media Ltd email daphne@thesun.co.nz Design and production: Kym Johnson, Sun Media Ltd email kym@thesun.co.nz

Chairman’s comment CEO comment Exporter comment Local market comment Organic growers’ comment Packer comment Grower comment Regional Roundups NZAGA Highlights Winter 2012

4 6 9 10 10 11 12 14 17

Features NZAGA AGM in review Commodity levy Grower forums Bumble bees as managed pollinators Avocentric: Improbe partnership Technical visit to Chile An insight into the Mexican way

18 21 22 24 26 29 31

News Industry news Young Grower of the Year Avocado news from the World NZAGA staff profile

33 35 39 57

Promotions Promotions update

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Printed at: Kale Print

Research and technical Subscriptions NZ $100 plus GST per year (four issues) In New Zealand NZ $27 per single copy Industry Office PO Box 13267, Tauranga 3141 Ph: 07 571 6147 or 0800 AVOCADO (0800 286 2236) Fax: 07 571 6145 www.nzavocado.co.nz

NZAGA Winter field days report Update on NZAGA research projects Reed storage evaluation 2011-12 Flower pruning update: Industry view

42 46 50 54

I Chairman’s Comment I

Looking to the future My wife Catherine has owned the local florist for 18 months or more and I am frequently roped in to assist with deliveries, particularly when she is busy.

During the last Mothers’ Day weekend, I delivered a gift box to a residential address in Katikati and was greeted by the man of the house – a ‘senior’ grower, I established.

He took a look at me and said “I know you! My goodness, I know it’s been a poor season, but I never expected to find the chairman moonlighting as a delivery boy!”

It has become incredibly challenging to find the positives to extol when we are all struggling with poor returns of 2011-12 now to be followed by a poor crop this season and a significant question mark over value with reduced Australian retail access this season.

But overarching all of this is the unavoidable negativity associated with the continual global economic struggle and its impact on New Zealand; a stubborn NZ$ exchange rate doing nothing to assist exporters and a bashing the government is receiving trying to effect policy change via the partial sell down of state assets, etc. Fortunately Winston Peters is not dominating the headlines. And we haven’t started the water debate yet, but clearly it is imminent.

There is also the risk we become bogged down in the issues of today and do not raise our heads above the parapets and plan for the future. That future for New Zealand avocados is a very real potential total crop greater than 8 million trays by 2015-16 and the need to move possibly half or more of the export crop to destinations beyond Australia – previously well flagged in our stretch 2008 vision statement.

I am proud that the Executive I lead and

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By John Schnackenberg NZAGA and AIC chairman

imperative our CEO and her team have defined the industry five year plan required to meet the challenges of bigger crops while working to clarify NZAGA accountabilities and the roles of our industry partners. Delivery of this five year plan requires constant and reliable funding by growers, hopefully the outcome of the Commodity Levy Referendum.

Your association is not the driver of commercial outcomes with respect to market development and orchard gate returns – that is the domain of exporters and commercial service providers.

However, we will be working closely with the exporter council (AVEC) and industry partners to foster innovation and determine who is doing what according to the plan. We will assist where it is agreed appropriate, and report performance against promise to growers.

As previously alluded to, more collaboration is happening in the commercial export arena; a merger between Global Fresh and Freshco, and the collaboration between three other players into Japan/SE Asia (NZAVO).

The collaberations (including AVANZA) mean there will be just three exporters to Japan this season.

But I make the appeal again to growers – get involved with your exporter grower groups to ensure your voice is listened to by your commercial partner. If there isn’t a grower body, form one.

NZAGA AGM and Grower Forums Thank you to all the growers who attended our recent AGM and Grower Forums. If you didn’t attend the forums, you missed very interesting presentations on a retailer’s view of the domestic market (Michael Whorskey, Progressive Enterprises), on orchard fruit quality and avocado rot prediction (Dr Henry

Pak – NZAGA and Dr Kerry Everett – Plant & Food), pollination of avocado in New Zealand and the honey bees’ performance (Dr David Pattemore – Plant & Food) and the export scene in 2012/13 (Alistair Young and Andrew Darling for AVEC).

At the AGM, CEO Jen Scoular presented a detailed traverse through the group accounts of NZAGA and its subsidiary AIC Limited showing the transition from ‘financial accounts’ to ‘activity accounts’ – where do we get our income from and what is it spent on which is now available on the website for further consideration at home.

A matter of significance and concern raised from the floor was with respect to biosecurity and the pending Government Industry Agreements (GIA) that we are required to look at on your behalf. The NZAGA has now signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MPI which commits us to a process to develop the business cases for surveillance and intervention with respect to the key pests or diseases that are considered significant with respect to avocados. That has a budgeted cost of approximately $70,000 in this year’s business plan.

Once the business cases are developed these would be presented to growers for consideration, and if thought appropriate, support for entering into the GIA deed on grower behalf. The NZAGA will not and cannot commit growers to GIA without a mandate from growers and this would be sought through a referendum process similar to the Commodity Levy Referendum.

Four remits were presented during the remit session and debated at length. Prior to the remit session I made the observation, reflecting on a similar ‘getting our heads above the parapet’ comment above, that it was

disappointing to me that three of the remits we were considering addressed ‘housekeeping’ and only one addressed long term matters - the very real issue of fruit quality, particularly for our fruit that will have to travel so far and long before presentation for retail sale.

Remit One (proposed Association Rule changes and reporting) and Remit Two (proposed Grower Council to ‘advise’ the Executive) were supported, and Remit Three (reporting and disclosure) and Remit Four (‘mandatory’ copper use until suitable alternatives) were defeated.

The Executive have some work to do with the movers of Remits One and Two to see how to give effect practical effect to these proposals. Please see the summary of voting results on page 19.

I ended the AGM congratulating sitting Executive members Ashby Whitehead (Bay of Plenty) and John Cotterell (At Large) on being reelected to the Executive and thanking Kathy Ashton and Kim Crocker for participating in the election process.

Commodity Levy Referendum Our Levy Referendum has been completed with a successful outcome.

Thank you to the growers who have participated in shaping your industry for the next six years.

HortNZ is also seeking a commodity levy renewal of $0.15c per $100.00 of income. The voting process for this will be complete by the time this issue of Avoscene is delivered to you. HortNZ operates in the political domain and doesn’t conduct research, marketing activities or have accountability for export marketing strategies under the HEA Act, as we do. It is operating in areas we cannot and in your Executive’s view is effectively delivering for growers – RMA, GIA support, Young Growers, water, the ‘right to farm’ etc.

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I CEO Comment I

The challenges con I’m writing as the provisional results of the commodity levy come in and thank sincerely the growers who voted, and particularly those who voted in support of the levy structure going forward.

Your ‘yes’ vote expresses your confidence in the five year plan, but also adds an accountability to us to deliver on that five year plan.

I accept that accountability, and know that you will ring me if you think we are not meeting our part of the delivery.

Your support of the Levy structure means we are able to show we have the support of our growers to move the industry forward, to step change, to create a profitable and sustainable avocado industry in New Zealand. This support is very important for the application we are making for government funding.

I have never before been a “campaigner”, but did positively campaign for support of the Levy. I am very aware that we are not there yet – that we have made small changes and there are lots to make yet.

I enjoyed the phone calls with growers in the couple of weeks leading up to the close of voting. These calls enlightened me on concerns I wasn’t aware of, and to the implications for growers at a personal level of the low returns and continuing challenges across the industry.

I would like to suggest I allocate a couple of days a month to talking to individual growers but know the idea will always exceed the execution, so I’ll just say that it was great to chat to those I had the opportunity to, and never be surprised if I give you a call.

That hurdle over, the challenges continue: opportunities in our export markets seem to change weekly, if not daily; the AGM saw two out of four grower remits passed and the crop estimate seems to be going south.

The Grower Forums in Tauranga and Whangarei went very well, but I 6

ntinue was disappointed not to get higher attendances at both events.

On a positive note, there seems to be wide support for the presence of an industry Five Year Plan, and growers want to be involved or consulted with around some of the activities in the plan and certainly on any new major science initiatives.

It has been a team effort to put together the five year plan, driven by the Executive’s strategy agreed at the meeting in May. The first year of the plan becomes the business plan for 2012-13, and I put the budget for the 2012-13 year up at the AGM. My AGM presentation is now on the website (wwwnzavocado.co.nz), please find it under: http://growers.nzavocado.co.nz/ index.php/pi_pageid/375 Backing up the five year plan is the forecast volumes to 2017-18, based on the current productive and newly planted hectares as provided by you in the annual registration process. Accurate hectare and tree number information is essential so we asked at the roadshows for growers to be as accurate as possible with their registration data.

Our estimates also assume that some mitigation of irregular bearing occurs during the five years as a result of the projects including the pruning trial, the avocado research consortium and new cultivar evaluation, so the forecast volumes currently show a lesser impact of irregular bearing in four and five years time.

We have heard from growers that we need to focus on fewer activities and ensure delivery on those and that is what we will work towards as we go forward.

We also set out at the roadshows that the budget for the five year plan caps costs to CPI increases only. No significant new projects will be taken on without grower consultation. We will need to better define what this means, and how we consult, and will talk to you about that over the coming months.

With a forecast increase in volume and a cap on costs, we are predicting a good decrease in the level of levies and

By Jen Scoular, NZAGA CEO jen.scoular@nzavocado.co.nz

fees over the next five years. But that is dependent on an increase in export volume over that time.

We did cover off the activities and budget for the 2012-13 business plan at the AGM. I enjoyed the range of topics at the grower forums, and we got some great feedback on the forum. I know we have talked about increasing value in the NZ market for a number of years, and we are looking again at how we might achieve this. Bevan and I attended the United Fresh AGM in May and met the fresh produce managers of the major NZ retailers, and asked if they would work with us on the NZ market. They are keen to do so and growers got a lot out of the session given by Michael Whorskey from Countdown which covered off the priorities and challenges around avocados at retail level. Michael prompted us to increase promotion and education, but also highlighted the real challenge irregular bearing has on retailers.

Foodstuffs and other retailers are also keen to work together with us in the New Zealand market. I also encourage growers to talk to the produce manager in your local store. Talk nicely of course, but help them understand that avocados like to be treated with care, and displayed well.

We invited Plant & Food to update growers on the work they are doing about pollination and had a great update on the work to date. NZAGA is funding a small part of a bumblebee project this year, following evidence that bumblebees work in cooler temperatures, and work harder it seems than honey bees, so may provide much better pollination of avocados, which we are seeking, particularly in in an off-year. The project involves the artificial cultivation of bumblebee colonies in orchards. Results will be made available as the project continues.

Plant & Food also presented the session with Henry Pak on quality, and Andrew Darling and Alistair Young presented the AVEC exporters session on the markets

for the coming year. Even in the week between the two forums the updates from the markets have changed so we all need to be very open to change as the season unfolds this year.

I talked again at the forum and the AGM about the business case we are putting together for government funding to accelerate solutions to our significant issues of irregular bearing and developing new markets. It’s a terrific opportunity for the industry to source funding, with an objective to transform the industry and bring sustainable and profitable returns to growers. There will be no increase in grower funding, contribution will be from current levies and fees and we are sourcing funding from co-investors across the industry.

The opportunity has been offered to all exporters, and I would like to see all exporters being pro-active about participating.

John and I had a good look around the growing region in Western Australia recently. We were hosted by two grower groups, the Delroys and the Franceschis and saw a number of orchards, mostly very large, and some very impressive newly planted orchards.

Certainly from the similarity of growing conditions, this is the area New Zealand growers should be looking at to compare on-orchard practises, as with their cooler climate, and similar growing season, it mirrors NZ much more than the Eastern states do. Fruit on the trees looked very clean, was sizing up well, but was not huge; however, volumes were significant on the orchards we saw.

The “official” crop estimate from WA is still about 3m trays (from 700k in 201112) but market intelligence is suggesting that volume will not be reached.

We know growers are seeking change, and an upwards change. Progress towards a more integrated industry that has well developed markets demanding high quality NZ avocados is never going to be speedy, but I believe we are making steps, albeit, small steps. But no step forward will be sustainable without growers support. I hope we have yours.

7

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By Alistair Young AIC Export Director alastair@southernproduce.co.nz

I Exporter Comment I

The season has begun Harvesting As we roll into the 2012 export season we face a change of direction that will test exporters, growers and packers alike.

The drive into new and emerging markets for New Zealand sees us facing logistical demands that will disturb lifestyles and challenge what has been the norm in our industry. It is a new game this season and what we could get away with in the past will not be adequate going forward.

The first major challenge is the disciplines behind fruit age management.

New Zealand’s ace card when marketing against our international competitors is quality. To achieve a premium return above fruit from South America, let alone be purchased ahead of them, we need our quality to be better. Old fruit does not give us that edge and with our re-entry on a larger scale into the USA, and our desire to maintain our position in the Japanese market, we need to address some basic challenges. At the grower forums I urged growers to help exporters by harvesting for vessels and not picking too early for the long distance markets. An example of the logistical difficulties is that there is one boat for Japan and it cuts off loading on a

Wednesday, then there is only one boat for the USA and it cuts off on a Saturday. This means if the fruit is picked for Japan and the USA at the same time, we have several days’ difference in fruit age at loading.

Growers need to work with their packers and exporters in an attempt to keep the fruit as young as possible by looking at all market options every day of the week. Talk to your exporter on this one.

MRLs are an issue and it is vital that any orchard spray diary, which shows a potential for problems, be tested prior to harvest to ensure clean entry into sensitive markets. Take no risks in this area as a residue picked up in an offshore market affects all of New Zealand, not just the exporter concerned. A positive result can have long-term ramifications for our industry.

Sizing is proving to be an issue, with the season starting with fruit much smaller than last season. Week ending 31 August saw 57 per cent 25ct and smaller harvested and this is a very small profile historically. The wet weather hasn’t helped and with flowering happening shortly we are not expecting a big improvement until late November. The smaller fruit helps with most of the new markets but is a handbrake on volume for the USA

and Australia and will bring the overall estimate down.

The market The market outlook is confused at present, with many possible outcomes.

New Zealand is up against a competitive environment in Japan and the USA, with Mexico and Chile active and competing at very sharp values. New Zealand will have to compete on price to have a presence there.

The Australian market is a moving target with a healthy wholesale market at present but the big Western Australian harvest is yet to begin in earnest. On paper if we flowplan Australia well we can expect a reasonable outcome this season, however this optimism must not deter us from pushing out into the developing markets as planned. There is a big flowering coming in New Zealand and it follows that we will have a potentially big crop in 2013. The ground work is needed now to create opportunity for that fruit, to my knowledge all exporters are pushing into these markets with aggression. We will monitor flow plans and market volumes with interest over the next couple of months to see if we manage to meet the new market targets.

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I Local Market Comment I

By Mike Swan Domestic Sales and Marketing, Southern Produce Ltd mike@southernproduce.co.nz

Hopes for a good innings To all intents and purposes we are facing an off-year, usually characterised by lower volumes and stronger returns for fruit sold on the New Zealand market.

Regionally we have all experienced one of the wettest Julys on record, which was then followed by a similarly sodden August. While the extreme rainfall caused all sorts of difficulties on orchard, it quite clearly had a positive effect on the supply and value of early season fruit.

Good advancing of dry matters in June was slowed by these record rainfalls.

There were numerous reports of dry matters decreasing by several points after the periods of high rainfall. Then, as orchards did start to pass, access for picking machinery and personnel was often hampered by impossible ground conditions.

The net result of all this was that for the

opening six weeks of the new season, the industry pack reports averaged a sensible 20,000 trays packed per week. Values were firm, and growers would have been satisfied.

The sad irony is that at the time of writing, the wholesale market is currently awash with fruit, values have fallen, and to coin a sporting phrase, “a good start with runs on the board has been undone by a collapse in the batting order”.

In the last two weeks of August there was almost 80,000 trays packed for the local market. That is an extraordinary volume for this early in the season, let alone in an off-year.

Quite clearly this last fortnight could have been better managed. The industry pack report for the week ending August 24 showed 43,000 trays packed, almost three times that of the previous week.

An experienced marketer even went as far as questioning the accuracy of the figure of 43,500 trays stated in the last Pack Report. He had hoped that there was a typographical error as he fully understood

I Organic Growers’ Comment I

the effect that such a volume would have.

The report was correct and unfortunately now, some ten days later, his concerns about the effect of this volume have been realised.

The industry pack report is a useful tool in managing the crop to best advantage to the grower. All key suppliers to the New Zealand market have access to the report and it should be utilised more effectively to try and avoid situations such as this one.

Most suppliers should be able to offer the grower a reasonable indication of the New Zealand market trend at the time, and give some reasonably accurate indications of likely returns.

With the main export season due to start in the next week or two, let’s hope that by the time this article goes to print, “the lower order has settled in, and we are well on the way to a good innings”.

By Mike Crum NZOAGI chairperson mpcjcrum@xtra.co.nz

Another alternative to copper I note with interest the compulsory copper debate has come up again.

From an organic growers’ point of view we are able to use copper within IFOAM rules. What we are trying to do however is create an environment in the orchard where the biology is in some sort of balance, and enhancing the ability to grow fruit and combat pests and diseases. The idea of spraying the soil and tree eight times per year with a compound designed to kill biology, specifically fungi, is self-defeating in what we are trying to achieve.

With my non-organic hat on I think if copper has any merit, 10

growers will use it with commercial drivers as their reason. If copper had any long term benefits, fruit sprayed with it would be able to earn a premium on non-coppered crops.

Compulsory copper doesn’t sound like the greatest marketing tool. Calendar spraying fruit crops is the past not the future.

We picked our first 100 bins on July 14 and they are being sold through a specialist organic wholesaler. The last of them have been sold around August 23 from the wholesaler. There has been no copper applied to the trees in the 15 years of their existence. They’ve obviously lasted the 30 days plus some expected of avocados.

I must ask how many they couldn’t sell because of rots.

I Packer Comment I

By Lindsay Wells NZ Avocado Packers Forum chairman natural.touch@xtra.co.nz

Collaboration key to success I introduce myself as a grower, post-harvest operator and part-time industry politician.

I have been growing persimmons since 1981 and packing them for export since 1986 at Kauri, north of Whangarei. Our 15 hectare family orchard is managed by my daughter Bronwyn and her husband Lance and as the production surpassed that for our orchard packhouse, we needed a larger facility. It was fortunate that four seasons ago the opportunity arose to purchase the Hevila packhouse in Maungatapere, we took the chance and changed the name to NTL Fruitpackers.

Our company and NTL Fruitpackers is managed by my son Duane and my wife Terrie also helps manage the packhouse: we are a family business.

I have been involved with the persimmon industry as chairman of the growers association through the ’90s and shared meetings with Ron Bailey during the early years. I chaired the Persimmon Industry Council, a product group under the HEA, for seven years until I resigned

last year.

I have now been given the privilege of chairing the NZAPF, where we are all as one with our aim to work with the NZAGA and AIC to ensure the sustainability of the New Zealand avocado industry.

Psa has hit the kiwifruit industry and consequences will be felt within our avocado post-harvest industry now and in the future. Our major packhouses rely on kiwifruit to reduce the overheads that have a flow-on effect for the avocado harvest by reduce packing costs. The Psa effect and biennial bearing volume fluctuations has given not only the NZAPF but the industry as a whole cause for concern.

Skilled orchard and post-harvest labour is expensive to train and production volume fluctuations will stress market gains. The result is that we will have difficulty retaining that skill and market gains we have developed in high volume years.

The industry frustrations born from a poor OGR year have resulted in the growers lately requiring more say in their industry. This must be applauded by all

who have a commercial interest in the sustainable success of avocados in New Zealand, as long it is for the right reasons.

If this industry is to survive the next few years, it is collaboration at grower, postharvest and marketer level that will bring each and every value added dollar from the fruit and turn it into profit.

The cornerstone to that sustainability is the need to produce, pack and market a fruit that has its value accepted at the consumer level. Each and every one of us who would wish to make a living from the avocado must allow the others in the value chain to make a profit as long as they add value.

A value added chain will only work if the product is what the consumer wants.

Everyone from the grower to packhouse to the marketer must be committed and want to meet the market demand. The market will soon remove the weak links quicker than compliance police. We are all in this together and accept that we will all need to be part of the risk taking, (for example, the development of new markets) not because we are told to but because we want and understand the need too.

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Industry 5 Year Plan Recap To maximise grower value over the long term To meet the needs of growers for a sustainable and profitable return, the industry objective is to leverage the increasing demand for the high nutritional properties of premium quality avocados from New Zealand.

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The AGA has set three major strategic objectives being: 1. To produce a consistent and sustainable supply of New Zealand avocados to meet consumer needs - Consistent production - Maximise on-orchard productivity 2. Maximise long term value by a disciplined approach to market development and retention 3. To ensure a strong representative industry structure supports the growth of a sustainable and profitable NZ avocado industry To view the five year plan please go to www.nzavocado.co.nz About > Vision & Strategy

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I Growers’ Comment I

By Elaine Fisher Journalist elaine@thesun.co.nz

Good start for industry change NZ Avocado Growers’ Association is on the right track with its five year plan but improving the fortunes of the industry is the responsibility of all its players – that’s the view of several growers interviewed

by Avoscene.

Jim Wyatt, avocado grower of Kauri Point near Katikati, supports the general thrust of the five year plan, the levy and industry structures.

“The key focus in the five year plan is to develop markets outside of Australia. My main concern is around the marketing side. I think the industry needs clearer reporting by packhouses and marketers – they should be required to fill in statistics for NZAGA to publish in Avoscene.

“NZAGA has shied away from and seems reluctant to tread on toes by publishing information which would be helpful to growers.”

Jim believes NZAGA should publish guidelines and key questions growers should ask when signing agreements.

[NOTE: A roadmap to exporter contracts was published Winter 2012 Avoscene page 23]. NZAGA should also let growers know what exporters actually did, including where they sent fruit and what percentages went to each market.

By publishing broad statements of market statistics, where fruit went and what returns were, NZAGA could assist orchardists to make informed choices when it came to choosing an exporter.

“In 2010-11 there was an agreement that 25 per cent of the fruit would be exported out of Australia. However, only

one exporter did that and the agreement was broken, causing disaster in the Australian market.

“Exporters are taking short cuts and picking the eyes out of markets. We need exporters who are here for the long haul.”

However, growers must take some responsibility for the industry’s performance, he believes.

“It’s partly growers’ fault that they are picked off by promises. They should be making decisions based on long term goals for the industry as well as for themselves.”

While the plan aims to address issue of biennial bearing, Jim believes it is a fact of life.

“We are growing in a marginal situation. The best growing areas in the world have trouble, so we have them to a greater degree. We have to recognise our situation and budget and plan for that.”

Maria and Andrew Watchorn have been growing avocado on their three canopy hectare orchard at Omokoroa for seven years and Maria says she is pleased with the plan.

“The situation has come to a head where the industry needed a five year plan and what I like about this one is there is quite a lot of accountability surrounding it and it has been staged to make sure that accountability is looked at on a regular basis.”

Developing new markets and NZAGA being part of the Avocado Research Consortium (an international collaboration of the world’s top avocado scientists) is also positive, Maria says.

“Having a plan is one thing. Following it through and making sure it is acted upon and that information is regularly communicated to growers is the next step.”

Franz and Sandy Imlig have been growing avocados for 13 years in the

lower Kaimai Ranges, where altitude means trees flower and fruit several weeks later than those closer to sea level.

Franz believes the five year plan will set the industry on the right track and NZAGA has done a good job in informing growers about the plan through road shows and other communication.

“They have done everything in their power to keep growers informed and anyone who doesn’t know what has been happening has had their head in the sand.

It is now up to growers to act on that information.”

Franz says the industry needs to develop new markets overseas to secure its future and can’t afford a repeat of last season’s poor returns.

“Last season was very hard on many growers, with some having to find work off the orchards when they had been hoping their first big crop in years would bring in a good income.”

For Mathew Heller there was nothing really new in the five year plan.

“We’ve heard it all before. Nothing stood out as a fantastic new idea to help us move forward,” says Mathew, who has an avocado orchard at Ongare Point just north of Katikati.

However, Mathew says if the proposals in the plan are acted upon they would help the industry head in the right direction.

The problems of poor returns last season couldn’t be blamed on any one person or organisation, he says.

“It is an industry-wide problem and everyone, including growers and exporters, needs to learn from it.

“Hopefully NZAGA have taken on board grower sentiment and I think they have. There is a lot which needs to be done but change will take time.”

Mathew says tough as last season was, it 13

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14

Regional Roun As another winter draws to a close and spring is just around the corner I consider what has transpired since my last article.

Winter for Far FAR NORTH North growers has Ian Broadhurst been a mixed bag with a few frosts but luckily no real wind and wild weather events. Our main issue has been the constant rain which has left many properties water logged and difficult to access to pick or just manage general orchard operations. I feel for those growers further south on heavier soils that must be really struggling considering what we have experienced in terms of rainfall.

Overall impression to date is that maturity is probably well behind previous years and fruit size as a rule has been a real issue, as most growers finally reach suitable dry matter only to find orchards down a count size. As the owner and manager of young orchards, I would fully expect to have a good size profile but have had issues in comparison to previous years.

It is my general impression that flowering is more advanced than previous years, I checked my dairy from last year and note we had our hives in on 11 October; in discussion with growers earlier this week the consensus is maybe bees may only be two or three weeks away before they are required. On reflection it could well be the reason why our size profile is down slightly as we flowered later last year and had a generally cooler and wetter summer.

All the above combined will only add to the challenges of being a successful and profitable grower, wetter than normal conditions has provided plenty of opportunity for phytophthora to cause issues while six spotted mite

and thrip populations have been high right through the winter.

As a result we are now faced with managing these significant pest issues on winter stressed trees whilst trying to export our fruit to destinations that require spray programmes which offer little flexibility in terms of lasting controls.

Recent NZAGA field days and locally run field days have seen an excellent turn out, with many growers looking to up-skill and learn from the discussion group environment. In the Far North particularly there has been a realisation that the cultivar programme is showing its worth especially in replant situations.

Innovations in the use of Plant growth regulators adds a new dimension of tools which growers can now use. New chemistry offers longer term control for some of our serious pests. Thanks to those service providers in the north that take the time to demonstrate what is available.

Many thanks to the growers who attended the 2012 NZAGA AGM held at Tauranga; a very well organised event and congratulations to Jen and the team who run our industry.

The turnout was impressive and gave the opportunity for considerable healthy discussion giving the executive plenty to consider as we look to implement strategies to coincide with the five year plan.

I believe this was a continuation of the informed discussion which took place during the recent road shows and continues to assist those that manage your industry with the decisions that reflect the opinion of the grower base.

I would encourage all growers to maintain this level of debate via your reps to ensure informed and robust decision making on your behalf.

Good luck for the up-andcoming export season.

ndups

News and views from your regional NZAGA Grower Representatives

Government Industry Agreement (GIA) I recently attended a GIA workshop at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in Wellington and the following is an overview of that BAY OF PLENTY meeting.

Ashby Whitehead

What is GIA? The joint investment of primary industry groups and Government to manage biosecurity preparedness GIA in the context of the overall biosecurity system The biggest concern of primary industry groups was for the efficacy of the New Zealand biosecurity system and for assurance about the integration of its parts. This was expressed most strongly in relation to border and pre-border biosecurity and extended to needing a focus across the biosecurity chain including pest management.

Isn’t it nice to see the sun again without any rain?

I finally got my August fertiliser on with only a week to spare. With the amount of rain we have had in the Bay, the fertiliser would have been AT LARGE washed away if I had applied John Cotterell it any earlier. We have had the most rain in a month I have ever recorded in the 14 years we have owned our orchard. We had 433mm in July and another 123mm in the first four days of August, that’s over half a metre in just over a month! I have heard of a number of other orchards in the Bay that had lot more than that.

I’m planning on applying a miticide to control the building numbers of six spotted mites in my orchard before the bees are put in for pollination. I have learnt from past experience that you need to control six spotted mites before

Primary industry groups sought assurance that their investment in the system would be of value and its underwriting exposure was clear and manageable. Some industries looked beyond biosecurity to the full range of industry engagement by MPI and looked for integration and consistency across that wider scope.

The idea of government engagement with industry on the “end to end biosecurity system” was welcomed but more definition was needed on what that might mean in practice.

The idea of “partnership” needs further exploration and definition in terms of constructive two way engagement.

The following was offered as a development of the principles: Government and industry to work together in partnership to achieve more efficient biosecurity systems in a spirit of goodwill and cooperation for the benefit of the NZ economy.

flowering, because as the trees become stressed by the pressure of flowering, the mites seem to sense this and their populations explode. If you don’t control the mites within two to three weeks, you can have trees defoliating because of excessive numbers of mites. You will need to consider withholding periods for the spray that you are going to use and your intended pick date. In my view you are better to control the mites even if it means moving your picking date out; talk to your exporter or packhouse rep before you do anything.

It was great to see good numbers of growers at the NZAGA’s New Cultivars field days that I attended in Franklin and in the BOP, with good interaction between growers, consultants and Alvaro Vidiella. This format for field days is very informative, and with plenty of time for a casual chat afterward is being well received by all attending.

Benefits of participation Primary industry groups want to clearly understand the consequences of participation and non-participation in GIA. This means defining how government will treat non-signatory beneficiaries and exacerbators and how costs and benefits will be dealt with in relation to these parties. It also needs the detail of how some specifics of GIA will operate, e.g. cost sharing, rules of engagement, governance, representation, fiscal caps, and how governance functions.

There is also concern that issues of scale of industry are taken into account. Some industries are concerned that the benefits of participation might be eroded by a “one size fits all approach” and bring into question the value of a standard deed for all industry groups.

As you can see this will be a somewhat long and drawn out process to achieve a final Deed of Agreement.

I would like to congratulate Jen and her team for organising a great Grower Forum and AGM, comments from those attending were very complimentary.

There is a massive amount of work goes on behind the senses, well done everyone!

At the time of writing this article the export season is starting to get into full swing. Growers will have to be very vigilant when it comes to choices of spray and withholding periods as most of the markets exporters are shipping to have very different withholding periods than Australia. The coming season will not be easy for any exporters, so if you are not sure of anything to do with your fruit, get in touch with your exporter or packhouse reps – they will be able to advise you on your best options.

Lastly I would like to thank all the growers that supported me in last month’s NZAGA Executive rep elections. Thank you.

15

Regional Roundups The current winter wet is one of the worst in my memory. At the time of writing it is the middle of August and I have not been able to take any machinery into my orchard for MID NORTH over six weeks. We

By Mike Eagles need some seriously dry weather in the next few weeks to enable us to get to work in our orchards and set them up for the spring season and flowering.

With warmer times approaching I would advise keeping a close eye on pest monitoring results as pest populations can increase rapidly. This is ideal weather for phytophthora, so I would also advise all growers to take all precautions possible to help your tree health and resist this root disease.

The domestic market is looking strong at the moment so I would ask all growers to show some discipline and some common sense and allow it to stay that way and don’t dump bin loads of fruit on the market. If you know someone who is, have a quiet word in their

Continued

ear and their pack shed’s ear and ask them to desist for the good of the whole industry. We all need to work together if the industry is to move forward and be profitable for everyone. Peer pressure can help.

I have attended two Rootstock and Cultivar field days recently at Whangarei and Mangawhai and they were both very interesting and informative and it was a pity more growers did not attend. Those growers that did were outnumbered by rural professionals.

The Grower Forum and NZAGA Annual General Meeting were well attended in Tauranga on August 23 and 24. The topics at the Grower Forum were well presented and very interesting, congratulations to the presenters and organisers.

The AGM was full of robust debate and of the four remits two were supported and two were opposed. Personally I welcome good debate and discussion; it can be a good learning experience for all as long as it does not become personal.

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Winter has gone and South Auckland seems to have got away with less rain than the rest of the regions.

We have had some heavy frosts earlier in the winter but I have not heard of any major damage.

I recently attended a new rootstocks field day led by Alvaro. We had a REST OF NZ reasonable turn out of growers eager

By David French to find out more about the success or otherwise of Dusa and now Bounty.

In my opinion if you are considering planting new blocks or replanting old ones you must give serious consideration to clonals. Sure the initial tree cost is much greater than for traditional Zutanos but the payback in increased phytothphora tolerance should quickly recoup the initial investment. If a tree is under less PC pressure then it would seem reasonable to assume that it may have less tendency to alternate bearing as well.

This year many orchards have got light or no crops and so should be heading into an on year for flowering.

If this is the case on your orchard, then today would be a good day to start pruning off excess flowers. The sooner you start to do this the sooner you start setting your trees on a more even production keel.

Personally I don’t do flower pruning at this time of year because I have already given my trees a moderate prune post harvest in the Feb to April period meaning I have already ‘flower pruned’ then even though there were no flowers visible. I favour this approach as I believe it is less wasteful of the trees’ resources. However, if you haven’t pruned in the autumn, then flower prune now.

Good luck with spring and early harvesting.

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16

NZAGA Highlights Winter 2012 Industry plan established The NZAGA team has put together an industry five year plan which has been presented at the Commodity Levy Roadshows in June and talked about at the Grower Forum and AGM. The plan sets out activity for the next five years under three strategic objectives.

Read more about the five year plan and grower comments on page 12.

for funding from the Primary Growth Partnership. If successful, the funding will provide the necessary resource to accelerate projects such as the development of new markets. The PGP is a governmentindustry initiative launched in September 2009 to invest in significant programmes of research and innovation that will boost the economic growth and sustainability of New Zealand’s primary, forestry and food sectors.

Commodity Levy Referendum successful Growers have shown their support for the continued collection of Commodity Levies on all avocados sold as fresh fruit on the local market and sold for export.

Thank you to all growers who engaged with us during the referendum process and thank you to those who voted. We will now be working on making the application to MPI. If this is successful; the new Levy Order will come into force in July 2013.

External speakers at the Grower Forum It was great to have speakers from the wider industry at the 2012 Grower Forum, special thanks to Michael Whorskey from Countdown, Kerry Everett and Dave Pattemore from Plant & Food and Alistair Young and Andrew Darling, our AIC export directors. Valuable information was shared and we aim to include more of this integration with different parts of the supply chain as we move forward.

NZAGA asked to prepare business case for PGP NZAGA is in the process of preparing a business case as part of an application

Avocados on Breakfast TV What a way to kick off the NZ avocado season promotion. On September 8 avocados were featured on Breakfast during the regular 5+A Day spot which

NZAGA happily arranged some lovely avocados for. Chef Eugene Hamilton from Euro talked to Tamati about the versatility of avocados and shared some fantastic recipes.

See the video athttp://tvnz.co.nz/ breakfast-news/recipe-avocado-5069619/ video New cultivar field days Field days were held in July to provide growers with a background of the new cultivars project and encourage discussion about new cultivar performance and management.

These were led by Alvaro Vidiella with great support from nurserymen, consultants, and growers who have planted new cultivars.

Read more about this on page 42.

Packer training for 2012 season Packhouse managers, quality manager as and quality inspectors at export registered packhouses have been brought up to speed on quality control updates for packing for the 2012 season. Matt Gallagher from AsureQuality and Henry Pak ran four sessions across Te Puke, Katikati and Whangarei in early September.

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2012 NZAGA AGM in Giving a clear explanation of how grower funds are used and the outcomes of spend was a focus of Jen Scoular’s CEO report presentation at the 2012 NZAGA AGM held in Tauranga on August 24.

“It is important that we all understand the funds that NZAGA collects from growers and the way we spend the levies and fees we collect from you and from the industry.”

Jen explained a slide which growers first saw at last year’s AGM, which sets out what activity is funded by each income stream See Figure 1.

Figure 1 Both the Commodity levy and Promotion Levy boxes are commodity levies, as set out in the current commodity levy act.

In 2011-12 NZAGA collected $1.3m in commodity levies being a 3% levy on fresh and processed fruit sold in New Zealand and a 15 cents per export tray levy. Those levies are used in the main to fund NZAGA and AIC management, including governance, and for communications.

We collect 20 cents per export tray for promotions, a total last year of $744,000 which was used for promotions in both the New Zealand and export markets. $1.4m was collected in the 42c EMS management fee, rebated back to 27c, and 18

registrations, which was used to fund the export and quality systems, biosecurity and market access and the export governance under the HEA model through the recognised product group.

The summary Financial Report (set out on page 20 of the Annual Report) showed that the record crop of 6.18m trays produced revenue of $3.49m with $3.0m in costs incurred, resulting in a surplus of $466.7k.

This compares to a budget for 2011-12 of 5.7m trays and a deficit of $95k.

Jen commented on how this spend compared to the budget she presented at the 2011-12 AGM. “We did make ambitious plans on the back of a huge increase in volume and a large number of activities we needed to undertake across the industry. In fact the export season as we all know was very challenging and our focus went from new activity to very much focussing on the season to hand. We also recognised early in the export season that grower returns were under pressure – so keeping costs down became a focus.”

Income was budgeted on an export volume of 3.4m trays but actual export volume was 15% higher at 3.9m trays. The result of additional income was a rebate made on the EMS management fee in April 2012 of 15 cents a tray.

“Cost wise, we did not reduce our spend on promotions, recognising the need to fuel demand in markets which were slow or very slow. We were fully employed as a team, so salary costs remained on budget.

Some big ticket items were delayed, but are still expected to be spent, including GIA preparation and the Avocado Research Consortium project. We continued to seek to focus on key areas, so a number of smaller projects within EMS and research did not happen, and will not happen.”

Jen then went over the 2012-13 business plan and budget, explaining that this is year one of the five year plan.

“We are focussing on activities that work

towards the achievement of the three strategic objectives in the five year plan – a consistent and sustainable supply, retaining access and developing new markets and having a strong representative industry structure in place.”

Jen explained that the top priorities budgeted for this year are the pruning trial, cultivar evaluations, market development and access, biosecurity and ensuring the strong representative industry structure is in place and working for growers.

“We returned a significant surplus last year, and the Board has approved a budget with an equally significant deficit for the current year.”

The budget was approved in May when the crop estimate was 3.45m trays. This resulted in budgeted income of $2.4m versus $3.5m in 2011-12. This means a decrease in costs from $3.0m to $2.9m, but costs other than promotion have increased from $2.3m to $2.5m “We are also working to obtain government funding through a Primary Growth Partnership to support a step change in the industry, to fast-track solutions for the challenges of irregular bearing and new market development, while promoting integration, sharing of information and collaboration.”

Jen shared that NZAGA have been asked to proceed to the business case stage of the application process.

“If successful we will have the ability to fast track projects which we have been limited in achieving quickly because of the financial constraints.”

Jen explained that the PGP provides an opportunity to implement the step change needed to develop a profitable avocado industry.

If you have questions, please email Jen jen. scoular@nzavocado.co.nz or phone 0800 286 2236.

Minutes are available on the industry website www.nzavocado co.nz>About >NZAGA and AIC meeting minutes.

By Midge Munro NZAGA Communications Manager mmunro@nzavocado.co.nz

Review Results from the AGM Remit Session Four remits were put up to be debated and voted on during the NZAGA AGM remit session.

Two remits in particular had a polarizing effect on voters. See below for a summary of the voting numbers and outcomes.

Remit 1: That the Executive be directed: (a) To comply with both the words and spirit of Rule 12.3.7. (b) To amend the constitution of the Avocado Industry Council Limited by adding at the end of clause 20(e) the words: “within the limits set by resolution of a general meeting of the Shareholder.” (c) To amend the constitution of the Avocado Industry Council Limited by inserting as sub-clause 23(a), and re-ordering the subsequent sub-clauses, “By a resolution of a general meeting of the Shareholder unless the Board has good reason not to do so, and reports thereon at the next general meeting of the Shareholder.”

Moved: Ewan Price Seconded: Jenny Price Votes

For

Against

Ordinary

150

62

Levy

1372

607

Total

1522

669

CARRIED

Remit 2: That the Association establish a “Avocado Grower Council” charged with the power to review and advise the Executive and the AIC board of growers’ position on industry issues.

That the “Avocado Grower Council” consist of growers only ie: growers with no Directorship or employment with any commercial exporting or packing avocado industry organization.”

Moved: ML Pease Seconded: NW Ewart Votes

For

Against

Ordinary

119

94

Levy

995

940

Total

1114

1034

CARRIED Remit 3: That the Executive be directed to: a) Circulate to all members the full audited Group Financial Statements for the AGA and its Subsidiaries as part of the annual AGM pack. b) Ensure that as far as relates to all related party transactions with members of the Executive and Directors of the AIC Ltd, in whatever capacity, that the disclosure standard applied in the Group Financial Statements circulated to members be the same as for a listed public company. c) Ensure that the annual Group Financial Statements circulated to members include a disclosure on

Employee Remuneration along the same lines as for a listed public company.

Moved: Bryan Cheshire Seconded: Kim Crocker Votes

For

Against

Ordinary

108

105

Levy

927

1043

Total

1035

1148

FAILED Remit 4: That copper sprays be made mandatory for exporting avocado, until such time as suitable alternatives are available for control of storage rots. The correct dosage, timing and concentrations to be advised by research already documented, and confirmed by best orchard practice.

Moved: Alaric Newbald Seconded: Jack Crozier Results for Remit 4 Votes

For

Against

Ordinary

59

153

Levy

667

1321

Total

726

1474

FAILED

Signed: Returning Officer: Edwina Aitchison

19

Commodity Levy - Growers vote “yes” Growers have shown their support for the continued collection of Commodity Levies on all avocados sold as fresh fruit on the local market and sold for export.

Export

Domestic

Total number of supporting votes 74%

63%

Total volume of supporting votes 80% 62%

74% of those who voted said “YES” to the proposed export Commodity Levy and the “YES” votes accounted for 80% of the production of those who voted.

63% of those who voted said “YES” to the proposed Commodity Levy on domestic fresh fruit and the “YES” votes accounted for 62% of production of

those who voted.

The results of the two ballots confirm that a majority of avocado growers agree with the imposition of a compulsory levy on the sale of avocados grown for consumption in New Zealand and for export and the NZAGA can now proceed with its application for a new Avocado Commodity Levies Order.

About the Levy The levy funds the activities required to carry out the industry Five Year Plan.

Growers have voted to keep the levy structures and the maximum rates for each levy. The levy rates will be voted on by growers annually at each AGM. The rates for the first year will apply from the time the Levy Order is made (proposed as July 2013) until 30 April 2014. The proposed levy rates are as follows: For avocados grown and sold for consumption in New Zealand as fresh fruit: • A maximum rate of 3% of the sale

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For avocados produced in New Zealand and exported from New Zealand: • A maximum rate of 50 cents per tray • For 2013-14 the rate will be set at 35 cents per tray, consisting of o 20 cents per tray promotions o 15 cents per tray Export Commodity Levy Next Steps NZAGA will now prepare an application for a new Avocado Commodity Levies Order which will be sent to the Primary Industries Minister in November. The application will pass through a Cabinet process and if successful, the new Levy Order will come into force in July 2013.

The consultation process around the referendum provided valuable feedback from growers which will be taken into account as we go forward.

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By Midge Munro NZAGA Communications Manager mmunro@nzavocado.co.nz

Grower Forums Following the success of the inaugural grower forums in 2011, NZAGA organised another round for 2012, this time incorporating speakers from the wider industry.

Integration and Innovation was the theme of the 2012 Grower Forums held in both Tauranga and Whangarei in August.

Jen Scoular opened the forum by saying that integration and innovation are both critical to taking the industry forward and maximising grower value over the long term.

“Integration and innovation are both critical to our future success, and it’s not something that we can leave others to do.

“We’d like you to start thinking about how you yourself might innovate or integrate to make improvements on your orchard or within your payment pool or within your communication with us or with other growers. We need to see more integration and innovation and to see it being enacted right across the value chain.”

The first topic of the day was a run

through of the top priorities in the 201213 Business Plan from Jen. “It’s been put together by us all as a team – with an objective always to deliver value for growers. We are working hard on improving our delivery to you, and bringing in efficiencies and processes to help us do things better, faster and for less.”

All the topics presented were relevant to the five year plan and its three strategic objectives.

“Firstly, we aim to produce a consistent and sustainable supply of New Zealand Avocados to meet consumer needs. In order to do this we need to focus our spend on those projects which can influence our productivity and our yield.”

Dave Pattemore from Plant & Food and Alvaro Vidiella presented pollination research which is seeking ways for growers to optimise pollination to minimise the off-year effect. NZAGA has supported this project with $4000. Read more about this on page 24.

Henry Pak and Roger Barber presented an outline of the Avocado Research Consortium (ARC) project which aims to bring the best scientists from around the world together to develop tools for the

mitigation of irregular bearing.

“We need to develop and maintain markets and market access for the increasing volumes of New Zealand avocados. Consumers perhaps don’t come up as often as they should in our industry communications and strategies.

Consumers drive our industry because if consumers don’t want to buy and eat New Zealand avocados we don’t have an industry.”

Michael Whorskey, Countdown business manager – fruit produce, presented the Countdown strategy for avocados and shared insights into how Countdown meets consumer needs and in particular how we might provide better meet the needs of consumers.

Alistair Young and Andrew Darling our two export directors gave an update from AVEC on our export markets. Read more about this on page 9.

Henry and Kerry Everett from Plant & Food talked about quality practices on the orchard and how this affects the final quality of your fruit in the market.

Feedback from those who attended was very good, however the turnouts were well down on last year; Whangarei had 51 attendees and Tauranga had 90.

Presentation Highlights Business plan session Jen Scoular, NZAGA CEO Top priorities for 2012-13 • Consistent and sustainable supply o Pruning Trial o New Cultivar Evaluation o Avocado Research Consortium (ARC) • Retain and develop markets o Market access o Market development • Strong representative industry structure o Grower engagement and communication 22

Countdown Session Michael Whorskey, Countdown, Business Manager fruit produce Key points • Countdown’s vision is to become the destination for avocado consumers.

• Growers should feel welcome to approach and speak to produce managers in-store about avocados.

• Recognises there is still a gap in consumer education in terms of storage, ripening and usage ideas.

• Countdown is happy to work with industry and suppliers to grow avocado sale in New Zealand.

• New Zealand consumers are price motivated – 75% of what Countdown sells is on special.

• There are quality systems in place and quality at the distribution centre is 100%, challenges are presented at store level - produce managers’ knowledge and consumer interference with the product.

• Wastage in avocados is very high compared to other produce - 10%.

Grower Forums

Continued

Challenges for Countdown • Avocado supply – heavy crop followed by a lighter crop.

• Poor quality fruit on wholesale markets floors.

• A lack of investment in the New Zealand market.

Future of avocados • Industry needs to develop a clear strategy for the NZ market that achieves a positive result for retailers, growers and the consumer.

Quality Session - Henry Pak, NZAGA Scientist and Kerry Everett, Plant and Food, Senior Scientist The key quality issue facing the NZ industry last year was development of fuzzy patches (fungal rots) in hard green fruit during coolstorage. Although exacerbated by market conditions the problem was present in library trays here onshore at levels last seen in the 2003 export season. It is an on-orchard problem and needs to be controlled on-orchard.

ARC Session - Henry Pak and Roger Barber, AIC Director We have talked about the Avocado Research Consortium for some time now, and although projects have not yet started – the board is committed to this significant investment over five years.

Key points •

ARC is an international collaboration of avocado producing nations to bring together the best scientific minds in avocado research for the development of tools for the mitigation of biennial bearing.

•

No projects have started yet – not all the international members have signed it off yet.

•

It is of strategic importance to the industry to resolve irregular bearing due to its impacts on the development of new markets. Lost value to the industry is estimated at $130M over previous seven years.

•

It is an expectation that the project will deliver benefit to growers throughout the life of the project.

•

Experimental trials will be set up in the three major growing regions in NZ, with similar trials set up in each of the participating countries.

•

There is an ability to leverage funds from Horticulture Australia Limited. Over 5 Years the project will cost US$3m of which NZAGA will contribute a maximum of US$100k per annum.

Key points •

• •

•

Fungal rots carry over from one season to the next.

Library trays indicate that there will be potential issues this season.

Copper can stop infections occurring in the orchard but requires regular application to be effective.

Dr Kerry Everett (Plant and Food) is working on a method to test the number of disease propagules in an orchard using a cheap simple test.

This would allow growers to make better informed orchard management decisions

23

I Grower Forum I

Bumblebees as managed pollinators for avocado?

Our pollination team at Plant & Food Research started working with the complex world of avocado pollination as part of a wider effort to address the issue of biennial bearing.

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24

Our data so far suggest that fruit set in avocado can be limited by pollination, and this led us to ask whether better pollination could increase fruit set in low flowering years. If this is possible, it could be one way to reduce the extreme variability in yield between years that is a continuing problem for growers.

As part of our research we have been looking at the effect of weather conditions on the flowering cycle of Hass trees. Although it was already known that cold temperatures could flip the typical “female in the morning, male in the afternoon� pattern, our data have shown that there is a continuum of response in flowering as overnight minimum temperatures decline. As the temperature drops, the female flowers open later in the day, which pushes the whole cycle backwards so that male flowers are often open overnight. When temperatures drop below 6°C, female flowers open in the afternoon and can stay open all night long. Our study last year focused solely on Hass trees, but this year we plan to extend the study to look at pollenizer cultivars (such as Bacon and Ettinger). This research has already demonstrated to us that there are particular windows of time when female Hass flowers are receptive, and because of our low spring temperatures, these windows of opportunity may often occur in the late afternoon, evening or even at night.

As well as looking to see how pollenizers respond to temperature so that we can identify which cultivars have the best overlap between their male flowers and the Hass female flowers, we are working to identify which pollinators are active during these key windows of time. Our team has been building a research programme involving developing techniques to manage bumblebee colonies in orchards to enhance pollination. Our research with avocado pollination suggests that bumblebees could play an important role in improving pollination if we could increase and maintain colonies within orchards. Bumblebees have several advantages over honeybees as pollinators of avocado. Firstly, research in Israel has demonstrated that bumblebees are more effective at cross pollinating, which leads to an increase in fruit set in low flowering years on trees that are farther away from pollenizers.

This could help to decrease variability in fruit set within an orchard in

By David Pattemore, Pollination Scientist, Plant & Food Research, Ruakura

One of our first bumblebee queens to be fitted with a miniature radio transmitter forages on a camellia flower.

the low flowering years. Also, bumblebees are active in a wider range of temperatures and weather conditions than honeybees.

So while honeybees will tend to stay in their warm hives on damp and cold days, bumblebees will still be foraging. Since our marginal conditions here in New Zealand mean that the window of opportunity for pollination often occurs in the evening on colder days, bumblebees may play an important role as pollinators.

The biggest limitation with bumblebees is the difficulty of getting sufficient numbers of foragers to have a significant effect on pollination. Small, commercially produced colonies can be purchased, but the cost of each colony makes it prohibitive to purchase enough colonies for pollination in an open orchard environment. Our team is taking a different approach, by seeking to develop management techniques to attract wild bumblebee queens to artificial nests that can then be monitored and managed.

Our aim is to come up with a cost-effective, long-lasting artificial nest design that successfully attracts queen bumblebees and can be monitored easily by growers, so that they can predict the relative contribution of bumblebees to pollination.

Numerous attempts worldwide have been made to use artificial nests to attract wild queens, with very limited success. However, one study conducted in New Zealand by Nelson Pomeroy in the 1980s reported very high nest establishment rates (over 90% for one design). The artificial nests we have designed incorporate elements from the two most successful of Pomeroy’s designs, in an attempt to replicate his findings.

The unusually high success rate of the

The installation of the artificial bumblebee nests, showing the buried pumice concrete base connected to the surface with drain pipe.

New Zealand study has been suggested by other authors as evidence that bumblebee populations in New Zealand are limited by the availability of nest sites. In this study we will assess whether the provision of these artificial nests can encourage colony establishment by queen bumblebees in the Bay of Plenty.

To test the success of our design at attracting queens, we have installed our artificial nests in five avocado orchards in the Bay of Plenty. This project is partially funded by internal Plant & Food Research funds and partly through the Avocado Growers’ Association. The artificial nests consist of a pumice/cement base buried in the ground, which is connected to the surface by a tunnel of PVC drain pipe (Picture 1). The base is then covered in a fine mesh to prevent the bees escaping, a circle of carpet underlay is used to block out light and the whole is finally topped with a plastic lid (Picture 2). We are trialling several different types of nest material and attractant combinations inside the nest, so we have installed 32 nests in each orchard in eight groups of four different treatments.

Nests will be monitored weekly over the spring to determine when queens move

A finished artificial bumblebee nest buried in a bank in a Bay of Plenty avocado orchard.

in, and then successful colonies will be monitored monthly over summer until the colonies disestablish in autumn.

This project is the first step of a wider programme we are developing to determine how to manage bumblebee colonies in orchards. The initial results from this study will tell us whether one of the nest material and attractant combinations is more successful than the others, and how well these colonies survive in avocado orchards over the year. We will use the results from this study to improve the design in subsequent years and to trial targeted food provision or health interventions to increase survival and strength of the colonies. At the same time this spring, we will assess the relative contribution of honeybees and bumblebees to avocado pollination. We will also be using miniature radio transmitters to follow queens to determine how and where queens would normally select nest sites (Picture 3). The information gathered about these wild nest sites will be used to modify the designs in future years.

We will keep you updated about the success of these artificial nests, and role bumblebees could play in the pollination of avocados in New Zealand.

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Large mounds of mulch from both avocado and pine trees are stock piled for future use on the orchard.

New life from holistic Reason to smile – Ross Fowler holds a photo of the way the healthy avocado tree behind him looked when the Improbe partners bought the Athenree Orchard in 2010.

The trees looked sick. The foliage on 80 per cent of them was yellow and the rest were leafless. Some appeared dead.

However, the five members of the Improbe Partnership, though a little daunted by the scale of the problem, could see the opportunities the 10 hectare avocado orchard near Waihi Beach presented.

“Even the real estate agent described it in terms of ‘your mission should you accept it’… which reflected how big the task might be,” says one of the partners, Ross Fowler.

Ross, together with wife Jill, Pam and Lance Wiltshire of Auckland and Vicky

and Gerard Guillen of Havelock North, took up the challenge and were the successful bidders for the orchard.

“As a condition of the sale we were able to take over management before settlement in October 2010 which meant we could begin work on restoring its health straight away.”

That included weekend working bees for the three couples which have continued ever since. Administering injections, soil ripping, mulching and applying fertiliser to 470 trees might not be everyone’s idea of a fun weekend but Ross says for the most part it’s been enjoyable.

“To their credit the partners’ enthusiasm hasn’t waned.”

This is despite Ross not always revealing the full extent of the next task, such as “those six bags of fertiliser to go on by hand next Saturday” actually being 500kg each.

The Hass trees which range in age from seven to 20 years, had once performed well, producing 3000 trays a hectare in 2002 but from 2003 had been in steady decline.

“For the last four years under the previous owner, it had been managed organically but the decline appeared to be already underway by then.”

Most of the trees were infected with phytophthora but Ross doesn’t believe that was the only reason for their decline – rather the trees were in such poor health they were open to infection.

“Soil tests showed the trees should be doing well. There is around 50

The way they were – the skeletal trees had yellow foliage and looked decidedly sick.

Improbe – avcoscene sept 2012 07

26

Pruning was designed not only to take out spindly or unproductive wood, but also to open the trees to light and encourage better structure.

centrimetres of top soil, one metre of Waihi ash then friable clay, but leaf tests showed the trees were low in nutrients.”

Dr Alvaro Vidiella, scientist for NZAGA, says research has shown that poor aeration of the soil weakens roots, rendering them susceptible to phytophthora infection.

Ross agrees that providing optimum conditions for the roots to take up water and nutrients is essential and his prescription for restoring the orchard to health included heavy doses of mulch – all of it from the prunings of the trees themselves and the chipping of 250 trees removed to make way for kiwifruit.

Consultant Lindsay Heard, who Ross had worked with before, was called in for advice on soil and nutrition and pruning contractor Michael Dillon was instructed to prune the trees hard to good wood – and he did.

“At first I had to tell him he hadn’t been tough enough because he doesn’t often get let lose to cut out as much as we wanted. In fact, the trees which weren’t pruned sufficiently stalled and did not recover as the others did,” says Ross.

Pruning was designed not only to take out spindly or unproductive woods, but also to open the trees to light and encourage better structure. Pruning began in the second week in October, not traditionally considered the optimum time, but by mid-January there was 1015cm of healthy regrowth and 1-1.5 cm long summer flushes after that.

Phytophthora needed addressing and Ross opted for passive injections, using

By Elaine Fisher

approach 12 to 15 syringes per tree, injecting 20ml of mixture through each. So far 4000 injections have been administered at each round in August/September and March/ April until healthy roots became evident.

Ross takes special care to have those injections applied at the time when roots most need them.

The plan included installing irrigation, but before that happened Ross wanted to know if there were any ‘hard pan’ areas, so he mounted a one metre blade on the back of the tractors and ripped the soil up and down the orchard.

“I didn’t find any hard pans but it helped aerate the soil.”

“Soil compaction is a fundamental problem in many orchards, even those with sandy textured soils and anything you do to increase that aeration will definitely help you to control tree decline,” says Alvaro.

While in some cases it is difficult to tell if mulching is beneficial, especially considering the costs involved in buying and spreading it, Ross is convinced that in an orchard like this, it’s essential.

Alvaro agrees.

“Avocado are jungle trees and their roots are covered with a thick leaf litter.

Work done by NZAGA in the past has demonstrated that there are many more roots in the topsoil when mulch is applied.”

Ross set out to duplicate that by applying four cubic metres of mulch out to the drip line around each tree.

Certainly he didn’t have to bring it in as

the orchard has large stacks of chippings from the original pruning and the trees which were removed. Chipped pine slash made up 50 per cent of the 2500m3 but has been left for 12 months before use.

“Trees close to the mulch stacks have grown roots right into them which tells me there’s something there they like.”

A light scratch in the mulch beneath any of the trees reveals a network of roots just under the surface.

“Avocado trees are particularly sensitive to lack of oxygen and it is important that soil is as aerated as possible. Mulching helps keep it that way,” says Alvaro.

Fertiliser applications are based on soil and leaf tests and applied at rates individual to each tree.

Copper and foliar sprays have been applied and some shelter has been reduced in height, with more to come down soon. One whole block of trees was removed completely and replaced with new kiwifruit varieties to bring a diversity of income to the orchard.

Further pruning is planned and Ross works on the principles he found useful in growing other crops including flowers.

“I prune out the vegetative growth and stressed wood, neither of which will be sufficiently productive and which prevent better quality wood from developing.”

He also believes that control of excess flowering and managing crop load are essential tools in achieving regular crops.

“It’s a hard concept for some people to get their head around and a challenge when you see potential for loads of fruit

A light scratch in the mulch beneath any of the trees reveals a network of roots just under the surface.

Improbe Orchard:  10 ha mixed age Hass avocado trees  470 trees pruned back to good wood  Over height shelter topped  4000 Phytophthora injections per round  Soil ripped to approx. 0.7m  4 cubic metres of mulch per tree  Fertiliser applied by hand to each tree  Copper and foliar sprays applied  Irrigation installed in the current year, but I think it works.”

Ross says even in the first year, the recovery of the orchard exceeded his expectations and two years’ on the majority of trees are covered in shiny green foliage, fruit and new season high quality flowering wood.

It’s a far cry from the skeletal trees depicted in the photos of the orchard in 2010.

While all the trees are not back to full vitality, they are no longer ‘cot cases’ and attention has turned to managing their cropping. Ross is confident they will soon match the orchard’s best crop yields.

The message, says Ross, in turning around an orchard which was so unwell, is not to concentrate on just one or two aspects, but take a holistic approach, aiming to restore balance to the tree both above and below ground. He has noticed, in discussions with growers since returning to the industry, that when, for a myriad of reasons, they only focus on one or two pieces of the puzzle they are frequently disappointed at the outcome, or worse, believe the task or method was flawed or not worth the cost or effort.

In the case of Improbe orchard another element was also required – the courage to give it a go.

The majority of trees are covered in shiny green foliage, fruit and new season high quality flowering wood.

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28

By Alvaro Vidiella NZAGA Scientist alvaro.vidella@nzavocado.co.nz

Technical visit to Chile world’s second largest avocado exporter In March I took annual leave to go to Uruguay, my home country, which created an opportunity to pass through Chile and learn directly from the Chilean’s experience of growing avocados.

There has been a considerable wealth of information presented by Chilean avocado industry representatives at recent World Avocado Congress events. Chile has been producing avocados for a very long time and is now the second largest exporter of avocados in the world.

I travelled to Chile March 7-11, 2012.

The main observation I made is that Chile does not have optimal conditions for growing avocados and the industry as a whole is making an enormous effort to be competitive: • Chile avocado orchards have made huge advances in canopy management in recent years.

• Tree decline was a major problem in Chile. An integrated approach began 15 years ago that delivered the knowledge needed on soil aeration management.

• Research undertaken years ago standardised their pollination designs.

• They have done some interesting and apparently very successful work promoting consumption within their domestic market.

• They are doing very interesting work on rootstock evaluation that we should continue to observe.

• They are doing some interesting work on fruit quality and storage that should be explored and observed in the future.

Itinerary

Date

Location

Activity

8 April 2012

Santiago

Meeting with Consuelo Fernandez, Westfalia representative in South America.

9 April 2012

Aconcagua Valley

Visited Jorge Schmidt orchards with GAMA (Francisco Gardiazabal and Francisco Mena)

10 April 2012

Quillota

Visit to Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso facilities and trials (Monica Castro and Ricardo Cautin)

11 April 2012

Quillota

INIA National Horticultural Experimental Centre (Raul Ferreyra)

11 April 2012

Pomaire

Agricom orchard (Juan Vicente Ortuzar)

As the second largest exporter of avocados in the world, the Chilean avocado industry has had the resources to approach their problems and have found some very innovative solutions. Exploring the application of some of these innovations could help us find solutions to some of the problems we have in the New Zealand industry.

This article presents the itinerary I followed and a summary of the main findings of my trip. You can find a full 32 page report in our web page http:// growers.nzavocado.co.nz/index.php/pi_ pageid/376. For a copy of the full report or to share any comments, please don’t hesitate to email me at alvaro.vidiella@ nzavocado.co.nz Main findings • Chileans claim that they are learning how to grow avocados in very unfavourable (marginal) conditions (heavy soils, saline water, low relative humidity, low winter temperatures…).  Rootstocks: - Interest in using Dusa in

replant situations and other unfavourable situations is growing.

As in New Zealand, when first introduced in Chile, Dusa was planted in poor management conditions and did not do well.

- The Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso has been working on the optimisation of the propagation method of clonal rootstocks for the last 10 years. Their results have significantly raised the efficiency of their propagation methods.

- The use of West-Indian rootstocks is increasing. These rootstocks are less vigorous and are more tolerant to saline conditions.

• Canopy management: - Chilean orchards are on steep slopes to avoid frost. No machines go into these orchards.

- 15 years ago the trees were 5m high.

Now they are mainly being kept at less than 2m high, they claim it is cheaper and safer.

- In existing orchards this is done by pruning trees that were planted at 5x5m to 7x7m 29

Technical visit to Chile reducing their canopy height from 4-5m to 2m high.

- In new orchards, the common tree spacing is 3x3m, and now 2.5x2.5m is starting to be preferred and 1.25x1.25m is being trialled.

These trees have been traditionally tutored and trained to a single leader, but now they are trialling less strict training methods.

- Most of the vigour is controlled by applying high doses of Sunny and by girdling.

- Vigour control is crucial after heavy pruning takes place to reduce the height of the trees.

- Irrigation and fertilisation are applied for maximum tree development. They do not try to control vigour by using deficit irrigation management.

- Pruning is done yearly.

- Pruning time is important for return bloom (flowering being an important issue). They claim that before flowering (and right after harvesting) is the optimum pruning time.

- Most of the orchards are harvested before flowering.

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Continued

 Internal market: - Consumption has increased from 2 to 6kg of avocados per person in Chile the last 10 years.

- The Chileans eat most of their avocados mashed on a toast with a bit of salt at tea time, their evening meal (“a la hora de la once”).

- They have their local varieties like Negra de la Cruz which are very much appreciated. Consumption of other green skins, like Edranol and Gwen, has increased in recent years.

- Seven years ago total avocado planted area in Chile was up to 40,000ha, but it has been reduced to 26,000ha because of draught, salinisation of irrigation water, frost frequency and severity increases.

This has caused a decrease in the number of avocados produced.

- In supermarkets this season the price of avocados had been up to US$6 and during the visit was at US$4 per kg.

- The increase of local demand in Chile has modified the market. It has become much less dependent on exports.

 Tree decline: Most Chilean orchards have a major problem with lack of aeration because heavy textured soils are common.

- According to Raul Ferreyra of the INIA, Chilean avocado growers used to inject all their trees 15 years ago, now hardly any trees are injected.

- Now the major method of control is by improving aeration, mainly by planting on mounds and controlling irrigation.  Post-Harvest - Chilean avocados take about 24 days to reach the USA - There are several groups working on avocado postharvest performance (one big project is being developed together with California).

- Testing lasts up to 60 days.  Pollination - The industry standard is Edranol 11%. This was established at the beginning of the 1990s after a research programme was established.

An insight into the Mexican way I met with Jose Armando Lopez Orduno, or Armando as he likes to be called, Director General of Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers Association of Michoacán (APEAM), Mexico at the meeting of the Avocado Research Consortium in May. He has only recently joined APEAM and sits on the ARC Board with Tom Bellamore (California Avocado Commission CEO), John Tyas (CEO Avocados Australia) and I. Armando immediately showed off his Latin charm, pulling out my chair before I sat down, opening and closing the car door behind me, and insisting I sat in the front seat.

Armando comes from a family of 11, with six brothers and four sisters, all of whom live in Mexico where he lives with his wife and one son, the other son is recently married.

His family owns 24 coffee shops in Mexico, so he was the one who chose

and gave critical assessment to our coffees after dinner – and at the Italian restaurant he pronounced the coffee very good, Ed McFadden the chair of California Avocados drank his coffee and said “wow, I’m not going to sleep for two days”.

Coffee in the US is not normally very strong!

Michoacán, Mexico has just finished an export season exporting 350,000 tonnes to the US, and smaller volumes to Canada, Japan and Central America – Dominique Republic, Salvador and Honduras.

Those volumes are produced off 66,000 hectares with an average yield of 8.5 tonnes per hectare.

Avocados are harvested all year, due to the different growing regions in Michoacán, from 1300 to 2,300 feet above sea level.

Eighty per cent of the orchards are small, 304 hectares, but a grower can make a good income from a three-four hectare orchard. The largest orchards are more than 800 hectares. Export fruit is all Hass, mainly Carmen Mendes Hass.

Two of the biggest challenges to growing avocados in Michoacán are frost (it can get down to -6 degrees) and hail.

Armando talked about huge hail stones, ruining not only flowers but also causing severe damage to fruit when small.

By Jen Scoular, NZAGA CEO jen.scoular@nzavocado.co.nz

Growers have contracts with one or more of the 36 packhouses packing and exporting to the US. Each packhouse must be members of APEAM and be accredited to export to the US, the primary export focus for this region.

Profitability in the industry has seen additional planting and another 10,000 hectares is expected to be accredited for export to the US in 2012-13 season.

This accreditation is done by USDA in association with Mexican Agriculture Ministry.

Each orchard sets a work plan covering quality standards, food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary requirements which is twice a year audited by the USDA. The orchard must show it has completed the required parts of the workplan to receive the accreditation required to export to the US. The packhouse pays APEAM a fixed levy rate per kilo exported, which is used

by APEAM for its own management (they have 22 staff ), to fund USDA accreditation, promotion, and R&D on-orchard as well as in market. The ARC project is funded in this way through this levy on exports.

Mexico sees a huge opportunity in the growing demand in the US, as well as opportunities in Asian countries to increase consumption of avocados.

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Industry News Results of elections for the Executive Committee of NZAGA and the Board of AIC Elections closed July 27 and an announcement was made at the NZAGA AGM on August 24. Congratulations to Ashby Whitehead and John Cotterell who remain in their positions as BOP and At Large Grower representatives respectively.

Introducing NZAVO Limited A new collaborative marketing company has been established between Freshmax, JP Exports and New Zealand Avocado Marketing Limited. Initially, the parties will collaborate in supplying three prominent Japanese distributors but the door is open for expansion into other markets.

This arrangement has been under development for a year and the parties did collaborate on an informal basis during the last season.

This development reflects the desire of the three Companies to assist in bringing about a degree of consolidation in the marketing of New Zealand avocados, and to ensure that markets which already exist can be further developed with assurance of increasing supply.

NZAML will administer the programme on behalf of all the members, and a high degree of trust has been established between the parties.

Exports will be under a new “NZAVO” brand which clearly identifies the source of the product and incorporates our silver fern in the logo.

Pole to Pole Fresh now OFNZ certified packhouse and marketer Pole to Pole Fresh Ltd (based in Te Puke) has recently become an Organic Farms NZ certified packhouse and marketer for organic fruit. In particular

Pole to Pole Fresh has expanded its focus to incorporate packing organic avocados as a service for organic avocado growers and to also tap into the rapid growth in demand for organic avocados in recent years.

Managing director Todd Abrahams says it’s an exciting step forward. “This means we can help to further develop the organic avocado sector.”

Library Tray Reports To see the reports for fruit that has completed green and ripe fruit assessments, go to the industry website www.nzavocado.co.nz, click on PackingExporting in the top menu and then click on Library Trays found in the drop down menu and then follow the links.

If you do not know your Username and Password, please phone AgFirst 07 549 1044 for assistance.

The library tray reports are updated on the website on a weekly basis throughout the season.

Text Reminders We are now able to text you reminders for important events. If you change your mobile phone number or have not given us one previously, please email us a current number to Jo, jnunn@nzavocado. co.nz or phone 0800 286 2236.

Growers - are you connected?

Don’t miss out on important updates and industry information; make sure you register your email address with the AIC to receive AvoConnect - the NZ Avocado industry e-newsletter. Call 0800 286 2236 or email jnunn@nzavocado.co.nz to register.

Important note: To avoid AvoConnect being blocked or ending up in your junk email folder, make sure you add info@ nzavocado.co.nz to your email’s “Safe Sender List”.

Grower letters in Avoscene If you want express a view or ask a question (technical or other) that you would like other growers to read in Avoscene then please contact us.

The deadline for letters to be featured in the upcoming Summer issue of Avoscene is November 14.

Please be aware that we will not be able to print every letter due to space constraints. All letters must be 300 words or less.

Letters must be in good taste and focus on issues of general concern, not personalities.

Letters must contain a name, address and daytime phone number of the author. Unsigned letters or those submitted without a phone number will not be considered.

Regular contributors should submit letters on varied subjects. Letters by the same author that reiterate opinions previously expressed will not be published.

Avocado Industry Council reserves the right not to publish any material which may offend readers and may reject or edit any letter.

Forward your letter to Jen Scoular at avoscene@nzavocado.co.nz or fax to 07 571 6145 or you can post to Avocado Industry Council, PO BOX 13267, Tauranga 3141.

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By Bevan Jelly NZAGA local market analyst bevan.jelly@nzavocado.co.nz

Inspiring the next generation

Fostering young growers and creating opportunities for them is a necessity for the future success and growth of the avocado industry.

The industry needs to continue to attract highly skilled, innovative growers ready to face industry challenges and strengthen New Zealand’s position in the global marketplace. Young growers bring fresh and innovative ideas, embrace new technology and provide the enthusiasm to spark growth and find value.

To promote and encourage involvement in avocados to the best young growers in the Bay of Plenty region, NZAGA facilitated an avocado event at the BOP Young Grower of the Year competition in June at Baypark, Mount Maunganui.

The competition consisted of a range of theory and practical horticulture challenges for competitors. NZAGA combined with the Department of Labour to host an event based on safety and operation of elevated working platforms. A Hydralada and trainer were kindly supplied by Aongatete Avocados

Ltd, a company which ensures all its Hydralada operators are trained to NZQA elevated working platform operation standards. Aongatete Avocados general manager Tony Bradley says: “When operated in a safe manner Hydraladas are a very effective avocado harvesting tool, but users need to be aware of the risks and dangers that operating these machines can present, which is why proper training is so important.”

The Hydralada event generated a lot of interest from event spectators and visiting school students and also reinforced the message that safety is paramount to ensuring our young growers can make the most of the bright future that waits ahead of them.

The overall winner of the Bay of Plenty contest was Joel Wanhill, who went on to compete for the title of New Zealand Young Fruit Grower of the Year.

Currently working on an 18 hectare kiwifruit orchard in Te Puke, Joel had some past experience with avocados from

a previous job working on an orchard where both avocados and kiwifruit were grown.

“I enjoyed the avocado Hydralada event. It was an impressive piece of machinery and I learned a lot about the requirements for operating it safely on an avocado orchard.”

Joel believes that the avocado industry is of interest to young growers once they gain exposure to it and that in order to attract more bright young growers we need to create opportunities for them to ‘have a go’ and ensure the avocado industry has a presence in future young grower competitions and similar events that inspire and acknowledge the talents of young people.

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A N AHCOV

A N AHCOV

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37

Avocado news from the Chilean Hass Avocado Committee forecasts export downgrade The Chilean Hass Avocado Committee has forecast an 8% year-on-year fall in production of the fruit for the 2012-13 season, while shipments abroad are set to fall from last year’s 116,000 metric tons (MT) to between 100,000-105,000MT. At www.freshfruitportal.com we catch up with committee president Adolfo Ochagavía to discuss Peru’s forays into the U.S. and Chile’s potential in several international markets.

Ochagavía says Peru has faced difficulties in moving volume in the North American market and its presence means Chile will have to enter later than usual.

“They [Peru] have to place a large production. More or less they estimate around 80,000MT between Hass and Verde, but making a dint in the US market is definitely not a trivial matter,” he says.

“They’ve sent their fruit but they’ve not found it easy. They have done some discounting, basically to make space in the market, and that’s not easy.”

He adds it is not as if Chile’s decision to send later just occurred to the industry, given the price signals that have been seen with Peruvian, Californian and Mexican supply.

“If we want to settle good returns we have to start a little bit later.

“It is already being said that it will be normal for Chile to supply – with arrivals – from October to the start of April.”

He highlights differences between Peruvian and Chilean avocado production.

“They have a reasonably good weather, availability of water and they have a much warmer climate, so the phytosanitary issues are different.

“I think ours is a good alternative for the [U.S.] market and it would be difficult to push it to the side.”

He says avocado prices in Europe are falling as Peru has been diverting more supply to the old continent, so Chile will be taking a cautious approach to that market.

Growth market prospects He expert says it would be no surprise that with its current prices the U.S. avocado market could grow, while in Europe there are many countries where the fruit if fairly unknown and seldom eaten.

“Germany is a market where we have been promoting for two years. Peru is doing it for the first time, so this will enhance [avocados in] Germany,” he says.

“You read in some technical publications

that the people prefer Hass, you go to the supermarkets and you find a greater supply of Hass in almost all of them.

“This marks a trend, and if you project and put a little bit of promotion from different origins, this should make people talk in the coming years.”

He says the highest levels of avocado consumption per capita in Europe are found in Denmark and Sweden, followed

by France.

“What happens is the number of inhabitants is lower, so the total absolute value of fruit sold isn’t so high, but then take into account that you have Danes who consume approximately two kilos (4.4lbs) of avocados a year.”

In Latin America, he highlights Argentina as an attractive market, which last season received 7,000MT of Chilean avocados. This year shipments to the Andean neighbor started early.

The industry is also working on a protocol to export to Brazil.

“We are doing the same with the South Africa protocol and with that we would be able to have two good markets.”

The committee leader highlights Chile’s avocado consumption has been growing, reaching 5kg (11lbs) per capita last year.

“The 2011-12 we estimated [the local

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phosphonate, fruit for pesticide residues, leaves for nutrient uptake and we do mineral analysis of the soils where avocados are grown.

world

Mexican avocado exports set to rise by more than five per cent Mexican avocado exports are expected to show a 5.6% year-on-year rise with a total of 825 million lbs for the coming season, which started last month and runs until June 2013.

The Michoacán Association of Exporters and Packers (APEAM) forecasts show a significant rise on the previous season’s figure of 781 million lbs exported.

APEAM marketing director Eduardo Serena, told www.freshfruitportal.com all fruit had to meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Mexican Agricultural Ministry (SAGARPA) standards before it could shipped.

“In the same way we will continue

implementing strict control programs on dry matter so that the fruit exceeds expectations of quality demanded by importers in the U.S. “Such programs, as well as being recognized and praised, allow Mexico to maintain excellent quality throughout the year and continue to be preferred by consumers and food producers.”

Serena predicted that from July until the end of this month Mexico will have shipped 107 lbs, rising to 217 million from October to December.

Shipments will peak in 2013 at 270 million from January to March, followed by 231.5 million from April to June.

APEAM has devised a serious of marketing campaigns including capitalizing on Halloween with a ‘Spookamole’ promotion to ensure the fruit makes it on to the table at parties on Oct. 31.

“We are also expanding our efforts with the Hispanic market with the celebration of the Day of the Dead; the Spanish equivalent of Halloween,” said Serena.

Marketing promotions will start on Oct. 1 and continue until the end of the month for the U.S. and until Nov. 2 for the Hispanic market, who celebrate All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1.

A December campaign to tap into the Las

ROOT TESTING FOR PHOSPHONATE FRUIT TESTING FOR PESTICIDES LEAF TESTING FOR NUTRIENTS SOIL TESTING FOR MINERALS

• • • •

Posadas celebrations among the imigrant Mexican and Guatemalan community in the U.S. will also be launched featuring celebrity chef Pepin.

Aug. 27, 2012 www.freshfruitportal.com South Africa: Avocado exports on par with estimates With a month still to go in the South African avocado export season, volumes are on a level with mid-season estimates at 12.4 million 4 kg cartons.

This is almost double last year’s export figure of 6.9 million 4kg cartons. Last year was of course an alternate year, and this was combined with a lot of hail damage.

Rudolf Badenhorst from South African Subtropical Grower’s Association, Subtrop, says it has been a good season with few problems. There were periods where there was some pressure on the markets due to large arrivals from various origins in certain weeks.

The main destination for South African avocados remains Europe, with most of the fruit arriving in Rotterdam before being distributed to other countries.

According to Badenhorst the arrivals will start to wind down in week 39, with the last planned shipments arriving in week 44.

Aug. 21 2012 www.freshplaza.com

SEAL4297AVg

market] to be around 45% and this year we calculate it could be 45% again.

“The Chilean market is the main individual market for the industry. It is a reality that the Chilean consumers like avocado, and in a scenario where disposable income increases the consumption rises.

“It’s very good to have a functioning domestic market – it is a stabilizing issue for the industry.”

Sept. 4, 2012 www.freshfruitportal.com

To find out more, visit our website or call us on

07 858 2000

www.hill-laboratories.com 39

By Midge Munro NZAGA Communications Manager mmunro@nzavocado.co.nz

Promotions update New Zealand avocado production is set to increase significantly in the next five years.

To cope with these increased volumes, consumer awareness and demand must continue to be developed in new markets in order to maintain value for growers in the long term.

Japan: “The Best of New Zealand in Japan” This season we will again hold our New Zealand avocado season start media launch at the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo (September 27) to support the efforts of exporters. We face competition in this market, so it is important that we keep telling the New Zealand avocado story.

This event will attract 70 high profile, high reaching media who will blog, tweet, write and talk about avocados to Japanese consumers.

‘The best of New Zealand in Japan’ is the theme for the event and relates to the fact that the beginning of the New Zealand Avocado season in Japan also coincides with the beginning of the rugby season - not only are New Zealand’s best Avocados in Japan at this time, but some of New Zealand’s best rugby players are there too.

A special guest will attend this event – Jerome Kaino, an ex-All Black and current player for Japan’s Toyota Verblitz team.

40

Jerome will share stories about himself, the importance of nutritious food in his diet and his love of New Zealand Avocados and will be available for interviews, photos and autographs.

This exciting addition will help to spark more media interest and will help us tell the NZ story while relating the benefits of avocados to Jerome’s nutrition needs as an athlete.

At the event, the New Zealand Ambassador, NZAGA Chairman and Chief executive will explain this year’s crop yield, cultivation method, safety management and nutrition of New Zealand avocados. There will also be a Q and A session with Jerome.

In order to inspire the media to relay to the public the virtues of New Zealand avocados, a buffet lunch will be prepared by the New Zealand embassy chief to showcase the many uses of avocados from New Zealand. This also provides a chance for media to take photographs of beautifully presented avocado dishes.

Korea Korea is a new market which will increase in importance for us in the future. This season we aim to obtain some insights into consumer behaviour and have engaged a Korea-based agency to collect information on the current market, consumer consumption patterns, potential avocado consumers and an analysis of the distribution channels.

Some initial information shows this is a populous and wealthy market where consumers are focussed on wellbeing and

how food contributes to this.

Gaining intelligence in this market is important for making fact-based decisions as to how we position avocados here.

Australia There will be no significant promotions activity in Australia this season. Avocados Australia Limited is implementing a comprehensive 12-month campaign and there is little value we can add on top of this. We will however focus on maintaining the reputation of New Zealand avocados in this market through media monitoring and the continuation of important relationships.

New Zealand Volumes available to the New Zealand market are going to skyrocket even further in the near future, so it is vital we keep up the work which we started last season.

Promising gains were made through last season’s activity; our continual interaction with food writers, newspapers and magazines saw articles on avocados being published almost daily through last summer; our Facebook page now has more than 6000 New Zealand consumers following us for that next yummy recipe or healthy avocado hint.

Communications plans achieved three of four marketing targets for 2012 summer season: • Household penetration target was exceeded - increasing total buyers to 62.4% • Purchase frequency increased to 5.9 occasions.

• Shopper loyalty to avocado increased to 4% of fresh fruit spend

• Achieved significant growth in household penetration of young families but narrowly missed target of 70% • Successfully retained loyalty of these households despite less spent on avocado this summer The full report of Nielson Homescan data is available to view at http://growers. nzavocado.co.nz/Promotions/Avocado%20 2012.pdf.

The favourable prices for consumers will have had an impact on the marketing figures achieved so it is our aim to maintain these levels for the season ahead.

2012 -13 activity Nadia Lim, qualified dietician and 2011 winner of MasterChef, has come on board with NZ Avocado to be the spokesperson for avocados in the New Zealand market.

She will be using her expert skills to create three unique avocado recipes for our use in the media as well as attending and cooking at a media event in November. Nadia will also provide her image and endorsement for our use online and in press releases. She will also promote avocados through her other activities as much as she can.

Nadia has just started doing a regular section in the NZ Herald Bite liftout

magazine which is another great outlet she will use to promote avocados.

Nadia has a family connection to a Katikati avocado grower which is another great reason for her to be involved.

For more information on Nadia, visit her website www.nadia.co.nz We will continue our public relations efforts by feeding influential New Zealanders a steady diet of avocado information and this season through press releases and product drops.

We are also working closely with 5+ A Day and the Heart Foundation on a collaborative calendar of activity through the season.

We have already had a great piece of exposure to kick off the season – we had a request from 5+ A Day wanting avocados for their regular weekly spot on the Saturday Breakfast which we happily arranged for the September 8 show.

Eugene Hamilton, the head chef at Euro restaurant, fronts this piece for them and prepared a couple of recipes with Tamati while promoting the virtues of avocados.

We got some great key messages across as you will see in the video found at http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/recipeavocado-5069619/video.

If you have any questions or feedback, email Midge Munro mmunro@nzavocado. co.nz

41

NZAGA Winter Fie Five field days organised by the NZAGA team were held from July 18 to 25 from Far North to BOP. The main goal of the field days was to draw a picture as clear as possible of the context of the new cultivar program.

We talked about the importance of new cultivars for our industry, about the main characteristics expected from the cultivars that have been imported by NZAGA and about the advances made in the last months in the evaluation of these cultivars in our growing conditions.

NZAGA scientist Alvaro Vidiella led the field days and was supported by members of our industry with a wide knowledge of the NZAGA new cultivar program: Geoff Thorpe from Riversun Nurseries, Stephen Wade from Lynwood Nurseries, Jerome Hardy from Primor, Colin Partridge from Team Avocado, Lindsay Heard from Brenmark Horticultural Consultants, and many growers with experience growing new cultivars among which were Ivan Stanisich, Janice Cates, Mark West, John Trebilco, Gordon Fisher, Gordon Edgecombe, Ewan Price, John Cotterell, Ian Broadhurst, Roger Barber, John Scnackenberg, Mike Allan, and David French.

The field days were held at orchards with different histories of growing new cultivars. This led to very different discussion sessions where fresh knowledge was shared by the participants.

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By Alvaro Vidiella NZAGA Scientist alvaro.vidella@nzavocado.co.nz

eld Days Report The feedback received from the participants has been mainly very positive and we are already working hard to organise the next round of field days this coming spring.

We asked some of the participants of these field days to share with us the main highlights: Alvaro Vidiella, NZAGA scientist While preparing and presenting the field days I learned that the industry has lived a conceptual transition from the time when Dusa was first established in our orchards. Many of the first plantings of Dusa (2007 to 2009) were established in sites in the orchards where seedling rootstock had not been successful.

Generally these sites were not very good for growing avocados; different degrees of high Phytophthora inoculum, heavy soil, compact soil, and waterlogging conditions. The general idea in the industry was that Dusa plants had been bred to grow in these conditions, they should have been happy to grow there.

In other words, Dusa rootstock was considered to be resistant to these conditions. The conceptual transition has been that we have learned that Dusa is not a resistant rootstock, it is only tolerant to these conditions.

Therefore, although they usually performed better than the Zutano seedlings when planted in these difficult situations, many of the Dusa plants of the early plantings struggled to survive.

To grow healthy trees in difficult soils we need to use all the tools we have to be able to overcome the difficulties. We need to approach the situation in a holistic or integrated way.

Most of the difficulties that these soils present are due to lack of aeration of the soil. Avocado roots are very sensitive to the lack of aeration. Therefore it could be useful to follow the next guidelines until

we understand fully how to manage these clonal rootstocks: • Before planting, it is necessary to understand whether our soil needs work done to increase aeration and follow all the possible steps towards having the best possible environment for the growth of roots (by breaking pans, ripping, loosening compact horizons, ridging, mulching, etc.).

• Irrigation management will be crucial since it will undoubtedly influence in the availability of air for the roots in the soil (bad irrigation management has shown to be a major cause for decline in other avocado growing regions of the world).

• Planting time seems also to be important, with spring planting favouring root growth because of higher soil temperatures.

• After planting, you may also need to regularly protect the plants with fungicides against soil borne diseases (the most common of which is Phytophthora).

• Protection against frost and wind will also be needed in most of our orchards.

The new rootstocks that are currently available (Dusa, Bounty and Latas) are just one of the tools we have to grow avocados in difficult soils. Without them it will probably be impossible to grow healthy trees in these soils. But they will generally not show their potential unless we do all we can to help them grow healthy.

Another important concept that became apparent during the field days was that there seems to be a widespread misinterpretation of decline symptoms as always being caused by Phytophthora.

Once we started to look at the orchards where Dusa had been planted (where Zutano had struggled or died) we could see that lack of aeration of the soils is very common. In these soils, poor aeration could be, by itself, the main

cause of decline. In these conditions, management has to be primarily directed towards increasing soil aeration. Using tolerant rootstocks and fungicides is important, but in most cases it is useless unless the rest of the available tools are used. Due to the concern shown by many of the participants of the field days, a technical hand-out with basic information on how to establish orchards in difficult situations is being prepared to be delivered next spring.

The last main idea that I would like to stress from these field days has been that there are some orchards in which Dusa was planted several years ago and where the trees are performing reasonably well. Two examples are a 0.9ha orchard that was planted in Far North in 2007 in virgin soil, this year it is yielding 10 to 12t/ha; and a 0.9ha orchard planted in Far North in June 2009 in a replant situation which after breaking the pan has yielded 2.7t/ha this season.

Mike Eagles, NZAGA grower representative, Mid North In July I went to the new cultivars and rootstocks field days at Whangarei (Cliff ’s Orchard) and Mangawhai (Eran Orchard) and was very interested with what I saw and most impressed with the presentation. Any grower who missed these field days missed a great opportunity to see the future. Alvaro Vidiella did a great job of guiding us through both orchards and describing the characteristics and history of every cultivar and rootstock we saw. The most obvious thing to me was the outstanding performance of the Bounty rootstock in comparison to the other rootstocks and that is something I will be investing in in the future and I would recommend it to any grower looking at replanting or planting a new area.

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NZAGA Winter Field Days Report John Cotterell, NZAGA grower representative, At Large I thought the new cultivar field days were very informative, with a good number of commercially minded and committed growers attending (I attended in the Franklin and BOP areas). It was good to see Alvaro in his element communicating with growers in a manner that was easily understood even if it had a slight Spanish twang to it. It was great to see our industry’s scientist chatting with growers in the field and I believe we need more of these field days lead by our scientists.

was highly successful and well attended by growers, consultants and field representatives.

The highlight for me was the Mangawhai field day which highlighted the potential of the new clonal Phytophthora tolerant rootstocks (Dusa and Bounty) in a replant situation, which were outperforming standard seedling rootstocks and were significantly better than older generation clonals such as Duke 7.

In retrospect, it would have been better to make this the sole Whangarei field day so that these benefits could have been demonstrated to a wider audience.

Geoff Thorpe, Managing Director of Riversun Nursery There was a great turnout at all events no doubt helped by the great weather!

The trials all clearly demonstrated that clonal rootstocks are the future for avocado production - they are the only option for replants, as well as showing real benefits in virgin plantings as well (uniformity, productivity, tree health).

Growers seemed to respond very well to Alvaro’s style of presentation, as well as the “walk and talk” format, with valuable input from consultants, growers and nurserymen who have “in the ground” experience with the new varieties (both rootstocks and fruiting cultivars).

My take home messages when it comes to establishing clonal rootstocks in replant situations were thorough ground preparation before replanting (removal of old stumps and roots, fix any drainage issues, mounding), the vital importance of correct planting (into warm soils), followed by mulching and staking young trees and don’t over-irrigate or overfertilise!

Stephen Wade, Lynwood Avocado Nursery It was a pleasure to travel around the major growing areas and participate in the new cultivar field days. I certainly met a lot of new people (and caught up with some old ones) and could view the different growing issues facing the different areas.

Each field day was a little different, as growers’ questions took us down different routes but they were certainly all very valuable. Any grower contemplating planting new genetic material would have taken much valuable information away with them.

If I could emphasise a couple of points that came through loud and clear it would be these: clonal rootstocks (Dusa, Bounty and Duke 7), whilst being genetically superior to seedling rootstocks, are not bullet proof and should be treated as another tool to develop a commercially successful orchard. The notion that they will succeed where others have failed simply because of their superior genes alone is flawed. It appeared to me that hypoxia is probably as limiting a factor as Phytophthora.

After much hole digging, root viewing

Roger Barber, NZAGA grower representative, At Large The round of new cultivar field days

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Continued...

and hearing explanations of site preparation it appears that the physical and biological fertility of the soils is paramount. By physical fertility I mean ensuring excess water can escape the root zone—oxygen will replace the water! By biological fertility I am talking about the microbial biomass - all those bacteria and fungi that feed on organic matter and keep some of the nasties at bay.

Those trees planted into a well-drained blocks (that is where blocks had been deep ripped to increase drainage followed by humping and hollowing) with good levels of organic matter are those given the best chance of thriving.

I will certainly be putting into practice a lot of what I learnt (I am replanting this summer) and would be happy to share my experiences.

Ewan Price, Mangawhai grower I was invited to comment at this field day as a grower with Dusa trees in the ground since 2008, and Duke 7 before that. Most of my comments were “mistakes I have made” but that is probably useful if others avoid the same pitfalls. Certainly I think there is merit in inviting experienced growers to be part of the field days not just because of the above comment, but we may question or highlight issues which are of concern to growers, but not top of mind for scientists.

An example was in relation to mulching which I believe is useful on Dusa, even if the NZAGA trial did not support that view. That brought a series of comments from most of the scientists and consultants present, endorsing and encouraging mulching!

The clear message of the whole presentation, including the site visit, was that the clonal rootstocks must be cosseted as much as Zutano, especially with drainage. The jury is still deliberating over cultivars.

47

Update on NZAGA Project Name: Pruning Trial Project start: 2011 Project completion: 2016 Objective: To investigate the effect of different pruning strategies on irregular bearing.

Summary: This is a significant pruning trial to assess the viability of defined pruning methods to mitigate irregular bearing. This is a collaborative project between growers, pruning contractors, consultants, scientists including John Leonardi, AAL, and Grant Thorp, Plant and Food, and NZAGA. Recent activity: During September and October, 2012, fruit from each of the orchards in the NZAGA Pruning Trial trees will be harvested.

The weight of the total fruit yield from each of the 25 trees in each orchard is recorded and a 100 piece fruit sample per tree is taken. The fruit from this sample is individually weighed and a reject analysis assessment is made on each piece of fruit.

The Spring pruning treatment of the trial trees will commence following harvest beginning in late September.

During the Spring pruning round the single orchard in the Far North, receiving remedial treatment, will be visited to continue with the staghorn pruning.

Individual tree assessment will continue on each orchard through the flowering period and a summer assessment will be made in January ahead of the Autumn 2013 prune.

Following the harvest of this season’s fruit and spring pruning treatments, a summary of results will be published in Avoscence in autumn 2013.

Project Name: Avocado Research Consortium (ARC): Alternative Bearing Project start: 2013 Project completion: 2018 Objective: An international project to fund research through a global collaboration of avocado scientists to provide options to growers to mitigate irregular bearing.

Summary: This is an international collaboration between Australia, California, New Zealand and Mexico. Israel had been part of the consortium but pulled out in April. Each country has entered into an MOU to contribute funding to a team of international researchers to address the issue of irregular bearing.

Recent activity: A decision has been reached to proceed with one combined collaborative submission which is now at the contract stage.

Agreement in principle to fund the project has been reached by three of the four participating countries. Avocados Australia Limited and Horticulture Australia Limited are working 46

through final processes before signing off on the project.

This involves developing a deeper understanding of the extent to which alternate bearing affects the Australian avocado industry. From a HAL perspective, they need to be assured that the project will benefit the Australian industry.

Spend on this project is not anticipated in this financial year.

Project Name: Dry matter regional monitoring Project start: 2002 Project completion: Ongoing Objective: To monitor fruit dry matter accumulation in the three major avocado growing regions to indicate the earliest possible time harvest maturity is reached Summary: This is an ongoing project to determine the earliest time that Hass fruit are likely to reach maturity in the three main growing regions. The key purpose is to deter supply of immature early season fruit on the local market.

Recent activity: This season’s monthly dry matter monitoring commenced in May and results are posted on the industry website. This reporting helps discourage low maturity fruit going to the local market and associated quality problems.

NZAGA monitors the number of hits on this part of the website to assess the value add to the grower. Baseline for comparison was 1919 hits in 2010, peaking at 721 in June 2010. 2012 has seen 714 hits to date.

Project Name: High Health Scheme Project start: 2008 Project completion: ongoing Objective: To develop a certification program for the production of avocado plants for use in avocado nurseries to ensure disease-free planting material is available for growers.

Summary: The HHS aims to put together a certification programme for tree production in nurseries, mainly around four subjects: producing trees free of Phytophthora; producing trees free of ASBVd; that the fruiting cultivar and the rootstock of the tree are correctly identified by the tag; and that the trees meet minimum physical characteristics. The HHS also implies the establishment of a traceability system in the nursery production system.

Recent activity: The program was discussed at the last General Meeting of the NZ Avocado Nursery Association, and the decision was made to implement the system in the next 18 months, by

Research Projects the end of 2013. The nurseries production system is being assessed and the nurseries are working towards presenting an auditable system. Once the system is certified by AGA to comply with the HHS, the independent auditors will start to work with the nurseries to implement the auditing system.

Project Name: New Cultivars– Geneblocks Project start: 1999 Project completion: Ongoing Objective: To maintain in good health a collection of most of the commercial avocado cultivars present in New Zealand.

Summary: A requirement of Plant Variety Right (PVR) holders is to maintain and assess five trees of each PVR protected material under NZ conditions.

Recent activity: 2012 PVR registration measurements will be sent to the PVR office by the end of October. This will be the second and, hopefully, last year of PVR measurements for Dusa and Bounty and the second year for Maluma which will probably require one more year. This year will be the first year for Carmen’s three years of PVR measurements.

Project Name: New Cultivars – Cultivar Trial Project start: 2009 Project completion: Ongoing Objective: To evaluate the horticultural performance of imported rootstocks and fruiting cultivars.

Summary: Trial running on three orchards with Phytophthora challenges, one planted in 2009 in Mangawhai, two others planted in autumn 2011 in the Far North and in Whangarei, with a fourth orchard scheduled for planting in the Bay of Plenty during spring 2012.

Recent activity: This year’s results for the Mangawhai trial are very promising and show significant and consistent differences between the different rootstocks.

We have just finished harvesting the trees; it has been an early harvest to relieve these young trees from fruiting stress. Initial analysis of the data are consistent with pre harvest fruit counts reported previously. The Maluma trees have some few fruit that we will use to assess maturity so we will hopefully have some data related to storage quality.

We will also assess the flowering and hope to have a good set for next year.

The trees on the cultivar trials planted in the Far North and Whangarei in autumn 2011 unfortunately did not get well established on either site. The trees are struggling to grow and

many have died. The trees are following a recovery program.

The latest assessments indicate many of the trees seem to be growing a significant amount of new healthy roots and are getting ready to sprout.

Project Name: New Chemistry Project start: 2011 Project completion: 2013 Objective: To investigate simpler options for registering new chemistry for pest control on minor crops.

Summary: Avocados are considered a minor crop by most agrichemical companies as our volumes do not justify the development costs required for registration of chemicals on avocado only.

SFF funding will be used to assist the group in developing and refining current policy for registration to make it more efficient, less costly and more achievable to small industry groups.

Recent activity: The project is proceeding according to plan. Five field trials are currently underway with one further field trial in the finalisation stage. Three trial providers have been contracted for field work along with one laboratory provider.

A meeting was held with ACVM to discuss the trials and the project in general. Discussions are continuing with industry and chemical companies to identify compounds for the 2 extrapolation projects (Greenhouse and Kumara). Both the chemical companies and ACVM (MAF) continue to be supportive of the project.

The project has also been well received by groups working on minor crops in other countries. The project was introduced to the Global Minor Use Summit in February and there is interest from other countries to work with us. These linkages will be strengthened at the Codex CCPR meeting in April.

Project Name: MRLs Project start: 2010 Project completion: 2014 Objective:. To gather information and meet relevant contacts to support MRL’s being set by 6 potential NZ avocado markets in the Asian region.

Summary: This project has 3 main aims. These are: 1) Clarify the legislative requirements in force in each of these countries; 2) Provide information on the level of active enforcement; 3) Identify options for establishing import tolerances.

Initial activity has focused on market visits and supporting CODEX activity. The project will now focus on specific 47

Update on NZAGA Research Projects activity to underpin develop MRLs for the 4 chemicals that are of most concern to the industry (chlorpyrifos, tuafluvalinate, pirimithos methyl and tebufenozide). Two of these chemicals are organophospahtes that are currently under review by EPA. Recent Activity: Visits have now been completed to 6 countries (Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore). MRL requirements and testing procedures have been confirmed in these countries. Hong Kong recognises New Zealand MRLs, and Singapore will recognise New Zealand MRLs where no relevant Singaporean MRL exists. Several priority chemicals have been identified and these will be progressed as candidates for CODEX MRL’s. This activity is funded with the support of AVEC through a market access export levy.

Project Name: Extending the Marketing Window (DCA) Project start: 2011 Project completion: 2013 Objective: To extend storage life enabling access to more distant markets and more effective inventory management.

Summary: A project has been undertaken to investigate the potential of Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere (DCA) storage to extend storage quality of fruit to enable transport to distant markets.

The project is jointly funded with AGMARDT using Plant and Food as the research provider.

Activity: There is no budgeted activity in the current year.

Results from 2011 Activity: A trial shipment of New Zealand Hass avocados to France was undertaken to demonstrate the potential of a programmed dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) approach to reach new and distant markets.

The study concluded that: 1. The feasibility of using a modified DCA protocol with existing shipping containers was successfully demonstrated with a shipment of Hass avocados to France. However, rather than a strict DCA, the container was operated with a set ultra low O2 atmosphere that remained fixed throughout the voyage.

2. Carrier EverFresh™ containers were suitable for use with the modified DCA regime, but Maersk StarCare containers were not.

3. The trial highlighted the risks of delays associated with shipping to long-distance markets and therefore the need to maximise quality retention at all stages of the handling chain.

This may require revision of the type of packaging used and the care taken during handling of the fruit.

4. Orchards with fruit potential for export to Europe should be identified prior to the start of the season to ensure EU residue requirements are met, and that only those orchards

48

Continued...

with a history of high inherent storage quality should be selected for inclusion in the export consignment. Preharvest testing of fruit quality is needed and recommended.

5. Up to 50 days of storage plus shelf life may be required when pre-shipment and post-shipment logistics and delays are considered.

Project Name: Plant Growth Regulators Project start: 2011 Project completion: 2013 Objective: To investigate the effect of Uniconazol on Avocados in New Zealand conditions.

Summary: The application of Uniconazol (Sunny®) is becoming more frequent in Avocado orchards around the world. A collaborative trial was established in spring 2011 between NZAGA, Plant and Food and Growchem. The trial includes two treatment concentrations of Uniconazol applied during flowering and a control treatment across a total of 232 trees.

The treatment trees are situated in four blocks each of which have two plots with each plot being one replicate of the treatments.

Recent activity: Late July fruit counts on all the trees was completed, the canopy of the trees measured and the number of fruit calculated per canopy volume and surface area. There was no difference between treatments.

The fruit’s length and width was measured and the fruit of the Sunny treated trees was found to be an average of about 3mm shorter and 2.5mm wider. The fruit will be harvested in the next month and the final results of yield and fruit characteristics will be reported in the next issue of Avoscene.

Project Name: Reed Quality Standards Project start: 2010 Project completion: 2012 Objective: To determine the storage quality of Reed.

Summary: Reed has been grown for a long time in our orchards. New plantings have raised interest in Reed as export cultivar. This project was implemented to determine the shipping potential of reed in New Zealand conditions.

Recent activity: Fruit from the past season has being evaluated for storage potential. The evaluation was done at four harvesting dates, three storage temperatures, three storage durations, three regions and two orchards in each region.

The main factors influencing on storage quality were harvesting time during the season and storage temperature.

A report of this trial has been published in this issue of Avoscene.

Reed storage evaluation 2011-2012

Reed trees are grown in numerous orchards in New Zealand and pattern and generous bearing of an excellent flavoured fruit.

Michael Whorskey (Business Manager of Fruit Produce at Count Grower Forums in Tauranga and Whangarei that the interest in R appears to be growing.

Some growers are exploring the possibility of exporting Reed, bu grade standards must be set. This article reports on part of the w export grade standards of Reed. This article gives a preliminary r date.

Reed storage evalu

Work done in 2010 (see Avoscene, October 2011) showed high v the two factors that were studied, time of harvest and origin of t further understand the factors that influence the storage quality (two from Far North, Whangarei and BOP, respectively) was asse Fruit were harvested at approximately one month intervals from stored at different temperatures (3˚C, 5˚C, and 7˚C) and for a ran

storage quality around the two factors that previously been described as being caused by Reed trees are grown in were studied, time of harvest and origin of cold damage, but it could also correspond to A B numerous orchards in New the fruit (orchard and region). To further early stages of fungal rot. SCD corresponds understand the factors that influence the to a discolouration or browning of the flesh Zealand and are known for storage quality of Reed, fruit from six around the seed cavity. SCD is thought to Reed storage evaluation their upright growing2011-2012 pattern orchards (two from Far North, Whangarei have a physiological origin. and BOP, respectively) was assessed at Other disorders like brown patches, stem andtrees generous bearing of an orchards Reed are grown in numerous in New Zealand and are known for their upright growing different maturity stages. Fruit were end rots, vascular browning and diffuse flesh excellent flavoured fruit.of an excellent pattern and generous bearing flavoured fruit. harvested at approximately one month were also observed but in a much lower intervals from December 2011 to March this analysis, a fruit was Michael Whorskey (Business Manager of Fruit Produce at Countdown) reported atproportion. the 2012InNZAGA 2012 and stored at different temperatures considered to be sound when it had less than Michael Whorskey (Business Manager Grower and Whangarei that the interest Reed fruit local market (3˚C, 5˚C, and 7˚C) andinfor a range of for the 5% external rots, 5% SSB, 5% stem end rot, of FruitForums Producein at Tauranga Countdown) reported appears to beNZAGA growing. storage times (14, 21 and 28 days).

20% vascular browning, 5% brown patches, at the 2012 Grower Forums in Tauranga and Whangarei that the interest

In general, the storage quality of Reed

and 10% SCD.

Some growers are theappears possibilityfruit of exporting Reed, but in order this, export in this trial was significantly lower to facilitate The number of days the fruit took to ripen in Reed fruit for theexploring local market grade standards must be set.

This article reports on part of the work needed to determine the than that expected from similar Hass fruit. after removal from the cool storage ranged to be growing.

Thegives mainadisorders observed duringofthe fromof twothe days, whento stored at 7˚C for 28 export grade standards of Reed. preliminary report the findings study Some growers are exploring the This article assessments were severe skin blackening days, to five days, when stored atB:3˚C 14, possibility of exporting Reed, but in order date.

Figure 2. A: Sound unripe Reed fruit after cool storage.

SSBfor symptoms on during ripening (SSB) (Figure 1) and stone

to facilitate this, export grade standards

21 or 28 days.

Reed fruit after ripening and coolstorage.

Work 2010 (seereports Avoscene, 2011) showed high variability quality around cavity discolouration (SCD) (Figure 2). of storage The dry matter of the orchards developed mustdone be set.inThis article on partOctober symptoms thefruit. external surface of quality in a basically as shown in unaffected. the work needed determine the time ofThe The internal of thelinear fruit remains largely theoftwo factors thattowere studied, harvest and on origin of the fruit (orchard and region).

To pattern the fruit appear similar to fuzzy patches Figure 3.

High variability in dry matter export grade standards of Reed, and is a further understand the factors that influence the storage quality of Reed, fruit orchards as being caused by from cold six damage, but it could also correspond to produced by fungal rots, the difference content was observed between orchards. preliminary report of the findings of the (two from Far North, Whangarei and BOP,being respectively) was assessed at different maturity stages. tothe a discolouration or browning the flesh around that in SSB no corresponds rots penetrate into The two orchards in Far Northof behaved study to date.

FruitWork were harvested at approximately one month intervals from December 2011 to March 2012 and flesh of the fruit.

The internal quality of the differently to each other as did the ones in patches, done in 2010 (see Avoscene, have a physiological origin. Other disorders like brown stored at different temperatures (3˚C, andremains 7˚C) and forunaffected. a range of storage times (14, 21 and 28 largely SSB has Whangarei.

October 2011) showed high variability of 5˚C,fruit and diffuse flesh were also observed but in a much lower propor days).

A

B

In general, the storage quality of Reed fruit in this trial was significantly lower than that expected from similar Hass fruit.

The main disorders observed during the assessments were severe skin blackening during ripening (SSB) (Figure 2) and stone cavity discolouration (SCD) (Figure 1). The symptoms on the external surface of the fruit appear similar to fuzzy patches produced by fungal rots, Ripen ReedReed fruit with SCD symptoms (arrow).

Figure unripe Reed after cool storage.

B: SSBonsymptoms on 2. 1. the difference being thatsymptoms in SSB no(arrow).

Figure2.1.A: A: Sound Sound unripe Reed fruit fruit after cool storage.

B: SSB symptoms Reed Figure Figure Ripen fruit with SCD Reed ripening and coolstorage. fruitfruit afterafter ripening and coolstorage. rots penetrate into the flesh of the fruit.50The internal quality of the fruit remains largely unaffected. SSB has previously been described as being caused by cold damage, but it could also correspond to early stages of fungal rot. SCD corresponds to a discolouration or browning of the flesh around the seed cavity. SCD is thought to

consid than 5 end ro brown

The n after range for 28 3˚C fo

The d in a b

By Alvaro Vidiella NZAGA Scientist alvaro.vidella@nzavocado.co.nz

uation 2011-2012 Alvaro Vidiella, Henry Pak and Glenys Parton

The factor that had the greatest influence on storage quality was harvest date. Figure 4 shows how storage quality varied across the season for fruit from different orchards stored at 5˚C for 21 days.

All the orchards followed a similar trend with a peak in fruit storage quality for the second harvest, which appears to be independent of dry matter content, considering that for that harvesting date the observed values for the different orchards ranged from slightly over 22% to about 30%.

The disorder that was responsible for most of the unsound fruit of the first harvest was SCD in all the orchards and SSB in one orchard. The main disorder responsible for the unsound fruit of the third and fourth harvests was SSB (Table 1 overleaf ). There was high variability of fruit storage quality between orchards

in each harvesting date. No clear trend was observed that could be attributed to differences between regions or tree age of the orchards.

For fruit stored at 5˚C, the storage quality of the fruit held for 28 days (Figure 5a overleaf ) was poorer for every combination of harvest date and orchard than the fruit stored for 21 days. The quality of the fruit stored for 28 days at 5˚C declined as the season progressed. The main disorders found in this fruit were a combination of SSB and SCD. When comparing fruit stored for 28 days, the fruit stored at 3˚C (Figure 5b overleaf ) showed better storage quality than the fruit stored at 5˚C, for all the harvest and orchard combinations in which they could be compared. For the fruit stored at 3˚ C for 28 days, the storage quality was better in the first harvest. The

Figure 3. Dry matter evolution of Reed in two orchards from the Bay of Plenty (BOP 1 and 2), two orchards of Whangarei (WH1 and 2), and two orchards from Far North (FN1 and 2) in the season 2011-2012.

main disorder found in this fruit was SSB. Comparing the results of Reed fruit of this experiment with what would be expected from Hass fruit in similar circumstances, the storage performance of Reed has been relatively poor. The results of this trial suggest that storing early season fruit at temperatures near 3˚C could lead to acceptable results, but that there is a high chance of orchard conditions impacting negatively on fruit quality.

While it has been observed that under some conditions Reed quality may be acceptable after storage for the three or four weeks required for export, the challenge still remains to determine the adequate storage conditions of the fruit and the influence of factors related to orchard characteristics and management on fruit storage quality. Continued over

Figure 4. Percentage of sound fruit stored at 5˚ C for 21 days, harvested at four different times from the 6 orchards of the trial.

51

Table 1. Percentage of sound fruit, disorders incidence, days to ripen and fruit weight average by harvesting date and

orchard of fruit stored at 5˚ C for 21 days. Colour scale: Sound fruit column = green (top values) to red (bottom values); Continued...

Reed storage evaluation 2011-2012 Incidence of vascular browning (%)

Incidence of SCD (%)

Days to ripen

30/03/2012

Incidence of stem end rot (%)

20/02/2012

Incidence of SSB (%)

17/01/2012

Incidence of external rots (%)

20/12/2011

BOP1

33

0

9

5

2

65

3

382

BOP2

44

0

4

4

0

53

4

379

FN1

60

0

11

6

0

25

4

364

FN2

78

1

11

0

0

13

4

367

WH1

47

0

42

9

2

28

3

310

WH2

61

1

1

1

1

37

4

290

BOP1

79

0

9

1

2

15

4

375

BOP2

77

0

18

7

1

3

3

376

FN1

71

0

20

1

3

12

4

380

FN2

84

0

12

4

0

3

4

346

WH1

89

0

6

1

1

1

3

300

WH2

91

0

1

0

5

2

3

287

BOP1

37

0

57

6

1

14

5

341

BOP2

29

0

59

33

5

14

5

376

FN1

61

0

25

11

0

7

5

329

FN2

79

2

56

3

1

13

5

412

WH1

82

0

15

1

0

0

5

326

WH2

73

0

15

2

1

14

5

319

BOP1

25

0

67

0

1

44

5

397

BOP2

22

0

76

11

2

12

4

414

FN1

17

0

80

9

8

23

5

436

FN2

8

2

92

4

4

21

6

353

WH1

20

2

77

3

0

18

5

336

WH2

59

0

39

3

2

7

4

336

Sound fruit, 28d, 5°C

Fruit weight (g)

Orchard

Harvest

Sound fruit (%)

Incidence columns = red (top values) to green (bottom values).

Sound fruit, 28d, 3°C

Figures 5a and b. Percentage of sound fruit stored at 5 and 3˚ C for 28 days, harvested at four different times from 3 orchards of the trial.

Table 1. Percentage of sound fruit, disorders incidence, days to ripen and fruit weight average by harvesting date and orchard of fruit stored at 5˚ C for 21 days. Colour scale: Sound fruit column = green (top values) to red (bottom values); Incidence columns = red (top values) to green (bottom values).

NZAGA5, would to thank the six growers For fruit stored at 5˚C, the storage quality of the fruit held for 28 days (Figure left)likewas poorer for who provided the fruit for this Reed fruit evaluation. every combination of harvest date and orchard than the fruit stored for 21 days. The quality of the fruit stored for 28 days at 5˚C declined as the season progressed. The main disorders found in this fruit were a combination of SSB and SCD. 52

When comparing fruit stored for 28 days, the fruit stored at 3˚C (Figure 5, right) showed better

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53

Flower pruning upd Flower pruning has been practiced in our orchards for some years now, with variable approaches and success. In 2008 NZAGA published a guide (Spring: Management, Phenology & Flowering - available at www.nzavocado.co.nz) which includes recommendations on flower pruning.

In this article you have the opportunity to learn about the current opinion on flower pruning from some experienced growers, contractors and consultants in our industry.

Katikati grower Terry Ridder is not an advocate of flower pruning, believing structural pruning brings better results overall.

However, when it comes to influencing biennial bearing Terry believes the most significant factors, in order of importance, are location, pruning and fertiliser.

“I have done a little flower pruning but don’t like it because of the labour and time required and the hedge-like re-growth it promotes.

“Five to six shoots grow from where it has been pruned and then you have to control that re-growth.

You end up with a lot of growth on the outside of the tree which makes it hard to access.

“Structural pruning also reduces flower numbers and I take off a lot more wood, cutting branches right back to the main stem. I have my own gear so I can go round and do it myself,” says Terry, who has a six hectare orchard he began developing from bare land in 1987 with more than 600 trees aged from 12 to 25 years old.

“I tend to take out thicker wood than what is recommended. Generally we do a 70 per cent prune after harvest in February and March and 30 per cent in spring. We have always pruned in one form or another but the pruning techniques are constantly evolving.”

For the past six years the orchard has produced a crop consistently each season though volumes have fluctuated averaging between 12 to 20 tonne per hectare and in particular over the last three years the orchard has averaged 18 tonne per hectare.

Avocado trees are sensitive to high yields and climatic conditions, says Terry.

“They can be doing well and then suddenly go

54

By Elaine Fisher and Alvaro Vidiella

date: industry view backwards, for example with the wet structural pruning. prune in the year they don’t structural weather we have experienced this winter Michael began structural pruning 10 prune.” causing the fruit to be late maturing, years ago. Autumn is the optimum time Brett says several of his growers in delaying harvesting and consequently and if it is done right, structural pruning the region from Waihi to Te Puke have pruning, potentially affecting the fruit set need only be repeated every two and half harvested a crop most years and his for this spring.” to three years. pruning programme is part of the NZAGA Katikati contractor Michael Dillon “Flower pruning in the in-between year trial. One of his growers has not missed a experimented on his own orchard nine may have some benefit but the decision harvest in the last 11 years and looks like years ago, pruning flowers on one tree needs to be made orchard by orchard and he will pick fruit again this season. and leaving its neighbour untouched. tree by tree.”

Grower Ian Broadhurst manages his He was so impressed with the improved There is no magic bullet to cropping orchard as well as a 161ha orchard in performance in both on and off years every year.

Northland where a team of 20 workers of the flower pruned tree, he flower pruned a significant number introduced the concept to his of the 70,000 trees this spring, clients. under the direction of Claudia, an “Everywhere I’ve used flower experienced Chilean Agronomist. pruning, as well as structural “We decide tree-by-tree which ones pruning, we’ve had good results. needed flower pruning and it has to But the orchardist has got to do be finished by October.” everything right. Flower pruning Ian believes flower pruning won’t work on its own.” can influence biennial bearing Michael aims to remove the yellow by reducing stress on trees and drooping leaves and pinnacles, often encouraging the flush to produce referred to as ‘goat’s ears’ in early next season’s flowering wood.

September, making cuts of 10mm “The amount of flowers we take off to 80 mm. is nothing compared to what the tree “After flower pruning there should produces but it allows the tree to put be no more yellow and the canopy more resources into the remaining should be a nice light green colour.” flowers and enhances fruit set and Flower pruning is not the whole size.” answer to changing a tree’s biennial Ian also structural prunes the nature but it is a factor. Timing Contractor Michael Dillon uses a machete to flower prune an avocado tree. trees which are spaced 3.5m apart is crucial. In the Bay of Plenty it and kept low to allow picking from should be finished by the end of October.

“My personal view is we probably haven’t the ground. He sees flower pruning as The sooner it is done, the better. The a technique to use alongside structural been feeding the trees enough. Every wood which is left will set fruit for the pruning and all other aspects of good aspect of tree health has to be looked at next season. orchard management. carefully, including the timing of fertiliser “My advice to growers who are unsure is Consultant Jerome Hardy says the application, sprays, the use of irrigation to do half the orchard only and see what primary objective of flower pruning is where available and mulching.” happens. to reduce or mitigate alternate bearing BOP contractor Brett Murray hasn’t “One orchard we work in at Omokoroa but consideration should also be given to done a lot of flower pruning for clients in produced 25 tonnes a hectare after we height and size control and ‘shaping’ a tree the last three years because most now have flower pruned when I didn’t think it was for picker and spray access. an annual structural pruning programme. necessary but the owner wanted it done. It “My view on the role of flower pruning “I did quite a lot of flower pruning has now set what looks like a 20 tonne per for around five years with good results has changed over recent years and I now hectare crop for the coming season.” believe the most effective approach is but now that we do a 20 per cent prune BOP Contracter Michael Darling who limited flower pruning as a follow-up to each year between March and the end manages six orchards and works on up structural pruning. This can help achieve of September, there is no need to flower to 110 others, says flowering takes a lot all the above objectives with less risk plus prune as well. of energy for a tree and believes the best reduce the canopy to root ratio which will “Growers who prune every three years way of controlling flower numbers is by assist with tree health and fruit size. should consider a 15 to 20 per cent flower 55

Flower pruning update: industry view

Continued...

“The risk with extensive and exclusive Consultant Colin Partridge says the flower pruning is that we tend to term ‘flower pruning’ is really a misnomer remove all the determinant flowering because it is not the small avocado flowers branches which extend above the canopy. that are pruned.

In a marginal spring these extended, “Maybe it should be called ‘Selective determinate flowers are the most reliable small branch pruning to stimulate new ‘fruit-setters’ and flower-pruning will have flower producing wood to help mitigate removed them. alternate bearing’ because that’s really what “If on the other hand we have a good it aims to achieve. But let’s call it flower spring we cry ‘Success!’ because we now pruning for this article. have a commercial (not excessive) crop, no “My experience with flower pruning exposed fruit and plenty of flush emerging from the pruning cuts, but this is not always a guaranteed outcome.”

Jerome says the same can be achieved with a much reduced risk if the primary tool is structural pruning – making the macro cuts in the autumn after a large crop has been picked and at a time when there is little new crop on the tree.

“At this time, carbohydrate accumulation and floral bud formation/initiation will be at the Before – an avocado tree in the high point of a two year cycle. distinctive yellow of full flower.

Most importantly the tree will be only months away from a heavy flowering, so large structural pruning will remove a significant amount of flower and -provided enough is done - avoid the total carbohydrate depletion that will occur in an on-year flowering.”

The primary goals are to reduce the flowering intensity of the tree and promote new growth, both in the right proportion, and reduce height and promote access to spray and pickers.

“So, prune in the summer After – an avocado tree with half its or autumn with big (15cm to flowers removed, leaving one side 30cm) cuts to reduce height and complexity. You should be making yellow and the other green. at least a couple of major cuts in the top for height and a couple started in about 2000 when I field trialled of major cuts for access in the side of the some pruning using shelter trimmers. canopy every year. In the years when you Results were not good because far too approach a heavy flowering, prune more much regrowth was stimulated by the heavily and re-visit your trees in September indiscriminate cuts made by the blades. with loppers to ‘restore balance’ by flower“Since then, it is my experience that pruning. Flower-pruning is only on trees flower pruning can be a useful tool that still look like they are flowering too to apply in expected ‘on-years’ when heavily (but these should be the exception). sometimes so much fruit is set, new flush “Avocado growers should be thinking like takes ages to develop and is weak when kiwifruit growers and pruning every year it does grow. In those circumstances, to a specific recommendation and with a pruning out branches of between two specific and measurable outcome in mind. centimetres and six centimetres in diameter Key criteria and outcomes are canopy to will stimulate new growth to develop just root ratio, flower to canopy ratio, height, behind the cuts. However, for this new access, promotion of spring flush, return wood to mature sufficiently to produce crop, tree health.” flowers the following spring, pruning

should be done from August onwards and not later than end November. New growth stimulated by pruning any later tends to stay vegetative.

“Using tree size as a guide, don’t be afraid to cut a lot of branches if necessary to ensure chances of good return flowering.

Also prune such that the cut surface is exposed to lots of light; cutting too far back into the canopy will make for weak, lanky growth. Choose branches that are clearly stressed/yellowed and sticking out from beyond the main canopy line if they are present,” says Colin.

“Flower pruning is not a guarantee of regular bearing but if done effectively and flowers develop on the new growth, at least one starts with a chance because without flowers, no cropping can occur.”

Tony Bradley of Aongatete Coolstores says the company doesn’t do a lot of flower pruning.

“We don’t do it as it is uneconomic and not as necessary as a good pruning programme.

We have been running an annual pruning programme for five to six years designed to improve structure and remove leaf in the tree mass to get the tree in balance with root carrying capacity. I believe the theory behind flower pruning is not to manage crop set but to promote new wood growth.”

One benefit of flower pruning is that it will promote a set with the shoot growing at the right time to produce more flowers for the following year.

Tony believes if a tree has limited resources, these are better applied to fewer flowers, which is another way in which flower pruning can be useful.

He says there can be an issue around achieving the right balance between taking enough flowers and taking too many.

“It is important to make judgements tree by tree and understand what phase the tree is in.

“We are doing less and less as if you prune trees every year you do not need to flower prune. Targeted annual pruning is a more contemporary method to encourage trees to develop new growth.”

If you have any questions or comments about flower pruning, please email Alvaro alvaro.vidiella@nzavocado.co.nz

56

Lynda Uttinger

NZAGA STAFF PROFILE

Supporting NZAGA projects Lynda Uttinger is currently working for NZAGA on a short-term contract, providing administrative support for the commodity levy referendum and primary growth partnership funding application.

Lynda was previously an executive assistant at Apata Ltd and is a qualified legal executive. lynda.uttinger@nzavocado.co.nz

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Booking deadline for next issue is November 15th, 2012.

Contact Daphne on 07 928 3044 or email daphne@thesun.co.nz 57

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Assisting with current NZAGA research programmes; field and laboratory work – trials and treatments; fruit quality assessments; sample collection and preparation; data entry and analysis. glenys.parton@nzavocado.co.nz

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Chairman’s comment CEO comment Exporter comment Local market comment Organic growers’ comment Packer comment Grower comment Regional Roundups NZAGA Highlights Winter 2012

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Features NZAGA AGM in review Commodity levy Grower forums Bumble bees as managed pollinators Avocentric: Improbe partnership Technical visit to Chile An insight into the Mexican way

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NZAGA Winter field days report Update on NZAGA research projects Reed storage evaluation 2011-12 Flower pruning update: Industry view

42 46 50 54

I Chairman’s Comment I

Looking to the future My wife Catherine has owned the local florist for 18 months or more and I am frequently roped in to assist with deliveries, particularly when she is busy.

During the last Mothers’ Day weekend, I delivered a gift box to a residential address in Katikati and was greeted by the man of the house – a ‘senior’ grower, I established.

He took a look at me and said “I know you! My goodness, I know it’s been a poor season, but I never expected to find the chairman moonlighting as a delivery boy!”

It has become incredibly challenging to find the positives to extol when we are all struggling with poor returns of 2011-12 now to be followed by a poor crop this season and a significant question mark over value with reduced Australian retail access this season.

But overarching all of this is the unavoidable negativity associated with the continual global economic struggle and its impact on New Zealand; a stubborn NZ$ exchange rate doing nothing to assist exporters and a bashing the government is receiving trying to effect policy change via the partial sell down of state assets, etc. Fortunately Winston Peters is not dominating the headlines. And we haven’t started the water debate yet, but clearly it is imminent.

There is also the risk we become bogged down in the issues of today and do not raise our heads above the parapets and plan for the future. That future for New Zealand avocados is a very real potential total crop greater than 8 million trays by 2015-16 and the need to move possibly half or more of the export crop to destinations beyond Australia – previously well flagged in our stretch 2008 vision statement.

I am proud that the Executive I lead and

4

By John Schnackenberg NZAGA and AIC chairman

imperative our CEO and her team have defined the industry five year plan required to meet the challenges of bigger crops while working to clarify NZAGA accountabilities and the roles of our industry partners. Delivery of this five year plan requires constant and reliable funding by growers, hopefully the outcome of the Commodity Levy Referendum.

Your association is not the driver of commercial outcomes with respect to market development and orchard gate returns – that is the domain of exporters and commercial service providers.

However, we will be working closely with the exporter council (AVEC) and industry partners to foster innovation and determine who is doing what according to the plan. We will assist where it is agreed appropriate, and report performance against promise to growers.

As previously alluded to, more collaboration is happening in the commercial export arena; a merger between Global Fresh and Freshco, and the collaboration between three other players into Japan/SE Asia (NZAVO).

The collaberations (including AVANZA) mean there will be just three exporters to Japan this season.

But I make the appeal again to growers – get involved with your exporter grower groups to ensure your voice is listened to by your commercial partner. If there isn’t a grower body, form one.

NZAGA AGM and Grower Forums Thank you to all the growers who attended our recent AGM and Grower Forums. If you didn’t attend the forums, you missed very interesting presentations on a retailer’s view of the domestic market (Michael Whorskey, Progressive Enterprises), on orchard fruit quality and avocado rot prediction (Dr Henry

Pak – NZAGA and Dr Kerry Everett – Plant & Food), pollination of avocado in New Zealand and the honey bees’ performance (Dr David Pattemore – Plant & Food) and the export scene in 2012/13 (Alistair Young and Andrew Darling for AVEC).

At the AGM, CEO Jen Scoular presented a detailed traverse through the group accounts of NZAGA and its subsidiary AIC Limited showing the transition from ‘financial accounts’ to ‘activity accounts’ – where do we get our income from and what is it spent on which is now available on the website for further consideration at home.

A matter of significance and concern raised from the floor was with respect to biosecurity and the pending Government Industry Agreements (GIA) that we are required to look at on your behalf. The NZAGA has now signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MPI which commits us to a process to develop the business cases for surveillance and intervention with respect to the key pests or diseases that are considered significant with respect to avocados. That has a budgeted cost of approximately $70,000 in this year’s business plan.

Once the business cases are developed these would be presented to growers for consideration, and if thought appropriate, support for entering into the GIA deed on grower behalf. The NZAGA will not and cannot commit growers to GIA without a mandate from growers and this would be sought through a referendum process similar to the Commodity Levy Referendum.

Four remits were presented during the remit session and debated at length. Prior to the remit session I made the observation, reflecting on a similar ‘getting our heads above the parapet’ comment above, that it was

disappointing to me that three of the remits we were considering addressed ‘housekeeping’ and only one addressed long term matters - the very real issue of fruit quality, particularly for our fruit that will have to travel so far and long before presentation for retail sale.

Remit One (proposed Association Rule changes and reporting) and Remit Two (proposed Grower Council to ‘advise’ the Executive) were supported, and Remit Three (reporting and disclosure) and Remit Four (‘mandatory’ copper use until suitable alternatives) were defeated.

The Executive have some work to do with the movers of Remits One and Two to see how to give effect practical effect to these proposals. Please see the summary of voting results on page 19.

I ended the AGM congratulating sitting Executive members Ashby Whitehead (Bay of Plenty) and John Cotterell (At Large) on being reelected to the Executive and thanking Kathy Ashton and Kim Crocker for participating in the election process.

Commodity Levy Referendum Our Levy Referendum has been completed with a successful outcome.

Thank you to the growers who have participated in shaping your industry for the next six years.

HortNZ is also seeking a commodity levy renewal of $0.15c per $100.00 of income. The voting process for this will be complete by the time this issue of Avoscene is delivered to you. HortNZ operates in the political domain and doesn’t conduct research, marketing activities or have accountability for export marketing strategies under the HEA Act, as we do. It is operating in areas we cannot and in your Executive’s view is effectively delivering for growers – RMA, GIA support, Young Growers, water, the ‘right to farm’ etc.

5

I CEO Comment I

The challenges con I’m writing as the provisional results of the commodity levy come in and thank sincerely the growers who voted, and particularly those who voted in support of the levy structure going forward.

Your ‘yes’ vote expresses your confidence in the five year plan, but also adds an accountability to us to deliver on that five year plan.

I accept that accountability, and know that you will ring me if you think we are not meeting our part of the delivery.

Your support of the Levy structure means we are able to show we have the support of our growers to move the industry forward, to step change, to create a profitable and sustainable avocado industry in New Zealand. This support is very important for the application we are making for government funding.

I have never before been a “campaigner”, but did positively campaign for support of the Levy. I am very aware that we are not there yet – that we have made small changes and there are lots to make yet.

I enjoyed the phone calls with growers in the couple of weeks leading up to the close of voting. These calls enlightened me on concerns I wasn’t aware of, and to the implications for growers at a personal level of the low returns and continuing challenges across the industry.

I would like to suggest I allocate a couple of days a month to talking to individual growers but know the idea will always exceed the execution, so I’ll just say that it was great to chat to those I had the opportunity to, and never be surprised if I give you a call.

That hurdle over, the challenges continue: opportunities in our export markets seem to change weekly, if not daily; the AGM saw two out of four grower remits passed and the crop estimate seems to be going south.

The Grower Forums in Tauranga and Whangarei went very well, but I 6

ntinue was disappointed not to get higher attendances at both events.

On a positive note, there seems to be wide support for the presence of an industry Five Year Plan, and growers want to be involved or consulted with around some of the activities in the plan and certainly on any new major science initiatives.

It has been a team effort to put together the five year plan, driven by the Executive’s strategy agreed at the meeting in May. The first year of the plan becomes the business plan for 2012-13, and I put the budget for the 2012-13 year up at the AGM. My AGM presentation is now on the website (wwwnzavocado.co.nz), please find it under: http://growers.nzavocado.co.nz/ index.php/pi_pageid/375 Backing up the five year plan is the forecast volumes to 2017-18, based on the current productive and newly planted hectares as provided by you in the annual registration process. Accurate hectare and tree number information is essential so we asked at the roadshows for growers to be as accurate as possible with their registration data.

Our estimates also assume that some mitigation of irregular bearing occurs during the five years as a result of the projects including the pruning trial, the avocado research consortium and new cultivar evaluation, so the forecast volumes currently show a lesser impact of irregular bearing in four and five years time.

We have heard from growers that we need to focus on fewer activities and ensure delivery on those and that is what we will work towards as we go forward.

We also set out at the roadshows that the budget for the five year plan caps costs to CPI increases only. No significant new projects will be taken on without grower consultation. We will need to better define what this means, and how we consult, and will talk to you about that over the coming months.

With a forecast increase in volume and a cap on costs, we are predicting a good decrease in the level of levies and

By Jen Scoular, NZAGA CEO jen.scoular@nzavocado.co.nz

fees over the next five years. But that is dependent on an increase in export volume over that time.

We did cover off the activities and budget for the 2012-13 business plan at the AGM. I enjoyed the range of topics at the grower forums, and we got some great feedback on the forum. I know we have talked about increasing value in the NZ market for a number of years, and we are looking again at how we might achieve this. Bevan and I attended the United Fresh AGM in May and met the fresh produce managers of the major NZ retailers, and asked if they would work with us on the NZ market. They are keen to do so and growers got a lot out of the session given by Michael Whorskey from Countdown which covered off the priorities and challenges around avocados at retail level. Michael prompted us to increase promotion and education, but also highlighted the real challenge irregular bearing has on retailers.

Foodstuffs and other retailers are also keen to work together with us in the New Zealand market. I also encourage growers to talk to the produce manager in your local store. Talk nicely of course, but help them understand that avocados like to be treated with care, and displayed well.

We invited Plant & Food to update growers on the work they are doing about pollination and had a great update on the work to date. NZAGA is funding a small part of a bumblebee project this year, following evidence that bumblebees work in cooler temperatures, and work harder it seems than honey bees, so may provide much better pollination of avocados, which we are seeking, particularly in in an off-year. The project involves the artificial cultivation of bumblebee colonies in orchards. Results will be made available as the project continues.

Plant & Food also presented the session with Henry Pak on quality, and Andrew Darling and Alistair Young presented the AVEC exporters session on the markets

for the coming year. Even in the week between the two forums the updates from the markets have changed so we all need to be very open to change as the season unfolds this year.

I talked again at the forum and the AGM about the business case we are putting together for government funding to accelerate solutions to our significant issues of irregular bearing and developing new markets. It’s a terrific opportunity for the industry to source funding, with an objective to transform the industry and bring sustainable and profitable returns to growers. There will be no increase in grower funding, contribution will be from current levies and fees and we are sourcing funding from co-investors across the industry.

The opportunity has been offered to all exporters, and I would like to see all exporters being pro-active about participating.

John and I had a good look around the growing region in Western Australia recently. We were hosted by two grower groups, the Delroys and the Franceschis and saw a number of orchards, mostly very large, and some very impressive newly planted orchards.

Certainly from the similarity of growing conditions, this is the area New Zealand growers should be looking at to compare on-orchard practises, as with their cooler climate, and similar growing season, it mirrors NZ much more than the Eastern states do. Fruit on the trees looked very clean, was sizing up well, but was not huge; however, volumes were significant on the orchards we saw.

The “official” crop estimate from WA is still about 3m trays (from 700k in 201112) but market intelligence is suggesting that volume will not be reached.

We know growers are seeking change, and an upwards change. Progress towards a more integrated industry that has well developed markets demanding high quality NZ avocados is never going to be speedy, but I believe we are making steps, albeit, small steps. But no step forward will be sustainable without growers support. I hope we have yours.

7

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By Alistair Young AIC Export Director alastair@southernproduce.co.nz

I Exporter Comment I

The season has begun Harvesting As we roll into the 2012 export season we face a change of direction that will test exporters, growers and packers alike.

The drive into new and emerging markets for New Zealand sees us facing logistical demands that will disturb lifestyles and challenge what has been the norm in our industry. It is a new game this season and what we could get away with in the past will not be adequate going forward.

The first major challenge is the disciplines behind fruit age management.

New Zealand’s ace card when marketing against our international competitors is quality. To achieve a premium return above fruit from South America, let alone be purchased ahead of them, we need our quality to be better. Old fruit does not give us that edge and with our re-entry on a larger scale into the USA, and our desire to maintain our position in the Japanese market, we need to address some basic challenges. At the grower forums I urged growers to help exporters by harvesting for vessels and not picking too early for the long distance markets. An example of the logistical difficulties is that there is one boat for Japan and it cuts off loading on a

Wednesday, then there is only one boat for the USA and it cuts off on a Saturday. This means if the fruit is picked for Japan and the USA at the same time, we have several days’ difference in fruit age at loading.

Growers need to work with their packers and exporters in an attempt to keep the fruit as young as possible by looking at all market options every day of the week. Talk to your exporter on this one.

MRLs are an issue and it is vital that any orchard spray diary, which shows a potential for problems, be tested prior to harvest to ensure clean entry into sensitive markets. Take no risks in this area as a residue picked up in an offshore market affects all of New Zealand, not just the exporter concerned. A positive result can have long-term ramifications for our industry.

Sizing is proving to be an issue, with the season starting with fruit much smaller than last season. Week ending 31 August saw 57 per cent 25ct and smaller harvested and this is a very small profile historically. The wet weather hasn’t helped and with flowering happening shortly we are not expecting a big improvement until late November. The smaller fruit helps with most of the new markets but is a handbrake on volume for the USA

and Australia and will bring the overall estimate down.

The market The market outlook is confused at present, with many possible outcomes.

New Zealand is up against a competitive environment in Japan and the USA, with Mexico and Chile active and competing at very sharp values. New Zealand will have to compete on price to have a presence there.

The Australian market is a moving target with a healthy wholesale market at present but the big Western Australian harvest is yet to begin in earnest. On paper if we flowplan Australia well we can expect a reasonable outcome this season, however this optimism must not deter us from pushing out into the developing markets as planned. There is a big flowering coming in New Zealand and it follows that we will have a potentially big crop in 2013. The ground work is needed now to create opportunity for that fruit, to my knowledge all exporters are pushing into these markets with aggression. We will monitor flow plans and market volumes with interest over the next couple of months to see if we manage to meet the new market targets.

9

I Local Market Comment I

By Mike Swan Domestic Sales and Marketing, Southern Produce Ltd mike@southernproduce.co.nz

Hopes for a good innings To all intents and purposes we are facing an off-year, usually characterised by lower volumes and stronger returns for fruit sold on the New Zealand market.

Regionally we have all experienced one of the wettest Julys on record, which was then followed by a similarly sodden August. While the extreme rainfall caused all sorts of difficulties on orchard, it quite clearly had a positive effect on the supply and value of early season fruit.

Good advancing of dry matters in June was slowed by these record rainfalls.

There were numerous reports of dry matters decreasing by several points after the periods of high rainfall. Then, as orchards did start to pass, access for picking machinery and personnel was often hampered by impossible ground conditions.

The net result of all this was that for the

opening six weeks of the new season, the industry pack reports averaged a sensible 20,000 trays packed per week. Values were firm, and growers would have been satisfied.

The sad irony is that at the time of writing, the wholesale market is currently awash with fruit, values have fallen, and to coin a sporting phrase, “a good start with runs on the board has been undone by a collapse in the batting order”.

In the last two weeks of August there was almost 80,000 trays packed for the local market. That is an extraordinary volume for this early in the season, let alone in an off-year.

Quite clearly this last fortnight could have been better managed. The industry pack report for the week ending August 24 showed 43,000 trays packed, almost three times that of the previous week.

An experienced marketer even went as far as questioning the accuracy of the figure of 43,500 trays stated in the last Pack Report. He had hoped that there was a typographical error as he fully understood

I Organic Growers’ Comment I

the effect that such a volume would have.

The report was correct and unfortunately now, some ten days later, his concerns about the effect of this volume have been realised.

The industry pack report is a useful tool in managing the crop to best advantage to the grower. All key suppliers to the New Zealand market have access to the report and it should be utilised more effectively to try and avoid situations such as this one.

Most suppliers should be able to offer the grower a reasonable indication of the New Zealand market trend at the time, and give some reasonably accurate indications of likely returns.

With the main export season due to start in the next week or two, let’s hope that by the time this article goes to print, “the lower order has settled in, and we are well on the way to a good innings”.

By Mike Crum NZOAGI chairperson mpcjcrum@xtra.co.nz

Another alternative to copper I note with interest the compulsory copper debate has come up again.

From an organic growers’ point of view we are able to use copper within IFOAM rules. What we are trying to do however is create an environment in the orchard where the biology is in some sort of balance, and enhancing the ability to grow fruit and combat pests and diseases. The idea of spraying the soil and tree eight times per year with a compound designed to kill biology, specifically fungi, is self-defeating in what we are trying to achieve.

With my non-organic hat on I think if copper has any merit, 10

growers will use it with commercial drivers as their reason. If copper had any long term benefits, fruit sprayed with it would be able to earn a premium on non-coppered crops.

Compulsory copper doesn’t sound like the greatest marketing tool. Calendar spraying fruit crops is the past not the future.

We picked our first 100 bins on July 14 and they are being sold through a specialist organic wholesaler. The last of them have been sold around August 23 from the wholesaler. There has been no copper applied to the trees in the 15 years of their existence. They’ve obviously lasted the 30 days plus some expected of avocados.

I must ask how many they couldn’t sell because of rots.

I Packer Comment I

By Lindsay Wells NZ Avocado Packers Forum chairman natural.touch@xtra.co.nz

Collaboration key to success I introduce myself as a grower, post-harvest operator and part-time industry politician.

I have been growing persimmons since 1981 and packing them for export since 1986 at Kauri, north of Whangarei. Our 15 hectare family orchard is managed by my daughter Bronwyn and her husband Lance and as the production surpassed that for our orchard packhouse, we needed a larger facility. It was fortunate that four seasons ago the opportunity arose to purchase the Hevila packhouse in Maungatapere, we took the chance and changed the name to NTL Fruitpackers.

Our company and NTL Fruitpackers is managed by my son Duane and my wife Terrie also helps manage the packhouse: we are a family business.

I have been involved with the persimmon industry as chairman of the growers association through the ’90s and shared meetings with Ron Bailey during the early years. I chaired the Persimmon Industry Council, a product group under the HEA, for seven years until I resigned

last year.

I have now been given the privilege of chairing the NZAPF, where we are all as one with our aim to work with the NZAGA and AIC to ensure the sustainability of the New Zealand avocado industry.

Psa has hit the kiwifruit industry and consequences will be felt within our avocado post-harvest industry now and in the future. Our major packhouses rely on kiwifruit to reduce the overheads that have a flow-on effect for the avocado harvest by reduce packing costs. The Psa effect and biennial bearing volume fluctuations has given not only the NZAPF but the industry as a whole cause for concern.

Skilled orchard and post-harvest labour is expensive to train and production volume fluctuations will stress market gains. The result is that we will have difficulty retaining that skill and market gains we have developed in high volume years.

The industry frustrations born from a poor OGR year have resulted in the growers lately requiring more say in their industry. This must be applauded by all

who have a commercial interest in the sustainable success of avocados in New Zealand, as long it is for the right reasons.

If this industry is to survive the next few years, it is collaboration at grower, postharvest and marketer level that will bring each and every value added dollar from the fruit and turn it into profit.

The cornerstone to that sustainability is the need to produce, pack and market a fruit that has its value accepted at the consumer level. Each and every one of us who would wish to make a living from the avocado must allow the others in the value chain to make a profit as long as they add value.

A value added chain will only work if the product is what the consumer wants.

Everyone from the grower to packhouse to the marketer must be committed and want to meet the market demand. The market will soon remove the weak links quicker than compliance police. We are all in this together and accept that we will all need to be part of the risk taking, (for example, the development of new markets) not because we are told to but because we want and understand the need too.

11

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12

I Growers’ Comment I

By Elaine Fisher Journalist elaine@thesun.co.nz

Good start for industry change NZ Avocado Growers’ Association is on the right track with its five year plan but improving the fortunes of the industry is the responsibility of all its players – that’s the view of several growers interviewed

by Avoscene.

Jim Wyatt, avocado grower of Kauri Point near Katikati, supports the general thrust of the five year plan, the levy and industry structures.

“The key focus in the five year plan is to develop markets outside of Australia. My main concern is around the marketing side. I think the industry needs clearer reporting by packhouses and marketers – they should be required to fill in statistics for NZAGA to publish in Avoscene.

“NZAGA has shied away from and seems reluctant to tread on toes by publishing information which would be helpful to growers.”

Jim believes NZAGA should publish guidelines and key questions growers should ask when signing agreements.

[NOTE: A roadmap to exporter contracts was published Winter 2012 Avoscene page 23]. NZAGA should also let growers know what exporters actually did, including where they sent fruit and what percentages went to each market.

By publishing broad statements of market statistics, where fruit went and what returns were, NZAGA could assist orchardists to make informed choices when it came to choosing an exporter.

“In 2010-11 there was an agreement that 25 per cent of the fruit would be exported out of Australia. However, only

one exporter did that and the agreement was broken, causing disaster in the Australian market.

“Exporters are taking short cuts and picking the eyes out of markets. We need exporters who are here for the long haul.”

However, growers must take some responsibility for the industry’s performance, he believes.

“It’s partly growers’ fault that they are picked off by promises. They should be making decisions based on long term goals for the industry as well as for themselves.”

While the plan aims to address issue of biennial bearing, Jim believes it is a fact of life.

“We are growing in a marginal situation. The best growing areas in the world have trouble, so we have them to a greater degree. We have to recognise our situation and budget and plan for that.”

Maria and Andrew Watchorn have been growing avocado on their three canopy hectare orchard at Omokoroa for seven years and Maria says she is pleased with the plan.

“The situation has come to a head where the industry needed a five year plan and what I like about this one is there is quite a lot of accountability surrounding it and it has been staged to make sure that accountability is looked at on a regular basis.”

Developing new markets and NZAGA being part of the Avocado Research Consortium (an international collaboration of the world’s top avocado scientists) is also positive, Maria says.

“Having a plan is one thing. Following it through and making sure it is acted upon and that information is regularly communicated to growers is the next step.”

Franz and Sandy Imlig have been growing avocados for 13 years in the

lower Kaimai Ranges, where altitude means trees flower and fruit several weeks later than those closer to sea level.

Franz believes the five year plan will set the industry on the right track and NZAGA has done a good job in informing growers about the plan through road shows and other communication.

“They have done everything in their power to keep growers informed and anyone who doesn’t know what has been happening has had their head in the sand.

It is now up to growers to act on that information.”

Franz says the industry needs to develop new markets overseas to secure its future and can’t afford a repeat of last season’s poor returns.

“Last season was very hard on many growers, with some having to find work off the orchards when they had been hoping their first big crop in years would bring in a good income.”

For Mathew Heller there was nothing really new in the five year plan.

“We’ve heard it all before. Nothing stood out as a fantastic new idea to help us move forward,” says Mathew, who has an avocado orchard at Ongare Point just north of Katikati.

However, Mathew says if the proposals in the plan are acted upon they would help the industry head in the right direction.

The problems of poor returns last season couldn’t be blamed on any one person or organisation, he says.

“It is an industry-wide problem and everyone, including growers and exporters, needs to learn from it.

“Hopefully NZAGA have taken on board grower sentiment and I think they have. There is a lot which needs to be done but change will take time.”

Mathew says tough as last season was, it 13

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14

Regional Roun As another winter draws to a close and spring is just around the corner I consider what has transpired since my last article.

Winter for Far FAR NORTH North growers has Ian Broadhurst been a mixed bag with a few frosts but luckily no real wind and wild weather events. Our main issue has been the constant rain which has left many properties water logged and difficult to access to pick or just manage general orchard operations. I feel for those growers further south on heavier soils that must be really struggling considering what we have experienced in terms of rainfall.

Overall impression to date is that maturity is probably well behind previous years and fruit size as a rule has been a real issue, as most growers finally reach suitable dry matter only to find orchards down a count size. As the owner and manager of young orchards, I would fully expect to have a good size profile but have had issues in comparison to previous years.

It is my general impression that flowering is more advanced than previous years, I checked my dairy from last year and note we had our hives in on 11 October; in discussion with growers earlier this week the consensus is maybe bees may only be two or three weeks away before they are required. On reflection it could well be the reason why our size profile is down slightly as we flowered later last year and had a generally cooler and wetter summer.

All the above combined will only add to the challenges of being a successful and profitable grower, wetter than normal conditions has provided plenty of opportunity for phytophthora to cause issues while six spotted mite

and thrip populations have been high right through the winter.

As a result we are now faced with managing these significant pest issues on winter stressed trees whilst trying to export our fruit to destinations that require spray programmes which offer little flexibility in terms of lasting controls.

Recent NZAGA field days and locally run field days have seen an excellent turn out, with many growers looking to up-skill and learn from the discussion group environment. In the Far North particularly there has been a realisation that the cultivar programme is showing its worth especially in replant situations.

Innovations in the use of Plant growth regulators adds a new dimension of tools which growers can now use. New chemistry offers longer term control for some of our serious pests. Thanks to those service providers in the north that take the time to demonstrate what is available.

Many thanks to the growers who attended the 2012 NZAGA AGM held at Tauranga; a very well organised event and congratulations to Jen and the team who run our industry.

The turnout was impressive and gave the opportunity for considerable healthy discussion giving the executive plenty to consider as we look to implement strategies to coincide with the five year plan.

I believe this was a continuation of the informed discussion which took place during the recent road shows and continues to assist those that manage your industry with the decisions that reflect the opinion of the grower base.

I would encourage all growers to maintain this level of debate via your reps to ensure informed and robust decision making on your behalf.

Good luck for the up-andcoming export season.

ndups

News and views from your regional NZAGA Grower Representatives

Government Industry Agreement (GIA) I recently attended a GIA workshop at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in Wellington and the following is an overview of that BAY OF PLENTY meeting.

Ashby Whitehead

What is GIA? The joint investment of primary industry groups and Government to manage biosecurity preparedness GIA in the context of the overall biosecurity system The biggest concern of primary industry groups was for the efficacy of the New Zealand biosecurity system and for assurance about the integration of its parts. This was expressed most strongly in relation to border and pre-border biosecurity and extended to needing a focus across the biosecurity chain including pest management.

Isn’t it nice to see the sun again without any rain?

I finally got my August fertiliser on with only a week to spare. With the amount of rain we have had in the Bay, the fertiliser would have been AT LARGE washed away if I had applied John Cotterell it any earlier. We have had the most rain in a month I have ever recorded in the 14 years we have owned our orchard. We had 433mm in July and another 123mm in the first four days of August, that’s over half a metre in just over a month! I have heard of a number of other orchards in the Bay that had lot more than that.

I’m planning on applying a miticide to control the building numbers of six spotted mites in my orchard before the bees are put in for pollination. I have learnt from past experience that you need to control six spotted mites before

Primary industry groups sought assurance that their investment in the system would be of value and its underwriting exposure was clear and manageable. Some industries looked beyond biosecurity to the full range of industry engagement by MPI and looked for integration and consistency across that wider scope.

The idea of government engagement with industry on the “end to end biosecurity system” was welcomed but more definition was needed on what that might mean in practice.

The idea of “partnership” needs further exploration and definition in terms of constructive two way engagement.

The following was offered as a development of the principles: Government and industry to work together in partnership to achieve more efficient biosecurity systems in a spirit of goodwill and cooperation for the benefit of the NZ economy.

flowering, because as the trees become stressed by the pressure of flowering, the mites seem to sense this and their populations explode. If you don’t control the mites within two to three weeks, you can have trees defoliating because of excessive numbers of mites. You will need to consider withholding periods for the spray that you are going to use and your intended pick date. In my view you are better to control the mites even if it means moving your picking date out; talk to your exporter or packhouse rep before you do anything.

It was great to see good numbers of growers at the NZAGA’s New Cultivars field days that I attended in Franklin and in the BOP, with good interaction between growers, consultants and Alvaro Vidiella. This format for field days is very informative, and with plenty of time for a casual chat afterward is being well received by all attending.

Benefits of participation Primary industry groups want to clearly understand the consequences of participation and non-participation in GIA. This means defining how government will treat non-signatory beneficiaries and exacerbators and how costs and benefits will be dealt with in relation to these parties. It also needs the detail of how some specifics of GIA will operate, e.g. cost sharing, rules of engagement, governance, representation, fiscal caps, and how governance functions.

There is also concern that issues of scale of industry are taken into account. Some industries are concerned that the benefits of participation might be eroded by a “one size fits all approach” and bring into question the value of a standard deed for all industry groups.

As you can see this will be a somewhat long and drawn out process to achieve a final Deed of Agreement.

I would like to congratulate Jen and her team for organising a great Grower Forum and AGM, comments from those attending were very complimentary.

There is a massive amount of work goes on behind the senses, well done everyone!

At the time of writing this article the export season is starting to get into full swing. Growers will have to be very vigilant when it comes to choices of spray and withholding periods as most of the markets exporters are shipping to have very different withholding periods than Australia. The coming season will not be easy for any exporters, so if you are not sure of anything to do with your fruit, get in touch with your exporter or packhouse reps – they will be able to advise you on your best options.

Lastly I would like to thank all the growers that supported me in last month’s NZAGA Executive rep elections. Thank you.

15

Regional Roundups The current winter wet is one of the worst in my memory. At the time of writing it is the middle of August and I have not been able to take any machinery into my orchard for MID NORTH over six weeks. We

By Mike Eagles need some seriously dry weather in the next few weeks to enable us to get to work in our orchards and set them up for the spring season and flowering.

With warmer times approaching I would advise keeping a close eye on pest monitoring results as pest populations can increase rapidly. This is ideal weather for phytophthora, so I would also advise all growers to take all precautions possible to help your tree health and resist this root disease.

The domestic market is looking strong at the moment so I would ask all growers to show some discipline and some common sense and allow it to stay that way and don’t dump bin loads of fruit on the market. If you know someone who is, have a quiet word in their

Continued

ear and their pack shed’s ear and ask them to desist for the good of the whole industry. We all need to work together if the industry is to move forward and be profitable for everyone. Peer pressure can help.

I have attended two Rootstock and Cultivar field days recently at Whangarei and Mangawhai and they were both very interesting and informative and it was a pity more growers did not attend. Those growers that did were outnumbered by rural professionals.

The Grower Forum and NZAGA Annual General Meeting were well attended in Tauranga on August 23 and 24. The topics at the Grower Forum were well presented and very interesting, congratulations to the presenters and organisers.

The AGM was full of robust debate and of the four remits two were supported and two were opposed. Personally I welcome good debate and discussion; it can be a good learning experience for all as long as it does not become personal.

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Winter has gone and South Auckland seems to have got away with less rain than the rest of the regions.

We have had some heavy frosts earlier in the winter but I have not heard of any major damage.

I recently attended a new rootstocks field day led by Alvaro. We had a REST OF NZ reasonable turn out of growers eager

By David French to find out more about the success or otherwise of Dusa and now Bounty.

In my opinion if you are considering planting new blocks or replanting old ones you must give serious consideration to clonals. Sure the initial tree cost is much greater than for traditional Zutanos but the payback in increased phytothphora tolerance should quickly recoup the initial investment. If a tree is under less PC pressure then it would seem reasonable to assume that it may have less tendency to alternate bearing as well.

This year many orchards have got light or no crops and so should be heading into an on year for flowering.

If this is the case on your orchard, then today would be a good day to start pruning off excess flowers. The sooner you start to do this the sooner you start setting your trees on a more even production keel.

Personally I don’t do flower pruning at this time of year because I have already given my trees a moderate prune post harvest in the Feb to April period meaning I have already ‘flower pruned’ then even though there were no flowers visible. I favour this approach as I believe it is less wasteful of the trees’ resources. However, if you haven’t pruned in the autumn, then flower prune now.

Good luck with spring and early harvesting.

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16

NZAGA Highlights Winter 2012 Industry plan established The NZAGA team has put together an industry five year plan which has been presented at the Commodity Levy Roadshows in June and talked about at the Grower Forum and AGM. The plan sets out activity for the next five years under three strategic objectives.

Read more about the five year plan and grower comments on page 12.

for funding from the Primary Growth Partnership. If successful, the funding will provide the necessary resource to accelerate projects such as the development of new markets. The PGP is a governmentindustry initiative launched in September 2009 to invest in significant programmes of research and innovation that will boost the economic growth and sustainability of New Zealand’s primary, forestry and food sectors.

Commodity Levy Referendum successful Growers have shown their support for the continued collection of Commodity Levies on all avocados sold as fresh fruit on the local market and sold for export.

Thank you to all growers who engaged with us during the referendum process and thank you to those who voted. We will now be working on making the application to MPI. If this is successful; the new Levy Order will come into force in July 2013.

External speakers at the Grower Forum It was great to have speakers from the wider industry at the 2012 Grower Forum, special thanks to Michael Whorskey from Countdown, Kerry Everett and Dave Pattemore from Plant & Food and Alistair Young and Andrew Darling, our AIC export directors. Valuable information was shared and we aim to include more of this integration with different parts of the supply chain as we move forward.

NZAGA asked to prepare business case for PGP NZAGA is in the process of preparing a business case as part of an application

Avocados on Breakfast TV What a way to kick off the NZ avocado season promotion. On September 8 avocados were featured on Breakfast during the regular 5+A Day spot which

NZAGA happily arranged some lovely avocados for. Chef Eugene Hamilton from Euro talked to Tamati about the versatility of avocados and shared some fantastic recipes.

See the video athttp://tvnz.co.nz/ breakfast-news/recipe-avocado-5069619/ video New cultivar field days Field days were held in July to provide growers with a background of the new cultivars project and encourage discussion about new cultivar performance and management.

These were led by Alvaro Vidiella with great support from nurserymen, consultants, and growers who have planted new cultivars.

Read more about this on page 42.

Packer training for 2012 season Packhouse managers, quality manager as and quality inspectors at export registered packhouses have been brought up to speed on quality control updates for packing for the 2012 season. Matt Gallagher from AsureQuality and Henry Pak ran four sessions across Te Puke, Katikati and Whangarei in early September.

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2012 NZAGA AGM in Giving a clear explanation of how grower funds are used and the outcomes of spend was a focus of Jen Scoular’s CEO report presentation at the 2012 NZAGA AGM held in Tauranga on August 24.

“It is important that we all understand the funds that NZAGA collects from growers and the way we spend the levies and fees we collect from you and from the industry.”

Jen explained a slide which growers first saw at last year’s AGM, which sets out what activity is funded by each income stream See Figure 1.

Figure 1 Both the Commodity levy and Promotion Levy boxes are commodity levies, as set out in the current commodity levy act.

In 2011-12 NZAGA collected $1.3m in commodity levies being a 3% levy on fresh and processed fruit sold in New Zealand and a 15 cents per export tray levy. Those levies are used in the main to fund NZAGA and AIC management, including governance, and for communications.

We collect 20 cents per export tray for promotions, a total last year of $744,000 which was used for promotions in both the New Zealand and export markets. $1.4m was collected in the 42c EMS management fee, rebated back to 27c, and 18

registrations, which was used to fund the export and quality systems, biosecurity and market access and the export governance under the HEA model through the recognised product group.

The summary Financial Report (set out on page 20 of the Annual Report) showed that the record crop of 6.18m trays produced revenue of $3.49m with $3.0m in costs incurred, resulting in a surplus of $466.7k.

This compares to a budget for 2011-12 of 5.7m trays and a deficit of $95k.

Jen commented on how this spend compared to the budget she presented at the 2011-12 AGM. “We did make ambitious plans on the back of a huge increase in volume and a large number of activities we needed to undertake across the industry. In fact the export season as we all know was very challenging and our focus went from new activity to very much focussing on the season to hand. We also recognised early in the export season that grower returns were under pressure – so keeping costs down became a focus.”

Income was budgeted on an export volume of 3.4m trays but actual export volume was 15% higher at 3.9m trays. The result of additional income was a rebate made on the EMS management fee in April 2012 of 15 cents a tray.

“Cost wise, we did not reduce our spend on promotions, recognising the need to fuel demand in markets which were slow or very slow. We were fully employed as a team, so salary costs remained on budget.

Some big ticket items were delayed, but are still expected to be spent, including GIA preparation and the Avocado Research Consortium project. We continued to seek to focus on key areas, so a number of smaller projects within EMS and research did not happen, and will not happen.”

Jen then went over the 2012-13 business plan and budget, explaining that this is year one of the five year plan.

“We are focussing on activities that work

towards the achievement of the three strategic objectives in the five year plan – a consistent and sustainable supply, retaining access and developing new markets and having a strong representative industry structure in place.”

Jen explained that the top priorities budgeted for this year are the pruning trial, cultivar evaluations, market development and access, biosecurity and ensuring the strong representative industry structure is in place and working for growers.

“We returned a significant surplus last year, and the Board has approved a budget with an equally significant deficit for the current year.”

The budget was approved in May when the crop estimate was 3.45m trays. This resulted in budgeted income of $2.4m versus $3.5m in 2011-12. This means a decrease in costs from $3.0m to $2.9m, but costs other than promotion have increased from $2.3m to $2.5m “We are also working to obtain government funding through a Primary Growth Partnership to support a step change in the industry, to fast-track solutions for the challenges of irregular bearing and new market development, while promoting integration, sharing of information and collaboration.”

Jen shared that NZAGA have been asked to proceed to the business case stage of the application process.

“If successful we will have the ability to fast track projects which we have been limited in achieving quickly because of the financial constraints.”

Jen explained that the PGP provides an opportunity to implement the step change needed to develop a profitable avocado industry.

If you have questions, please email Jen jen. scoular@nzavocado.co.nz or phone 0800 286 2236.

Minutes are available on the industry website www.nzavocado co.nz>About >NZAGA and AIC meeting minutes.

By Midge Munro NZAGA Communications Manager mmunro@nzavocado.co.nz

Review Results from the AGM Remit Session Four remits were put up to be debated and voted on during the NZAGA AGM remit session.

Two remits in particular had a polarizing effect on voters. See below for a summary of the voting numbers and outcomes.

Remit 1: That the Executive be directed: (a) To comply with both the words and spirit of Rule 12.3.7. (b) To amend the constitution of the Avocado Industry Council Limited by adding at the end of clause 20(e) the words: “within the limits set by resolution of a general meeting of the Shareholder.” (c) To amend the constitution of the Avocado Industry Council Limited by inserting as sub-clause 23(a), and re-ordering the subsequent sub-clauses, “By a resolution of a general meeting of the Shareholder unless the Board has good reason not to do so, and reports thereon at the next general meeting of the Shareholder.”

Moved: Ewan Price Seconded: Jenny Price Votes

For

Against

Ordinary

150

62

Levy

1372

607

Total

1522

669

CARRIED

Remit 2: That the Association establish a “Avocado Grower Council” charged with the power to review and advise the Executive and the AIC board of growers’ position on industry issues.

That the “Avocado Grower Council” consist of growers only ie: growers with no Directorship or employment with any commercial exporting or packing avocado industry organization.”

Moved: ML Pease Seconded: NW Ewart Votes

For

Against

Ordinary

119

94

Levy

995

940

Total

1114

1034

CARRIED Remit 3: That the Executive be directed to: a) Circulate to all members the full audited Group Financial Statements for the AGA and its Subsidiaries as part of the annual AGM pack. b) Ensure that as far as relates to all related party transactions with members of the Executive and Directors of the AIC Ltd, in whatever capacity, that the disclosure standard applied in the Group Financial Statements circulated to members be the same as for a listed public company. c) Ensure that the annual Group Financial Statements circulated to members include a disclosure on

Employee Remuneration along the same lines as for a listed public company.

Moved: Bryan Cheshire Seconded: Kim Crocker Votes

For

Against

Ordinary

108

105

Levy

927

1043

Total

1035

1148

FAILED Remit 4: That copper sprays be made mandatory for exporting avocado, until such time as suitable alternatives are available for control of storage rots. The correct dosage, timing and concentrations to be advised by research already documented, and confirmed by best orchard practice.

Moved: Alaric Newbald Seconded: Jack Crozier Results for Remit 4 Votes

For

Against

Ordinary

59

153

Levy

667

1321

Total

726

1474

FAILED

Signed: Returning Officer: Edwina Aitchison

19

Commodity Levy - Growers vote “yes” Growers have shown their support for the continued collection of Commodity Levies on all avocados sold as fresh fruit on the local market and sold for export.

Export

Domestic

Total number of supporting votes 74%

63%

Total volume of supporting votes 80%

62%

74% of those who voted said “YES” to the proposed export Commodity Levy and the “YES” votes accounted for 80% of the production of those who voted.

63% of those who voted said “YES” to the proposed Commodity Levy on domestic fresh fruit and the “YES” votes accounted for 62% of production of

those who voted.

The results of the two ballots confirm that a majority of avocado growers agree with the imposition of a compulsory levy on the sale of avocados grown for consumption in New Zealand and for export and the NZAGA can now proceed with its application for a new Avocado Commodity Levies Order.

About the Levy The levy funds the activities required to carry out the industry Five Year Plan.

Growers have voted to keep the levy structures and the maximum rates for each levy. The levy rates will be voted on by growers annually at each AGM. The rates for the first year will apply from the time the Levy Order is made (proposed as July 2013) until 30 April 2014. The proposed levy rates are as follows: For avocados grown and sold for consumption in New Zealand as fresh fruit: • A maximum rate of 3% of the sale

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For avocados produced in New Zealand and exported from New Zealand: • A maximum rate of 50 cents per tray • For 2013-14 the rate will be set at 35 cents per tray, consisting of o 20 cents per tray promotions o 15 cents per tray Export Commodity Levy Next Steps NZAGA will now prepare an application for a new Avocado Commodity Levies Order which will be sent to the Primary Industries Minister in November. The application will pass through a Cabinet process and if successful, the new Levy Order will come into force in July 2013.

The consultation process around the referendum provided valuable feedback from growers which will be taken into account as we go forward.

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By Midge Munro NZAGA Communications Manager mmunro@nzavocado.co.nz

Grower Forums Following the success of the inaugural grower forums in 2011, NZAGA organised another round for 2012, this time incorporating speakers from the wider industry.

Integration and Innovation was the theme of the 2012 Grower Forums held in both Tauranga and Whangarei in August.

Jen Scoular opened the forum by saying that integration and innovation are both critical to taking the industry forward and maximising grower value over the long term.

“Integration and innovation are both critical to our future success, and it’s not something that we can leave others to do.

“We’d like you to start thinking about how you yourself might innovate or integrate to make improvements on your orchard or within your payment pool or within your communication with us or with other growers. We need to see more integration and innovation and to see it being enacted right across the value chain.”

The first topic of the day was a run

through of the top priorities in the 201213 Business Plan from Jen. “It’s been put together by us all as a team – with an objective always to deliver value for growers. We are working hard on improving our delivery to you, and bringing in efficiencies and processes to help us do things better, faster and for less.”

All the topics presented were relevant to the five year plan and its three strategic objectives.

“Firstly, we aim to produce a consistent and sustainable supply of New Zealand Avocados to meet consumer needs. In order to do this we need to focus our spend on those projects which can influence our productivity and our yield.”

Dave Pattemore from Plant & Food and Alvaro Vidiella presented pollination research which is seeking ways for growers to optimise pollination to minimise the off-year effect. NZAGA has supported this project with $4000. Read more about this on page 24.

Henry Pak and Roger Barber presented an outline of the Avocado Research Consortium (ARC) project which aims to bring the best scientists from around the world together to develop tools for the

mitigation of irregular bearing.

“We need to develop and maintain markets and market access for the increasing volumes of New Zealand avocados. Consumers perhaps don’t come up as often as they should in our industry communications and strategies.

Consumers drive our industry because if consumers don’t want to buy and eat New Zealand avocados we don’t have an industry.”

Michael Whorskey, Countdown business manager – fruit produce, presented the Countdown strategy for avocados and shared insights into how Countdown meets consumer needs and in particular how we might provide better meet the needs of consumers.

Alistair Young and Andrew Darling our two export directors gave an update from AVEC on our export markets. Read more about this on page 9.

Henry and Kerry Everett from Plant & Food talked about quality practices on the orchard and how this affects the final quality of your fruit in the market.

Feedback from those who attended was very good, however the turnouts were well down on last year; Whangarei had 51 attendees and Tauranga had 90.

Presentation Highlights Business plan session Jen Scoular, NZAGA CEO Top priorities for 2012-13 • Consistent and sustainable supply o Pruning Trial o New Cultivar Evaluation o Avocado Research Consortium (ARC) • Retain and develop markets o Market access o Market development • Strong representative industry structure o Grower engagement and communication 22

Countdown Session Michael Whorskey, Countdown, Business Manager fruit produce Key points • Countdown’s vision is to become the destination for avocado consumers.

• Growers should feel welcome to approach and speak to produce managers in-store about avocados.

• Recognises there is still a gap in consumer education in terms of storage, ripening and usage ideas.

• Countdown is happy to work with industry and suppliers to grow avocado sale in New Zealand.

• New Zealand consumers are price motivated – 75% of what Countdown sells is on special.

• There are quality systems in place and quality at the distribution centre is 100%, challenges are presented at store level - produce managers’ knowledge and consumer interference with the product.

• Wastage in avocados is very high compared to other produce - 10%.

Grower Forums

Continued

Challenges for Countdown • Avocado supply – heavy crop followed by a lighter crop.

• Poor quality fruit on wholesale markets floors.

• A lack of investment in the New Zealand market.

Future of avocados • Industry needs to develop a clear strategy for the NZ market that achieves a positive result for retailers, growers and the consumer.

Quality Session - Henry Pak, NZAGA Scientist and Kerry Everett, Plant and Food, Senior Scientist The key quality issue facing the NZ industry last year was development of fuzzy patches (fungal rots) in hard green fruit during coolstorage. Although exacerbated by market conditions the problem was present in library trays here onshore at levels last seen in the 2003 export season. It is an on-orchard problem and needs to be controlled on-orchard.

ARC Session - Henry Pak and Roger Barber, AIC Director We have talked about the Avocado Research Consortium for some time now, and although projects have not yet started – the board is committed to this significant investment over five years.

Key points •

ARC is an international collaboration of avocado producing nations to bring together the best scientific minds in avocado research for the development of tools for the mitigation of biennial bearing.

•

No projects have started yet – not all the international members have signed it off yet.

•

It is of strategic importance to the industry to resolve irregular bearing due to its impacts on the development of new markets. Lost value to the industry is estimated at $130M over previous seven years.

•

It is an expectation that the project will deliver benefit to growers throughout the life of the project.

•

Experimental trials will be set up in the three major growing regions in NZ, with similar trials set up in each of the participating countries.

•

There is an ability to leverage funds from Horticulture Australia Limited. Over 5 Years the project will cost US$3m of which NZAGA will contribute a maximum of US$100k per annum.

Key points •

• •

•

Fungal rots carry over from one season to the next.

Library trays indicate that there will be potential issues this season.

Copper can stop infections occurring in the orchard but requires regular application to be effective.

Dr Kerry Everett (Plant and Food) is working on a method to test the number of disease propagules in an orchard using a cheap simple test.

This would allow growers to make better informed orchard management decisions

23

I Grower Forum I

Bumblebees as managed pollinators for avocado?

Our pollination team at Plant & Food Research started working with the complex world of avocado pollination as part of a wider effort to address the issue of biennial bearing.

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Our data so far suggest that fruit set in avocado can be limited by pollination, and this led us to ask whether better pollination could increase fruit set in low flowering years. If this is possible, it could be one way to reduce the extreme variability in yield between years that is a continuing problem for growers.

As part of our research we have been looking at the effect of weather conditions on the flowering cycle of Hass trees. Although it was already known that cold temperatures could flip the typical “female in the morning, male in the afternoon” pattern, our data have shown that there is a continuum of response in flowering as overnight minimum temperatures decline. As the temperature drops, the female flowers open later in the day, which pushes the whole cycle backwards so that male flowers are often open overnight. When temperatures drop below 6°C, female flowers open in the afternoon and can stay open all night long. Our study last year focused solely on Hass trees, but this year we plan to extend the study to look at pollenizer cultivars (such as Bacon and Ettinger). This research has already demonstrated to us that there are particular windows of time when female Hass flowers are receptive, and because of our low spring temperatures, these windows of opportunity may often occur in the late afternoon, evening or even at night.

As well as looking to see how pollenizers respond to temperature so that we can identify which cultivars have the best overlap between their male flowers and the Hass female flowers, we are working to identify which pollinators are active during these key windows of time. Our team has been building a research programme involving developing techniques to manage bumblebee colonies in orchards to enhance pollination. Our research with avocado pollination suggests that bumblebees could play an important role in improving pollination if we could increase and maintain colonies within orchards. Bumblebees have several advantages over honeybees as pollinators of avocado. Firstly, research in Israel has demonstrated that bumblebees are more effective at cross pollinating, which leads to an increase in fruit set in low flowering years on trees that are farther away from pollenizers.

This could help to decrease variability in fruit set within an orchard in

By David Pattemore, Pollination Scientist, Plant & Food Research, Ruakura

One of our first bumblebee queens to be fitted with a miniature radio transmitter forages on a camellia flower.

the low flowering years. Also, bumblebees are active in a wider range of temperatures and weather conditions than honeybees.

So while honeybees will tend to stay in their warm hives on damp and cold days, bumblebees will still be foraging. Since our marginal conditions here in New Zealand mean that the window of opportunity for pollination often occurs in the evening on colder days, bumblebees may play an important role as pollinators.

The biggest limitation with bumblebees is the difficulty of getting sufficient numbers of foragers to have a significant effect on pollination. Small, commercially produced colonies can be purchased, but the cost of each colony makes it prohibitive to purchase enough colonies for pollination in an open orchard environment. Our team is taking a different approach, by seeking to develop management techniques to attract wild bumblebee queens to artificial nests that can then be monitored and managed.

Our aim is to come up with a cost-effective, long-lasting artificial nest design that successfully attracts queen bumblebees and can be monitored easily by growers, so that they can predict the relative contribution of bumblebees to pollination.

Numerous attempts worldwide have been made to use artificial nests to attract wild queens, with very limited success. However, one study conducted in New Zealand by Nelson Pomeroy in the 1980s reported very high nest establishment rates (over 90% for one design). The artificial nests we have designed incorporate elements from the two most successful of Pomeroy’s designs, in an attempt to replicate his findings.

The unusually high success rate of the

The installation of the artificial bumblebee nests, showing the buried pumice concrete base connected to the surface with drain pipe.

New Zealand study has been suggested by other authors as evidence that bumblebee populations in New Zealand are limited by the availability of nest sites. In this study we will assess whether the provision of these artificial nests can encourage colony establishment by queen bumblebees in the Bay of Plenty.

To test the success of our design at attracting queens, we have installed our artificial nests in five avocado orchards in the Bay of Plenty. This project is partially funded by internal Plant & Food Research funds and partly through the Avocado Growers’ Association. The artificial nests consist of a pumice/cement base buried in the ground, which is connected to the surface by a tunnel of PVC drain pipe (Picture 1). The base is then covered in a fine mesh to prevent the bees escaping, a circle of carpet underlay is used to block out light and the whole is finally topped with a plastic lid (Picture 2). We are trialling several different types of nest material and attractant combinations inside the nest, so we have installed 32 nests in each orchard in eight groups of four different treatments.

Nests will be monitored weekly over the spring to determine when queens move

A finished artificial bumblebee nest buried in a bank in a Bay of Plenty avocado orchard.

in, and then successful colonies will be monitored monthly over summer until the colonies disestablish in autumn.

This project is the first step of a wider programme we are developing to determine how to manage bumblebee colonies in orchards. The initial results from this study will tell us whether one of the nest material and attractant combinations is more successful than the others, and how well these colonies survive in avocado orchards over the year. We will use the results from this study to improve the design in subsequent years and to trial targeted food provision or health interventions to increase survival and strength of the colonies. At the same time this spring, we will assess the relative contribution of honeybees and bumblebees to avocado pollination. We will also be using miniature radio transmitters to follow queens to determine how and where queens would normally select nest sites (Picture 3). The information gathered about these wild nest sites will be used to modify the designs in future years.

We will keep you updated about the success of these artificial nests, and role bumblebees could play in the pollination of avocados in New Zealand.

25

Large mounds of mulch from both avocado and pine trees are stock piled for future use on the orchard.

New life from holistic Reason to smile – Ross Fowler holds a photo of the way the healthy avocado tree behind him looked when the Improbe partners bought the Athenree Orchard in 2010.

The trees looked sick. The foliage on 80 per cent of them was yellow and the rest were leafless. Some appeared dead.

However, the five members of the Improbe Partnership, though a little daunted by the scale of the problem, could see the opportunities the 10 hectare avocado orchard near Waihi Beach presented.

“Even the real estate agent described it in terms of ‘your mission should you accept it’… which reflected how big the task might be,” says one of the partners, Ross Fowler.

Ross, together with wife Jill, Pam and Lance Wiltshire of Auckland and Vicky

and Gerard Guillen of Havelock North, took up the challenge and were the successful bidders for the orchard.

“As a condition of the sale we were able to take over management before settlement in October 2010 which meant we could begin work on restoring its health straight away.”

That included weekend working bees for the three couples which have continued ever since. Administering injections, soil ripping, mulching and applying fertiliser to 470 trees might not be everyone’s idea of a fun weekend but Ross says for the most part it’s been enjoyable.

“To their credit the partners’ enthusiasm hasn’t waned.”

This is despite Ross not always revealing the full extent of the next task, such as “those six bags of fertiliser to go on by hand next Saturday” actually being 500kg each.

The Hass trees which range in age from seven to 20 years, had once performed well, producing 3000 trays a hectare in 2002 but from 2003 had been in steady decline.

“For the last four years under the previous owner, it had been managed organically but the decline appeared to be already underway by then.”

Most of the trees were infected with phytophthora but Ross doesn’t believe that was the only reason for their decline – rather the trees were in such poor health they were open to infection.

“Soil tests showed the trees should be doing well. There is around 50

The way they were – the skeletal trees had yellow foliage and looked decidedly sick.

Improbe – avcoscene sept 2012 07

26

Pruning was designed not only to take out spindly or unproductive wood, but also to open the trees to light and encourage better structure.

centrimetres of top soil, one metre of Waihi ash then friable clay, but leaf tests showed the trees were low in nutrients.”

Dr Alvaro Vidiella, scientist for NZAGA, says research has shown that poor aeration of the soil weakens roots, rendering them susceptible to phytophthora infection.

Ross agrees that providing optimum conditions for the roots to take up water and nutrients is essential and his prescription for restoring the orchard to health included heavy doses of mulch – all of it from the prunings of the trees themselves and the chipping of 250 trees removed to make way for kiwifruit.

Consultant Lindsay Heard, who Ross had worked with before, was called in for advice on soil and nutrition and pruning contractor Michael Dillon was instructed to prune the trees hard to good wood – and he did.

“At first I had to tell him he hadn’t been tough enough because he doesn’t often get let lose to cut out as much as we wanted. In fact, the trees which weren’t pruned sufficiently stalled and did not recover as the others did,” says Ross.

Pruning was designed not only to take out spindly or unproductive woods, but also to open the trees to light and encourage better structure. Pruning began in the second week in October, not traditionally considered the optimum time, but by mid-January there was 1015cm of healthy regrowth and 1-1.5 cm long summer flushes after that.

Phytophthora needed addressing and Ross opted for passive injections, using

By Elaine Fisher

approach 12 to 15 syringes per tree, injecting 20ml of mixture through each. So far 4000 injections have been administered at each round in August/September and March/ April until healthy roots became evident.

Ross takes special care to have those injections applied at the time when roots most need them.

The plan included installing irrigation, but before that happened Ross wanted to know if there were any ‘hard pan’ areas, so he mounted a one metre blade on the back of the tractors and ripped the soil up and down the orchard.

“I didn’t find any hard pans but it helped aerate the soil.”

“Soil compaction is a fundamental problem in many orchards, even those with sandy textured soils and anything you do to increase that aeration will definitely help you to control tree decline,” says Alvaro.

While in some cases it is difficult to tell if mulching is beneficial, especially considering the costs involved in buying and spreading it, Ross is convinced that in an orchard like this, it’s essential.

Alvaro agrees.

“Avocado are jungle trees and their roots are covered with a thick leaf litter.

Work done by NZAGA in the past has demonstrated that there are many more roots in the topsoil when mulch is applied.”

Ross set out to duplicate that by applying four cubic metres of mulch out to the drip line around each tree.

Certainly he didn’t have to bring it in as

the orchard has large stacks of chippings from the original pruning and the trees which were removed. Chipped pine slash made up 50 per cent of the 2500m3 but has been left for 12 months before use.

“Trees close to the mulch stacks have grown roots right into them which tells me there’s something there they like.”

A light scratch in the mulch beneath any of the trees reveals a network of roots just under the surface.

“Avocado trees are particularly sensitive to lack of oxygen and it is important that soil is as aerated as possible. Mulching helps keep it that way,” says Alvaro.

Fertiliser applications are based on soil and leaf tests and applied at rates individual to each tree.

Copper and foliar sprays have been applied and some shelter has been reduced in height, with more to come down soon. One whole block of trees was removed completely and replaced with new kiwifruit varieties to bring a diversity of income to the orchard.

Further pruning is planned and Ross works on the principles he found useful in growing other crops including flowers.

“I prune out the vegetative growth and stressed wood, neither of which will be sufficiently productive and which prevent better quality wood from developing.”

He also believes that control of excess flowering and managing crop load are essential tools in achieving regular crops.

“It’s a hard concept for some people to get their head around and a challenge when you see potential for loads of fruit

A light scratch in the mulch beneath any of the trees reveals a network of roots just under the surface.

Improbe Orchard:  10 ha mixed age Hass avocado trees  470 trees pruned back to good wood  Over height shelter topped  4000 Phytophthora injections per round  Soil ripped to approx. 0.7m  4 cubic metres of mulch per tree  Fertiliser applied by hand to each tree  Copper and foliar sprays applied  Irrigation installed in the current year, but I think it works.”

Ross says even in the first year, the recovery of the orchard exceeded his expectations and two years’ on the majority of trees are covered in shiny green foliage, fruit and new season high quality flowering wood.

It’s a far cry from the skeletal trees depicted in the photos of the orchard in 2010.

While all the trees are not back to full vitality, they are no longer ‘cot cases’ and attention has turned to managing their cropping. Ross is confident they will soon match the orchard’s best crop yields.

The message, says Ross, in turning around an orchard which was so unwell, is not to concentrate on just one or two aspects, but take a holistic approach, aiming to restore balance to the tree both above and below ground. He has noticed, in discussions with growers since returning to the industry, that when, for a myriad of reasons, they only focus on one or two pieces of the puzzle they are frequently disappointed at the outcome, or worse, believe the task or method was flawed or not worth the cost or effort.

In the case of Improbe orchard another element was also required – the courage to give it a go.

The majority of trees are covered in shiny green foliage, fruit and new season high quality flowering wood.

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By Alvaro Vidiella NZAGA Scientist alvaro.vidella@nzavocado.co.nz

Technical visit to Chile world’s second largest avocado exporter In March I took annual leave to go to Uruguay, my home country, which created an opportunity to pass through Chile and learn directly from the Chilean’s experience of growing avocados.

There has been a considerable wealth of information presented by Chilean avocado industry representatives at recent World Avocado Congress events. Chile has been producing avocados for a very long time and is now the second largest exporter of avocados in the world.

I travelled to Chile March 7-11, 2012.

The main observation I made is that Chile does not have optimal conditions for growing avocados and the industry as a whole is making an enormous effort to be competitive: • Chile avocado orchards have made huge advances in canopy management in recent years.

• Tree decline was a major problem in Chile. An integrated approach began 15 years ago that delivered the knowledge needed on soil aeration management.

• Research undertaken years ago standardised their pollination designs.

• They have done some interesting and apparently very successful work promoting consumption within their domestic market.

• They are doing very interesting work on rootstock evaluation that we should continue to observe.

• They are doing some interesting work on fruit quality and storage that should be explored and observed in the future.

Itinerary

Date

Location

Activity

8 April 2012

Santiago

Meeting with Consuelo Fernandez, Westfalia representative in South America.

9 April 2012

Aconcagua Valley

Visited Jorge Schmidt orchards with GAMA (Francisco Gardiazabal and Francisco Mena)

10 April 2012

Quillota

Visit to Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso facilities and trials (Monica Castro and Ricardo Cautin)

11 April 2012

Quillota

INIA National Horticultural Experimental Centre (Raul Ferreyra)

11 April 2012

Pomaire

Agricom orchard (Juan Vicente Ortuzar)

As the second largest exporter of avocados in the world, the Chilean avocado industry has had the resources to approach their problems and have found some very innovative solutions. Exploring the application of some of these innovations could help us find solutions to some of the problems we have in the New Zealand industry.

This article presents the itinerary I followed and a summary of the main findings of my trip. You can find a full 32 page report in our web page http:// growers.nzavocado.co.nz/index.php/pi_ pageid/376. For a copy of the full report or to share any comments, please don’t hesitate to email me at alvaro.vidiella@ nzavocado.co.nz Main findings • Chileans claim that they are learning how to grow avocados in very unfavourable (marginal) conditions (heavy soils, saline water, low relative humidity, low winter temperatures…).  Rootstocks: - Interest in using Dusa in

replant situations and other unfavourable situations is growing.

As in New Zealand, when first introduced in Chile, Dusa was planted in poor management conditions and did not do well.

- The Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso has been working on the optimisation of the propagation method of clonal rootstocks for the last 10 years. Their results have significantly raised the efficiency of their propagation methods.

- The use of West-Indian rootstocks is increasing. These rootstocks are less vigorous and are more tolerant to saline conditions.

• Canopy management: - Chilean orchards are on steep slopes to avoid frost. No machines go into these orchards.

- 15 years ago the trees were 5m high.

Now they are mainly being kept at less than 2m high, they claim it is cheaper and safer.

- In existing orchards this is done by pruning trees that were planted at 5x5m to 7x7m 29

Technical visit to Chile reducing their canopy height from 4-5m to 2m high.

- In new orchards, the common tree spacing is 3x3m, and now 2.5x2.5m is starting to be preferred and 1.25x1.25m is being trialled.

These trees have been traditionally tutored and trained to a single leader, but now they are trialling less strict training methods.

- Most of the vigour is controlled by applying high doses of Sunny and by girdling.

- Vigour control is crucial after heavy pruning takes place to reduce the height of the trees.

- Irrigation and fertilisation are applied for maximum tree development. They do not try to control vigour by using deficit irrigation management.

- Pruning is done yearly.

- Pruning time is important for return bloom (flowering being an important issue). They claim that before flowering (and right after harvesting) is the optimum pruning time.

- Most of the orchards are harvested before flowering.

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Continued

 Internal market: - Consumption has increased from 2 to 6kg of avocados per person in Chile the last 10 years.

- The Chileans eat most of their avocados mashed on a toast with a bit of salt at tea time, their evening meal (“a la hora de la once”).

- They have their local varieties like Negra de la Cruz which are very much appreciated. Consumption of other green skins, like Edranol and Gwen, has increased in recent years.

- Seven years ago total avocado planted area in Chile was up to 40,000ha, but it has been reduced to 26,000ha because of draught, salinisation of irrigation water, frost frequency and severity increases.

This has caused a decrease in the number of avocados produced.

- In supermarkets this season the price of avocados had been up to US$6 and during the visit was at US$4 per kg.

- The increase of local demand in Chile has modified the market. It has become much less dependent on exports.

 Tree decline: Most Chilean orchards have a major problem with lack of aeration because heavy textured soils are common.

- According to Raul Ferreyra of the INIA, Chilean avocado growers used to inject all their trees 15 years ago, now hardly any trees are injected.

- Now the major method of control is by improving aeration, mainly by planting on mounds and controlling irrigation.  Post-Harvest - Chilean avocados take about 24 days to reach the USA - There are several groups working on avocado postharvest performance (one big project is being developed together with California).

- Testing lasts up to 60 days.  Pollination - The industry standard is Edranol 11%. This was established at the beginning of the 1990s after a research programme was established.

An insight into the Mexican way I met with Jose Armando Lopez Orduno, or Armando as he likes to be called, Director General of Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers Association of Michoacán (APEAM), Mexico at the meeting of the Avocado Research Consortium in May. He has only recently joined APEAM and sits on the ARC Board with Tom Bellamore (California Avocado Commission CEO), John Tyas (CEO Avocados Australia) and I. Armando immediately showed off his Latin charm, pulling out my chair before I sat down, opening and closing the car door behind me, and insisting I sat in the front seat.

Armando comes from a family of 11, with six brothers and four sisters, all of whom live in Mexico where he lives with his wife and one son, the other son is recently married.

His family owns 24 coffee shops in Mexico, so he was the one who chose

and gave critical assessment to our coffees after dinner – and at the Italian restaurant he pronounced the coffee very good, Ed McFadden the chair of California Avocados drank his coffee and said “wow, I’m not going to sleep for two days”.

Coffee in the US is not normally very strong!

Michoacán, Mexico has just finished an export season exporting 350,000 tonnes to the US, and smaller volumes to Canada, Japan and Central America – Dominique Republic, Salvador and Honduras.

Those volumes are produced off 66,000 hectares with an average yield of 8.5 tonnes per hectare.

Avocados are harvested all year, due to the different growing regions in Michoacán, from 1300 to 2,300 feet above sea level.

Eighty per cent of the orchards are small, 304 hectares, but a grower can make a good income from a three-four hectare orchard. The largest orchards are more than 800 hectares. Export fruit is all Hass, mainly Carmen Mendes Hass.

Two of the biggest challenges to growing avocados in Michoacán are frost (it can get down to -6 degrees) and hail.

Armando talked about huge hail stones, ruining not only flowers but also causing severe damage to fruit when small.

By Jen Scoular, NZAGA CEO jen.scoular@nzavocado.co.nz

Growers have contracts with one or more of the 36 packhouses packing and exporting to the US. Each packhouse must be members of APEAM and be accredited to export to the US, the primary export focus for this region.

Profitability in the industry has seen additional planting and another 10,000 hectares is expected to be accredited for export to the US in 2012-13 season.

This accreditation is done by USDA in association with Mexican Agriculture Ministry.

Each orchard sets a work plan covering quality standards, food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary requirements which is twice a year audited by the USDA. The orchard must show it has completed the required parts of the workplan to receive the accreditation required to export to the US. The packhouse pays APEAM a fixed levy rate per kilo exported, which is used

by APEAM for its own management (they have 22 staff ), to fund USDA accreditation, promotion, and R&D on-orchard as well as in market. The ARC project is funded in this way through this levy on exports.

Mexico sees a huge opportunity in the growing demand in the US, as well as opportunities in Asian countries to increase consumption of avocados.

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Industry News Results of elections for the Executive Committee of NZAGA and the Board of AIC Elections closed July 27 and an announcement was made at the NZAGA AGM on August 24. Congratulations to Ashby Whitehead and John Cotterell who remain in their positions as BOP and At Large Grower representatives respectively.

Introducing NZAVO Limited A new collaborative marketing company has been established between Freshmax, JP Exports and New Zealand Avocado Marketing Limited. Initially, the parties will collaborate in supplying three prominent Japanese distributors but the door is open for expansion into other markets.

This arrangement has been under development for a year and the parties did collaborate on an informal basis during the last season.

This development reflects the desire of the three Companies to assist in bringing about a degree of consolidation in the marketing of New Zealand avocados, and to ensure that markets which already exist can be further developed with assurance of increasing supply.

NZAML will administer the programme on behalf of all the members, and a high degree of trust has been established between the parties.

Exports will be under a new “NZAVO” brand which clearly identifies the source of the product and incorporates our silver fern in the logo.

Pole to Pole Fresh now OFNZ certified packhouse and marketer Pole to Pole Fresh Ltd (based in Te Puke) has recently become an Organic Farms NZ certified packhouse and marketer for organic fruit. In particular

Pole to Pole Fresh has expanded its focus to incorporate packing organic avocados as a service for organic avocado growers and to also tap into the rapid growth in demand for organic avocados in recent years.

Managing director Todd Abrahams says it’s an exciting step forward. “This means we can help to further develop the organic avocado sector.”

Library Tray Reports To see the reports for fruit that has completed green and ripe fruit assessments, go to the industry website www.nzavocado.co.nz, click on PackingExporting in the top menu and then click on Library Trays found in the drop down menu and then follow the links.

If you do not know your Username and Password, please phone AgFirst 07 549 1044 for assistance.

The library tray reports are updated on the website on a weekly basis throughout the season.

Text Reminders We are now able to text you reminders for important events. If you change your mobile phone number or have not given us one previously, please email us a current number to Jo, jnunn@nzavocado. co.nz or phone 0800 286 2236.

Growers - are you connected?

Don’t miss out on important updates and industry information; make sure you register your email address with the AIC to receive AvoConnect - the NZ Avocado industry e-newsletter. Call 0800 286 2236 or email jnunn@nzavocado.co.nz to register.

Important note: To avoid AvoConnect being blocked or ending up in your junk email folder, make sure you add info@ nzavocado.co.nz to your email’s “Safe Sender List”.

Grower letters in Avoscene If you want express a view or ask a question (technical or other) that you would like other growers to read in Avoscene then please contact us.

The deadline for letters to be featured in the upcoming Summer issue of Avoscene is November 14.

Please be aware that we will not be able to print every letter due to space constraints. All letters must be 300 words or less.

Letters must be in good taste and focus on issues of general concern, not personalities.

Letters must contain a name, address and daytime phone number of the author. Unsigned letters or those submitted without a phone number will not be considered.

Regular contributors should submit letters on varied subjects. Letters by the same author that reiterate opinions previously expressed will not be published.

Avocado Industry Council reserves the right not to publish any material which may offend readers and may reject or edit any letter.

Forward your letter to Jen Scoular at avoscene@nzavocado.co.nz or fax to 07 571 6145 or you can post to Avocado Industry Council, PO BOX 13267, Tauranga 3141.

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By Bevan Jelly NZAGA local market analyst bevan.jelly@nzavocado.co.nz

Inspiring the next generation

Fostering young growers and creating opportunities for them is a necessity for the future success and growth of the avocado industry.

The industry needs to continue to attract highly skilled, innovative growers ready to face industry challenges and strengthen New Zealand’s position in the global marketplace. Young growers bring fresh and innovative ideas, embrace new technology and provide the enthusiasm to spark growth and find value.

To promote and encourage involvement in avocados to the best young growers in the Bay of Plenty region, NZAGA facilitated an avocado event at the BOP Young Grower of the Year competition in June at Baypark, Mount Maunganui.

The competition consisted of a range of theory and practical horticulture challenges for competitors. NZAGA combined with the Department of Labour to host an event based on safety and operation of elevated working platforms. A Hydralada and trainer were kindly supplied by Aongatete Avocados

Ltd, a company which ensures all its Hydralada operators are trained to NZQA elevated working platform operation standards. Aongatete Avocados general manager Tony Bradley says: “When operated in a safe manner Hydraladas are a very effective avocado harvesting tool, but users need to be aware of the risks and dangers that operating these machines can present, which is why proper training is so important.”

The Hydralada event generated a lot of interest from event spectators and visiting school students and also reinforced the message that safety is paramount to ensuring our young growers can make the most of the bright future that waits ahead of them.

The overall winner of the Bay of Plenty contest was Joel Wanhill, who went on to compete for the title of New Zealand Young Fruit Grower of the Year.

Currently working on an 18 hectare kiwifruit orchard in Te Puke, Joel had some past experience with avocados from

a previous job working on an orchard where both avocados and kiwifruit were grown.

“I enjoyed the avocado Hydralada event. It was an impressive piece of machinery and I learned a lot about the requirements for operating it safely on an avocado orchard.”

Joel believes that the avocado industry is of interest to young growers once they gain exposure to it and that in order to attract more bright young growers we need to create opportunities for them to ‘have a go’ and ensure the avocado industry has a presence in future young grower competitions and similar events that inspire and acknowledge the talents of young people.

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A N AHCOV

A N AHCOV

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Avocado news from the Chilean Hass Avocado Committee forecasts export downgrade The Chilean Hass Avocado Committee has forecast an 8% year-on-year fall in production of the fruit for the 2012-13 season, while shipments abroad are set to fall from last year’s 116,000 metric tons (MT) to between 100,000-105,000MT. At www.freshfruitportal.com we catch up with committee president Adolfo Ochagavía to discuss Peru’s forays into the U.S. and Chile’s potential in several international markets.

Ochagavía says Peru has faced difficulties in moving volume in the North American market and its presence means Chile will have to enter later than usual.

“They [Peru] have to place a large production. More or less they estimate around 80,000MT between Hass and Verde, but making a dint in the US market is definitely not a trivial matter,” he says.

“They’ve sent their fruit but they’ve not found it easy. They have done some discounting, basically to make space in the market, and that’s not easy.”

He adds it is not as if Chile’s decision to send later just occurred to the industry, given the price signals that have been seen with Peruvian, Californian and Mexican supply.

“If we want to settle good returns we have to start a little bit later.

“It is already being said that it will be normal for Chile to supply – with arrivals – from October to the start of April.”

He highlights differences between Peruvian and Chilean avocado production.

“They have a reasonably good weather, availability of water and they have a much warmer climate, so the phytosanitary issues are different.

“I think ours is a good alternative for the [U.S.] market and it would be difficult to push it to the side.”

He says avocado prices in Europe are falling as Peru has been diverting more supply to the old continent, so Chile will be taking a cautious approach to that market.

Growth market prospects He expert says it would be no surprise that with its current prices the U.S. avocado market could grow, while in Europe there are many countries where the fruit if fairly unknown and seldom eaten.

“Germany is a market where we have been promoting for two years. Peru is doing it for the first time, so this will enhance [avocados in] Germany,” he says.

“You read in some technical publications

that the people prefer Hass, you go to the supermarkets and you find a greater supply of Hass in almost all of them.

“This marks a trend, and if you project and put a little bit of promotion from different origins, this should make people talk in the coming years.”

He says the highest levels of avocado consumption per capita in Europe are found in Denmark and Sweden, followed

by France.

“What happens is the number of inhabitants is lower, so the total absolute value of fruit sold isn’t so high, but then take into account that you have Danes who consume approximately two kilos (4.4lbs) of avocados a year.”

In Latin America, he highlights Argentina as an attractive market, which last season received 7,000MT of Chilean avocados. This year shipments to the Andean neighbor started early.

The industry is also working on a protocol to export to Brazil.

“We are doing the same with the South Africa protocol and with that we would be able to have two good markets.”

The committee leader highlights Chile’s avocado consumption has been growing, reaching 5kg (11lbs) per capita last year.

“The 2011-12 we estimated [the local

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phosphonate, fruit for pesticide residues, leaves for nutrient uptake and we do mineral analysis of the soils where avocados are grown.

world

Mexican avocado exports set to rise by more than five per cent Mexican avocado exports are expected to show a 5.6% year-on-year rise with a total of 825 million lbs for the coming season, which started last month and runs until June 2013.

The Michoacán Association of Exporters and Packers (APEAM) forecasts show a significant rise on the previous season’s figure of 781 million lbs exported.

APEAM marketing director Eduardo Serena, told www.freshfruitportal.com all fruit had to meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Mexican Agricultural Ministry (SAGARPA) standards before it could shipped.

“In the same way we will continue

implementing strict control programs on dry matter so that the fruit exceeds expectations of quality demanded by importers in the U.S. “Such programs, as well as being recognized and praised, allow Mexico to maintain excellent quality throughout the year and continue to be preferred by consumers and food producers.”

Serena predicted that from July until the end of this month Mexico will have shipped 107 lbs, rising to 217 million from October to December.

Shipments will peak in 2013 at 270 million from January to March, followed by 231.5 million from April to June.

APEAM has devised a serious of marketing campaigns including capitalizing on Halloween with a ‘Spookamole’ promotion to ensure the fruit makes it on to the table at parties on Oct. 31.

“We are also expanding our efforts with the Hispanic market with the celebration of the Day of the Dead; the Spanish equivalent of Halloween,” said Serena.

Marketing promotions will start on Oct. 1 and continue until the end of the month for the U.S. and until Nov. 2 for the Hispanic market, who celebrate All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1.

A December campaign to tap into the Las

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• • • •

Posadas celebrations among the imigrant Mexican and Guatemalan community in the U.S. will also be launched featuring celebrity chef Pepin.

Aug. 27, 2012 www.freshfruitportal.com South Africa: Avocado exports on par with estimates With a month still to go in the South African avocado export season, volumes are on a level with mid-season estimates at 12.4 million 4 kg cartons.

This is almost double last year’s export figure of 6.9 million 4kg cartons. Last year was of course an alternate year, and this was combined with a lot of hail damage.

Rudolf Badenhorst from South African Subtropical Grower’s Association, Subtrop, says it has been a good season with few problems. There were periods where there was some pressure on the markets due to large arrivals from various origins in certain weeks.

The main destination for South African avocados remains Europe, with most of the fruit arriving in Rotterdam before being distributed to other countries.

According to Badenhorst the arrivals will start to wind down in week 39, with the last planned shipments arriving in week 44.

Aug. 21 2012 www.freshplaza.com

SEAL4297AVg

market] to be around 45% and this year we calculate it could be 45% again.

“The Chilean market is the main individual market for the industry. It is a reality that the Chilean consumers like avocado, and in a scenario where disposable income increases the consumption rises.

“It’s very good to have a functioning domestic market – it is a stabilizing issue for the industry.”

Sept. 4, 2012 www.freshfruitportal.com

To find out more, visit our website or call us on

07 858 2000

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By Midge Munro NZAGA Communications Manager mmunro@nzavocado.co.nz

Promotions update New Zealand avocado production is set to increase significantly in the next five years.

To cope with these increased volumes, consumer awareness and demand must continue to be developed in new markets in order to maintain value for growers in the long term.

Japan: “The Best of New Zealand in Japan” This season we will again hold our New Zealand avocado season start media launch at the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo (September 27) to support the efforts of exporters. We face competition in this market, so it is important that we keep telling the New Zealand avocado story.

This event will attract 70 high profile, high reaching media who will blog, tweet, write and talk about avocados to Japanese consumers.

‘The best of New Zealand in Japan’ is the theme for the event and relates to the fact that the beginning of the New Zealand Avocado season in Japan also coincides with the beginning of the rugby season - not only are New Zealand’s best Avocados in Japan at this time, but some of New Zealand’s best rugby players are there too.

A special guest will attend this event – Jerome Kaino, an ex-All Black and current player for Japan’s Toyota Verblitz team.

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Jerome will share stories about himself, the importance of nutritious food in his diet and his love of New Zealand Avocados and will be available for interviews, photos and autographs.

This exciting addition will help to spark more media interest and will help us tell the NZ story while relating the benefits of avocados to Jerome’s nutrition needs as an athlete.

At the event, the New Zealand Ambassador, NZAGA Chairman and Chief executive will explain this year’s crop yield, cultivation method, safety management and nutrition of New Zealand avocados. There will also be a Q and A session with Jerome.

In order to inspire the media to relay to the public the virtues of New Zealand avocados, a buffet lunch will be prepared by the New Zealand embassy chief to showcase the many uses of avocados from New Zealand. This also provides a chance for media to take photographs of beautifully presented avocado dishes.

Korea Korea is a new market which will increase in importance for us in the future. This season we aim to obtain some insights into consumer behaviour and have engaged a Korea-based agency to collect information on the current market, consumer consumption patterns, potential avocado consumers and an analysis of the distribution channels.

Some initial information shows this is a populous and wealthy market where consumers are focussed on wellbeing and

how food contributes to this.

Gaining intelligence in this market is important for making fact-based decisions as to how we position avocados here.

Australia There will be no significant promotions activity in Australia this season. Avocados Australia Limited is implementing a comprehensive 12-month campaign and there is little value we can add on top of this. We will however focus on maintaining the reputation of New Zealand avocados in this market through media monitoring and the continuation of important relationships.

New Zealand Volumes available to the New Zealand market are going to skyrocket even further in the near future, so it is vital we keep up the work which we started last season.

Promising gains were made through last season’s activity; our continual interaction with food writers, newspapers and magazines saw articles on avocados being published almost daily through last summer; our Facebook page now has more than 6000 New Zealand consumers following us for that next yummy recipe or healthy avocado hint.

Communications plans achieved three of four marketing targets for 2012 summer season: • Household penetration target was exceeded - increasing total buyers to 62.4% • Purchase frequency increased to 5.9 occasions.

• Shopper loyalty to avocado increased to 4% of fresh fruit spend

• Achieved significant growth in household penetration of young families but narrowly missed target of 70% • Successfully retained loyalty of these households despite less spent on avocado this summer The full report of Nielson Homescan data is available to view at http://growers. nzavocado.co.nz/Promotions/Avocado%20 2012.pdf.

The favourable prices for consumers will have had an impact on the marketing figures achieved so it is our aim to maintain these levels for the season ahead.

2012 -13 activity Nadia Lim, qualified dietician and 2011 winner of MasterChef, has come on board with NZ Avocado to be the spokesperson for avocados in the New Zealand market.

She will be using her expert skills to create three unique avocado recipes for our use in the media as well as attending and cooking at a media event in November. Nadia will also provide her image and endorsement for our use online and in press releases. She will also promote avocados through her other activities as much as she can.

Nadia has just started doing a regular section in the NZ Herald Bite liftout

magazine which is another great outlet she will use to promote avocados.

Nadia has a family connection to a Katikati avocado grower which is another great reason for her to be involved.

For more information on Nadia, visit her website www.nadia.co.nz We will continue our public relations efforts by feeding influential New Zealanders a steady diet of avocado information and this season through press releases and product drops.

We are also working closely with 5+ A Day and the Heart Foundation on a collaborative calendar of activity through the season.

We have already had a great piece of exposure to kick off the season – we had a request from 5+ A Day wanting avocados for their regular weekly spot on the Saturday Breakfast which we happily arranged for the September 8 show.

Eugene Hamilton, the head chef at Euro restaurant, fronts this piece for them and prepared a couple of recipes with Tamati while promoting the virtues of avocados.

We got some great key messages across as you will see in the video found at http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/recipeavocado-5069619/video.

If you have any questions or feedback, email Midge Munro mmunro@nzavocado. co.nz

41

NZAGA Winter Fie Five field days organised by the NZAGA team were held from July 18 to 25 from Far North to BOP. The main goal of the field days was to draw a picture as clear as possible of the context of the new cultivar program.

We talked about the importance of new cultivars for our industry, about the main characteristics expected from the cultivars that have been imported by NZAGA and about the advances made in the last months in the evaluation of these cultivars in our growing conditions.

NZAGA scientist Alvaro Vidiella led the field days and was supported by members of our industry with a wide knowledge of the NZAGA new cultivar program: Geoff Thorpe from Riversun Nurseries, Stephen Wade from Lynwood Nurseries, Jerome Hardy from Primor, Colin Partridge from Team Avocado, Lindsay Heard from Brenmark Horticultural Consultants, and many growers with experience growing new cultivars among which were Ivan Stanisich, Janice Cates, Mark West, John Trebilco, Gordon Fisher, Gordon Edgecombe, Ewan Price, John Cotterell, Ian Broadhurst, Roger Barber, John Scnackenberg, Mike Allan, and David French.

The field days were held at orchards with different histories of growing new cultivars. This led to very different discussion sessions where fresh knowledge was shared by the participants.

42

By Alvaro Vidiella NZAGA Scientist alvaro.vidella@nzavocado.co.nz

eld Days Report The feedback received from the participants has been mainly very positive and we are already working hard to organise the next round of field days this coming spring.

We asked some of the participants of these field days to share with us the main highlights: Alvaro Vidiella, NZAGA scientist While preparing and presenting the field days I learned that the industry has lived a conceptual transition from the time when Dusa was first established in our orchards. Many of the first plantings of Dusa (2007 to 2009) were established in sites in the orchards where seedling rootstock had not been successful.

Generally these sites were not very good for growing avocados; different degrees of high Phytophthora inoculum, heavy soil, compact soil, and waterlogging conditions. The general idea in the industry was that Dusa plants had been bred to grow in these conditions, they should have been happy to grow there.

In other words, Dusa rootstock was considered to be resistant to these conditions. The conceptual transition has been that we have learned that Dusa is not a resistant rootstock, it is only tolerant to these conditions.

Therefore, although they usually performed better than the Zutano seedlings when planted in these difficult situations, many of the Dusa plants of the early plantings struggled to survive.

To grow healthy trees in difficult soils we need to use all the tools we have to be able to overcome the difficulties. We need to approach the situation in a holistic or integrated way.

Most of the difficulties that these soils present are due to lack of aeration of the soil. Avocado roots are very sensitive to the lack of aeration. Therefore it could be useful to follow the next guidelines until

we understand fully how to manage these clonal rootstocks: • Before planting, it is necessary to understand whether our soil needs work done to increase aeration and follow all the possible steps towards having the best possible environment for the growth of roots (by breaking pans, ripping, loosening compact horizons, ridging, mulching, etc.).

• Irrigation management will be crucial since it will undoubtedly influence in the availability of air for the roots in the soil (bad irrigation management has shown to be a major cause for decline in other avocado growing regions of the world).

• Planting time seems also to be important, with spring planting favouring root growth because of higher soil temperatures.

• After planting, you may also need to regularly protect the plants with fungicides against soil borne diseases (the most common of which is Phytophthora).

• Protection against frost and wind will also be needed in most of our orchards.

The new rootstocks that are currently available (Dusa, Bounty and Latas) are just one of the tools we have to grow avocados in difficult soils. Without them it will probably be impossible to grow healthy trees in these soils. But they will generally not show their potential unless we do all we can to help them grow healthy.

Another important concept that became apparent during the field days was that there seems to be a widespread misinterpretation of decline symptoms as always being caused by Phytophthora.

Once we started to look at the orchards where Dusa had been planted (where Zutano had struggled or died) we could see that lack of aeration of the soils is very common. In these soils, poor aeration could be, by itself, the main

cause of decline. In these conditions, management has to be primarily directed towards increasing soil aeration. Using tolerant rootstocks and fungicides is important, but in most cases it is useless unless the rest of the available tools are used. Due to the concern shown by many of the participants of the field days, a technical hand-out with basic information on how to establish orchards in difficult situations is being prepared to be delivered next spring.

The last main idea that I would like to stress from these field days has been that there are some orchards in which Dusa was planted several years ago and where the trees are performing reasonably well. Two examples are a 0.9ha orchard that was planted in Far North in 2007 in virgin soil, this year it is yielding 10 to 12t/ha; and a 0.9ha orchard planted in Far North in June 2009 in a replant situation which after breaking the pan has yielded 2.7t/ha this season.

Mike Eagles, NZAGA grower representative, Mid North In July I went to the new cultivars and rootstocks field days at Whangarei (Cliff ’s Orchard) and Mangawhai (Eran Orchard) and was very interested with what I saw and most impressed with the presentation. Any grower who missed these field days missed a great opportunity to see the future. Alvaro Vidiella did a great job of guiding us through both orchards and describing the characteristics and history of every cultivar and rootstock we saw. The most obvious thing to me was the outstanding performance of the Bounty rootstock in comparison to the other rootstocks and that is something I will be investing in in the future and I would recommend it to any grower looking at replanting or planting a new area.

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NZAGA Winter Field Days Report John Cotterell, NZAGA grower representative, At Large I thought the new cultivar field days were very informative, with a good number of commercially minded and committed growers attending (I attended in the Franklin and BOP areas). It was good to see Alvaro in his element communicating with growers in a manner that was easily understood even if it had a slight Spanish twang to it. It was great to see our industry’s scientist chatting with growers in the field and I believe we need more of these field days lead by our scientists.

was highly successful and well attended by growers, consultants and field representatives.

The highlight for me was the Mangawhai field day which highlighted the potential of the new clonal Phytophthora tolerant rootstocks (Dusa and Bounty) in a replant situation, which were outperforming standard seedling rootstocks and were significantly better than older generation clonals such as Duke 7.

In retrospect, it would have been better to make this the sole Whangarei field day so that these benefits could have been demonstrated to a wider audience.

Geoff Thorpe, Managing Director of Riversun Nursery There was a great turnout at all events no doubt helped by the great weather!

The trials all clearly demonstrated that clonal rootstocks are the future for avocado production - they are the only option for replants, as well as showing real benefits in virgin plantings as well (uniformity, productivity, tree health).

Growers seemed to respond very well to Alvaro’s style of presentation, as well as the “walk and talk” format, with valuable input from consultants, growers and nurserymen who have “in the ground” experience with the new varieties (both rootstocks and fruiting cultivars).

My take home messages when it comes to establishing clonal rootstocks in replant situations were thorough ground preparation before replanting (removal of old stumps and roots, fix any drainage issues, mounding), the vital importance of correct planting (into warm soils), followed by mulching and staking young trees and don’t over-irrigate or overfertilise!

Stephen Wade, Lynwood Avocado Nursery It was a pleasure to travel around the major growing areas and participate in the new cultivar field days. I certainly met a lot of new people (and caught up with some old ones) and could view the different growing issues facing the different areas.

Each field day was a little different, as growers’ questions took us down different routes but they were certainly all very valuable. Any grower contemplating planting new genetic material would have taken much valuable information away with them.

If I could emphasise a couple of points that came through loud and clear it would be these: clonal rootstocks (Dusa, Bounty and Duke 7), whilst being genetically superior to seedling rootstocks, are not bullet proof and should be treated as another tool to develop a commercially successful orchard. The notion that they will succeed where others have failed simply because of their superior genes alone is flawed. It appeared to me that hypoxia is probably as limiting a factor as Phytophthora.

After much hole digging, root viewing

Roger Barber, NZAGA grower representative, At Large The round of new cultivar field days

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and hearing explanations of site preparation it appears that the physical and biological fertility of the soils is paramount. By physical fertility I mean ensuring excess water can escape the root zone—oxygen will replace the water! By biological fertility I am talking about the microbial biomass - all those bacteria and fungi that feed on organic matter and keep some of the nasties at bay.

Those trees planted into a well-drained blocks (that is where blocks had been deep ripped to increase drainage followed by humping and hollowing) with good levels of organic matter are those given the best chance of thriving.

I will certainly be putting into practice a lot of what I learnt (I am replanting this summer) and would be happy to share my experiences.

Ewan Price, Mangawhai grower I was invited to comment at this field day as a grower with Dusa trees in the ground since 2008, and Duke 7 before that. Most of my comments were “mistakes I have made” but that is probably useful if others avoid the same pitfalls. Certainly I think there is merit in inviting experienced growers to be part of the field days not just because of the above comment, but we may question or highlight issues which are of concern to growers, but not top of mind for scientists.

An example was in relation to mulching which I believe is useful on Dusa, even if the NZAGA trial did not support that view. That brought a series of comments from most of the scientists and consultants present, endorsing and encouraging mulching!

The clear message of the whole presentation, including the site visit, was that the clonal rootstocks must be cosseted as much as Zutano, especially with drainage. The jury is still deliberating over cultivars.

47

Update on NZAGA Project Name: Pruning Trial Project start: 2011 Project completion: 2016 Objective: To investigate the effect of different pruning strategies on irregular bearing.

Summary: This is a significant pruning trial to assess the viability of defined pruning methods to mitigate irregular bearing. This is a collaborative project between growers, pruning contractors, consultants, scientists including John Leonardi, AAL, and Grant Thorp, Plant and Food, and NZAGA. Recent activity: During September and October, 2012, fruit from each of the orchards in the NZAGA Pruning Trial trees will be harvested.

The weight of the total fruit yield from each of the 25 trees in each orchard is recorded and a 100 piece fruit sample per tree is taken. The fruit from this sample is individually weighed and a reject analysis assessment is made on each piece of fruit.

The Spring pruning treatment of the trial trees will commence following harvest beginning in late September.

During the Spring pruning round the single orchard in the Far North, receiving remedial treatment, will be visited to continue with the staghorn pruning.

Individual tree assessment will continue on each orchard through the flowering period and a summer assessment will be made in January ahead of the Autumn 2013 prune.

Following the harvest of this season’s fruit and spring pruning treatments, a summary of results will be published in Avoscence in autumn 2013.

Project Name: Avocado Research Consortium (ARC): Alternative Bearing Project start: 2013 Project completion: 2018 Objective: An international project to fund research through a global collaboration of avocado scientists to provide options to growers to mitigate irregular bearing.

Summary: This is an international collaboration between Australia, California, New Zealand and Mexico. Israel had been part of the consortium but pulled out in April. Each country has entered into an MOU to contribute funding to a team of international researchers to address the issue of irregular bearing.

Recent activity: A decision has been reached to proceed with one combined collaborative submission which is now at the contract stage.

Agreement in principle to fund the project has been reached by three of the four participating countries. Avocados Australia Limited and Horticulture Australia Limited are working 46

through final processes before signing off on the project.

This involves developing a deeper understanding of the extent to which alternate bearing affects the Australian avocado industry. From a HAL perspective, they need to be assured that the project will benefit the Australian industry.

Spend on this project is not anticipated in this financial year.

Project Name: Dry matter regional monitoring Project start: 2002 Project completion: Ongoing Objective: To monitor fruit dry matter accumulation in the three major avocado growing regions to indicate the earliest possible time harvest maturity is reached Summary: This is an ongoing project to determine the earliest time that Hass fruit are likely to reach maturity in the three main growing regions. The key purpose is to deter supply of immature early season fruit on the local market.

Recent activity: This season’s monthly dry matter monitoring commenced in May and results are posted on the industry website. This reporting helps discourage low maturity fruit going to the local market and associated quality problems.

NZAGA monitors the number of hits on this part of the website to assess the value add to the grower. Baseline for comparison was 1919 hits in 2010, peaking at 721 in June 2010. 2012 has seen 714 hits to date.

Project Name: High Health Scheme Project start: 2008 Project completion: ongoing Objective: To develop a certification program for the production of avocado plants for use in avocado nurseries to ensure disease-free planting material is available for growers.

Summary: The HHS aims to put together a certification programme for tree production in nurseries, mainly around four subjects: producing trees free of Phytophthora; producing trees free of ASBVd; that the fruiting cultivar and the rootstock of the tree are correctly identified by the tag; and that the trees meet minimum physical characteristics. The HHS also implies the establishment of a traceability system in the nursery production system.

Recent activity: The program was discussed at the last General Meeting of the NZ Avocado Nursery Association, and the decision was made to implement the system in the next 18 months, by

Research Projects the end of 2013. The nurseries production system is being assessed and the nurseries are working towards presenting an auditable system. Once the system is certified by AGA to comply with the HHS, the independent auditors will start to work with the nurseries to implement the auditing system.

Project Name: New Cultivars– Geneblocks Project start: 1999 Project completion: Ongoing Objective: To maintain in good health a collection of most of the commercial avocado cultivars present in New Zealand.

Summary: A requirement of Plant Variety Right (PVR) holders is to maintain and assess five trees of each PVR protected material under NZ conditions.

Recent activity: 2012 PVR registration measurements will be sent to the PVR office by the end of October. This will be the second and, hopefully, last year of PVR measurements for Dusa and Bounty and the second year for Maluma which will probably require one more year. This year will be the first year for Carmen’s three years of PVR measurements.

Project Name: New Cultivars – Cultivar Trial Project start: 2009 Project completion: Ongoing Objective: To evaluate the horticultural performance of imported rootstocks and fruiting cultivars.

Summary: Trial running on three orchards with Phytophthora challenges, one planted in 2009 in Mangawhai, two others planted in autumn 2011 in the Far North and in Whangarei, with a fourth orchard scheduled for planting in the Bay of Plenty during spring 2012.

Recent activity: This year’s results for the Mangawhai trial are very promising and show significant and consistent differences between the different rootstocks.

We have just finished harvesting the trees; it has been an early harvest to relieve these young trees from fruiting stress. Initial analysis of the data are consistent with pre harvest fruit counts reported previously. The Maluma trees have some few fruit that we will use to assess maturity so we will hopefully have some data related to storage quality.

We will also assess the flowering and hope to have a good set for next year.

The trees on the cultivar trials planted in the Far North and Whangarei in autumn 2011 unfortunately did not get well established on either site. The trees are struggling to grow and

many have died. The trees are following a recovery program.

The latest assessments indicate many of the trees seem to be growing a significant amount of new healthy roots and are getting ready to sprout.

Project Name: New Chemistry Project start: 2011 Project completion: 2013 Objective: To investigate simpler options for registering new chemistry for pest control on minor crops.

Summary: Avocados are considered a minor crop by most agrichemical companies as our volumes do not justify the development costs required for registration of chemicals on avocado only.

SFF funding will be used to assist the group in developing and refining current policy for registration to make it more efficient, less costly and more achievable to small industry groups.

Recent activity: The project is proceeding according to plan. Five field trials are currently underway with one further field trial in the finalisation stage. Three trial providers have been contracted for field work along with one laboratory provider.

A meeting was held with ACVM to discuss the trials and the project in general. Discussions are continuing with industry and chemical companies to identify compounds for the 2 extrapolation projects (Greenhouse and Kumara). Both the chemical companies and ACVM (MAF) continue to be supportive of the project.

The project has also been well received by groups working on minor crops in other countries. The project was introduced to the Global Minor Use Summit in February and there is interest from other countries to work with us. These linkages will be strengthened at the Codex CCPR meeting in April.

Project Name: MRLs Project start: 2010 Project completion: 2014 Objective:. To gather information and meet relevant contacts to support MRL’s being set by 6 potential NZ avocado markets in the Asian region.

Summary: This project has 3 main aims. These are: 1) Clarify the legislative requirements in force in each of these countries; 2) Provide information on the level of active enforcement; 3) Identify options for establishing import tolerances.

Initial activity has focused on market visits and supporting CODEX activity. The project will now focus on specific 47

Update on NZAGA Research Projects activity to underpin develop MRLs for the 4 chemicals that are of most concern to the industry (chlorpyrifos, tuafluvalinate, pirimithos methyl and tebufenozide). Two of these chemicals are organophospahtes that are currently under review by EPA. Recent Activity: Visits have now been completed to 6 countries (Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore). MRL requirements and testing procedures have been confirmed in these countries. Hong Kong recognises New Zealand MRLs, and Singapore will recognise New Zealand MRLs where no relevant Singaporean MRL exists. Several priority chemicals have been identified and these will be progressed as candidates for CODEX MRL’s. This activity is funded with the support of AVEC through a market access export levy.

Project Name: Extending the Marketing Window (DCA) Project start: 2011 Project completion: 2013 Objective: To extend storage life enabling access to more distant markets and more effective inventory management.

Summary: A project has been undertaken to investigate the potential of Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere (DCA) storage to extend storage quality of fruit to enable transport to distant markets.

The project is jointly funded with AGMARDT using Plant and Food as the research provider.

Activity: There is no budgeted activity in the current year.

Results from 2011 Activity: A trial shipment of New Zealand Hass avocados to France was undertaken to demonstrate the potential of a programmed dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) approach to reach new and distant markets.

The study concluded that: 1. The feasibility of using a modified DCA protocol with existing shipping containers was successfully demonstrated with a shipment of Hass avocados to France. However, rather than a strict DCA, the container was operated with a set ultra low O2 atmosphere that remained fixed throughout the voyage.

2. Carrier EverFresh™ containers were suitable for use with the modified DCA regime, but Maersk StarCare containers were not.

3. The trial highlighted the risks of delays associated with shipping to long-distance markets and therefore the need to maximise quality retention at all stages of the handling chain.

This may require revision of the type of packaging used and the care taken during handling of the fruit.

4. Orchards with fruit potential for export to Europe should be identified prior to the start of the season to ensure EU residue requirements are met, and that only those orchards

48

Continued...

with a history of high inherent storage quality should be selected for inclusion in the export consignment. Preharvest testing of fruit quality is needed and recommended.

5. Up to 50 days of storage plus shelf life may be required when pre-shipment and post-shipment logistics and delays are considered.

Project Name: Plant Growth Regulators Project start: 2011 Project completion: 2013 Objective: To investigate the effect of Uniconazol on Avocados in New Zealand conditions.

Summary: The application of Uniconazol (Sunny®) is becoming more frequent in Avocado orchards around the world. A collaborative trial was established in spring 2011 between NZAGA, Plant and Food and Growchem. The trial includes two treatment concentrations of Uniconazol applied during flowering and a control treatment across a total of 232 trees.

The treatment trees are situated in four blocks each of which have two plots with each plot being one replicate of the treatments.

Recent activity: Late July fruit counts on all the trees was completed, the canopy of the trees measured and the number of fruit calculated per canopy volume and surface area. There was no difference between treatments.

The fruit’s length and width was measured and the fruit of the Sunny treated trees was found to be an average of about 3mm shorter and 2.5mm wider. The fruit will be harvested in the next month and the final results of yield and fruit characteristics will be reported in the next issue of Avoscene.

Project Name: Reed Quality Standards Project start: 2010 Project completion: 2012 Objective: To determine the storage quality of Reed.

Summary: Reed has been grown for a long time in our orchards. New plantings have raised interest in Reed as export cultivar. This project was implemented to determine the shipping potential of reed in New Zealand conditions.

Recent activity: Fruit from the past season has being evaluated for storage potential. The evaluation was done at four harvesting dates, three storage temperatures, three storage durations, three regions and two orchards in each region.

The main factors influencing on storage quality were harvesting time during the season and storage temperature.

A report of this trial has been published in this issue of Avoscene.

R eed storage evaluation 2011- 2012

R eed trees are grown in numerous orchards in New Z ealand and pattern and generous bearing of an excellent flavoured fruit.

M ichael Whorsk ey (Business M anager of Fruit Produce at Count G rower Forums in Tauranga and Whangarei that the interest in R appears to be growing.

Some growers are exploring the possibility of exporting R eed, bu grade standards must be set. This article reports on part of the w export grade standards of R eed. This article gives a preliminary r date.

Reed storage evalu

Work done in 2010 (see A voscene, October 2011) showed high v the two factors that were studied, time of harvest and origin of t further understand the factors that influence the storage quality (two from Far North, Whangarei and BOP, respectively) was asse Fruit were harvested at approximately one month intervals from stored at different temperatures (3˚C, 5˚C, and 7˚C) and for a ran

storage quality around the two factors that previously been described as being caused by Reed trees are grown in were studied, time of harvest and origin of cold damage, but it could also correspond to A B numerous orchards in New the fruit (orchard and region). To further early stages of fungal rot. SCD corresponds understand the factors that influence the to a discolouration or browning of the flesh Zealand and are known for storage quality of Reed, fruit from six around the seed cavity. SCD is thought to R eed storage evaluation 2012 orchards (two from Far North, Whangarei have a physiological origin. their upright growing2011pattern and BOP, respectively) was assessed at Other disorders like brown patches, stem andtrees generous bearing of an orchards R eed are grown in numerous in New Z ealand and are k nown for their upright growing different maturity stages. Fruit were end rots, vascular browning and diffuse flesh excellent flavoured fruit.of an excellent pattern and generous bearing flavoured fruit. harvested at approximately one month were also observed but in a much lower intervals from December 2011 to March a fruit was M ichael Whorsk ey (Business M anager of Fruit Produce at Countdown) reported atproportion. the 2012InNZthis A G analysis, A 2012 and stored at different temperatures considered to be sound when it had less than Michael Whorskey (Business Manager G rower and Whangarei that the interest R eed fruit local mark rots, et 5% SSB, 5% stem end rot, (3˚C, 5˚C, and 7˚C) andinfor a range of for the 5% external of FruitForums Producein at Tauranga Countdown) reported appears to beNZAGA growing. storage times (14, 21 and 28 days).

20% vascular browning, 5% brown patches, at the 2012 Grower Forums in Tauranga and Whangarei that the interest

In general, the storage quality of Reed

and 10% SCD.

Some growers are theappears possibilityfruit of exporting R eed, but in order this, export in this trial was significantly lower to facilitate The number of days the fruit took to ripen in Reed fruit for theexploring local market grade standards must be set.

This article reports on part of the work needed to determine the than that expected from similar Hass fruit. after removal from the cool storage ranged to be growing.

Thegives mainadisorders observed duringofthe fromof twothe days, whento stored at 7˚C for 28 export grade standards of R the eed. This article preliminary report the findings study Some growers are exploring assessments were severe skin blackening days, to five days, when stored atB:3˚C 14, possibility of exporting Reed, but in order date.

Figure 2. A : Sound unripe R eed fruit after cool storage.

SSBfor symptoms on during ripening (SSB) (Figure 1) and stone

to facilitate this, export grade standards

21 or 28 days.

R eed fruit after ripening and coolstorage.

Work 2010 (seereports A voscene, 2011) showed high variability quality around cavity discolouration (SCD) (Figure 2). of storage The dry matter of the orchards developed mustdone be set.inThis article on partOctober symptoms thefruit. external surface of quality in a basically as shown in unaffected. the work needed determine the time ofThe The internal of thelinear fruit remains largely theoftwo factors thattowere studied, harvest and on origin of the fruit (orchard and region).

To pattern the fruit appear similar to fuzzy patches Figure 3.

High variability in dry matter export grade standards of Reed, and is a further understand the factors that influence the storage quality of R caused eed, fruit orchards as being by from cold six damage, but it could also correspond to produced by fungal rots, the difference content was observed between orchards. preliminary report of the findings of the (two from Far North, Whangarei and BOP,being respectively) was assessed at different maturity stages. tothe a discolouration or browning the flesh around that in SSB no corresponds rots penetrate into The two orchards in Far Northof behaved study to date.

FruitWork were harvested at approximately one month intervals from December 2011 to M arch 2012 and flesh of the fruit.

The internal quality of the differently to each other as did the ones in patches, done in 2010 (see Avoscene, have a physiological origin. Other disorders lik e brown stored at different temperatures (3˚C, andremains 7˚C) and forunaffected. a range of storage times (14, 21 and 28 largely SSB has Whangarei.

October 2011) showed high variability of 5˚C,fruit and diffuse flesh were also observed but in a much lower propor days).

A

B

In general, the storage quality of R eed fruit in this trial was significantly lower than that expected from similar Hass fruit.

The main disorders observed during the assessments were severe sk in black ening during ripening (SSB) (Figure 2) and stone cavity discolouration (SCD) (Figure 1). The symptoms on the external surface of the fruit appear similar to fuz z y patches produced by fungal rots, Ripen ReedR fruit SCD symptoms (arrow).

Figure : Sound unripe R eed after cool storage.

B: SSBonsymptoms on 2. 1. the difference being thatsymptoms in SSB no(arrow).

Figure2.1.A A: Sound unripe Reed fruit fruit after cool storage.

B: SSB symptoms Reed Figure Figure R ipen eedwith fruit with SCD R eed ripening and coolstorage. fruitfruit afterafter ripening and coolstorage. rots penetrate into the flesh of the fruit.50The internal quality of the fruit remains largely unaffected. SSB has previously been described as being caused by cold damage, but it could also correspond to early stages of fungal rot. SCD corresponds to a discolouration or browning of the flesh around the seed cavity. SCD is thought to

consid than 5 end ro brown

The n after range for 28 3˚C fo

The d in a b

By Alvaro Vidiella NZAGA Scientist alvaro.vidella@nzavocado.co.nz

uation 2011-2012 Alvaro Vidiella, Henry Pak and Glenys Parton

The factor that had the greatest influence on storage quality was harvest date. Figure 4 shows how storage quality varied across the season for fruit from different orchards stored at 5˚C for 21 days.

All the orchards followed a similar trend with a peak in fruit storage quality for the second harvest, which appears to be independent of dry matter content, considering that for that harvesting date the observed values for the different orchards ranged from slightly over 22% to about 30%.

The disorder that was responsible for most of the unsound fruit of the first harvest was SCD in all the orchards and SSB in one orchard. The main disorder responsible for the unsound fruit of the third and fourth harvests was SSB (Table 1 overleaf ). There was high variability of fruit storage quality between orchards

in each harvesting date. No clear trend was observed that could be attributed to differences between regions or tree age of the orchards.

For fruit stored at 5˚C, the storage quality of the fruit held for 28 days (Figure 5a overleaf ) was poorer for every combination of harvest date and orchard than the fruit stored for 21 days. The quality of the fruit stored for 28 days at 5˚C declined as the season progressed. The main disorders found in this fruit were a combination of SSB and SCD. When comparing fruit stored for 28 days, the fruit stored at 3˚C (Figure 5b overleaf ) showed better storage quality than the fruit stored at 5˚C, for all the harvest and orchard combinations in which they could be compared. For the fruit stored at 3˚ C for 28 days, the storage quality was better in the first harvest. The

Figure 3. Dry matter evolution of Reed in two orchards from the Bay of Plenty (BOP 1 and 2), two orchards of Whangarei (WH1 and 2), and two orchards from Far North (FN1 and 2) in the season 2011-2012.

main disorder found in this fruit was SSB. Comparing the results of Reed fruit of this experiment with what would be expected from Hass fruit in similar circumstances, the storage performance of Reed has been relatively poor. The results of this trial suggest that storing early season fruit at temperatures near 3˚C could lead to acceptable results, but that there is a high chance of orchard conditions impacting negatively on fruit quality.

While it has been observed that under some conditions Reed quality may be acceptable after storage for the three or four weeks required for export, the challenge still remains to determine the adequate storage conditions of the fruit and the influence of factors related to orchard characteristics and management on fruit storage quality. Continued over

Figure 4. Percentage of sound fruit stored at 5˚ C for 21 days, harvested at four different times from the 6 orchards of the trial.

51

Table 1. Percentage of sound fruit, disorders incidence, days to ripen and fruit weight average by harvesting date and

orchard of fruit stored at 5˚ C for 21 days. Colour scale: Sound fruit column = green (top values) to red (bottom values); Continued...

Reed storage evaluation 2011-2012 Incidence of vascular browning (%)

Incidence of SCD (%)

Days to ripen

30/03/2012

Incidence of stem end rot (%)

20/02/2012

Incidence of SSB (%)

17/01/2012

Incidence of external rots (%)

20/12/2011

BOP1

33

0

9

5

2

65

3

382

BOP2

44

0

4

4

0

53

4

379

FN1

60

0

11

6

0

25

4

364

FN2

78

1

11

0

0

13

4

367

WH1

47

0

42

9

2

28

3

310

WH2

61

1

1

1

1

37

4

290

BOP1

79

0

9

1

2

15

4

375

BOP2

77

0

18

7

1

3

3

376

FN1

71

0

20

1

3

12

4

380

FN2

84

0

12

4

0

3

4

346

WH1

89

0

6

1

1

1

3

300

WH2

91

0

1

0

5

2

3

287

BOP1

37

0

57

6

1

14

5

341

BOP2

29

0

59

33

5

14

5

376

FN1

61

0

25

11

0

7

5

329

FN2

79

2

56

3

1

13

5

412

WH1

82

0

15

1

0

0

5

326

WH2

73

0

15

2

1

14

5

319

BOP1

25

0

67

0

1

44

5

397

BOP2

22

0

76

11

2

12

4

414

FN1

17

0

80

9

8

23

5

436

FN2

8

2

92

4

4

21

6

353

WH1

20

2

77

3

0

18

5

336

WH2

59

0

39

3

2

7

4

336

Sound fruit, 28d, 5°C

Fruit weight (g)

Orchard

Harvest

Sound fruit (%)

Incidence columns = red (top values) to green (bottom values).

Sound fruit, 28d, 3°C

Figures 5a and b. Percentage of sound fruit stored at 5 and 3˚ C for 28 days, harvested at four different times from 3 orchards of the trial.

Table 1. Percentage of sound fruit, disorders incidence, days to ripen and fruit weight average by harvesting date and orchard of fruit stored at 5˚ C for 21 days. Colour scale: Sound fruit column = green (top values) to red (bottom values); Incidence columns = red (top values) to green (bottom values).

NZAGA5, would to thank the six growers For fruit stored at 5˚C, the storage quality of the fruit held for 28 days (Figure left)likewas poorer for who provided the fruit for this Reed fruit evaluation. every combination of harvest date and orchard than the fruit stored for 21 days. The quality of the fruit stored for 28 days at 5˚C declined as the season progressed. The main disorders found in this fruit were a combination of SSB and SCD. 52

When comparing fruit stored for 28 days, the fruit stored at 3˚C (Figure 5, right) showed better

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53

Flower pruning upd Flower pruning has been practiced in our orchards for some years now, with variable approaches and success. In 2008 NZAGA published a guide (Spring: Management, Phenology & Flowering - available at www.nzavocado.co.nz) which includes recommendations on flower pruning.

In this article you have the opportunity to learn about the current opinion on flower pruning from some experienced growers, contractors and consultants in our industry.

Katikati grower Terry Ridder is not an advocate of flower pruning, believing structural pruning brings better results overall.

However, when it comes to influencing biennial bearing Terry believes the most significant factors, in order of importance, are location, pruning and fertiliser.

“I have done a little flower pruning but don’t like it because of the labour and time required and the hedge-like re-growth it promotes.

“Five to six shoots grow from where it has been pruned and then you have to control that re-growth.

You end up with a lot of growth on the outside of the tree which makes it hard to access.

“Structural pruning also reduces flower numbers and I take off a lot more wood, cutting branches right back to the main stem. I have my own gear so I can go round and do it myself,” says Terry, who has a six hectare orchard he began developing from bare land in 1987 with more than 600 trees aged from 12 to 25 years old.

“I tend to take out thicker wood than what is recommended. Generally we do a 70 per cent prune after harvest in February and March and 30 per cent in spring. We have always pruned in one form or another but the pruning techniques are constantly evolving.”

For the past six years the orchard has produced a crop consistently each season though volumes have fluctuated averaging between 12 to 20 tonne per hectare and in particular over the last three years the orchard has averaged 18 tonne per hectare.

Avocado trees are sensitive to high yields and climatic conditions, says Terry.

“They can be doing well and then suddenly go

54

By Elaine Fisher and Alvaro Vidiella

date: industry view prune in the year they don’t structural structural pruning. backwards, for example with the wet prune.”

Michael began structural pruning 10 weather we have experienced this winter Brett says several of his growers in years ago. Autumn is the optimum time causing the fruit to be late maturing, the region from Waihi to Te Puke have and if it is done right, structural pruning delaying harvesting and consequently harvested a crop most years and his need only be repeated every two and half pruning, potentially affecting the fruit set pruning programme is part of the NZAGA to three years. for this spring.” trial. One of his growers has not missed a “Flower pruning in the in-between year Katikati contractor Michael Dillon harvest in the last 11 years and looks like may have some benefit but the decision experimented on his own orchard nine he will pick fruit again this season. needs to be made orchard by orchard and years ago, pruning flowers on one tree Grower Ian Broadhurst manages his tree by tree.” and leaving its neighbour untouched. orchard as well as a 161ha orchard in There is no magic bullet to cropping He was so impressed with the improved Northland where a team of 20 workers every year. performance in both on and off years flower pruned a significant number of the flower pruned tree, he of the 70,000 trees this spring, introduced the concept to his under the direction of Claudia, an clients. experienced Chilean Agronomist.

“Everywhere I’ve used flower “We decide tree-by-tree which ones pruning, as well as structural needed flower pruning and it has to pruning, we’ve had good results. be finished by October.”

But the orchardist has got to do Ian believes flower pruning everything right. Flower pruning can influence biennial bearing won’t work on its own.” by reducing stress on trees and Michael aims to remove the yellow encouraging the flush to produce drooping leaves and pinnacles, often next season’s flowering wood. referred to as ‘goat’s ears’ in early “The amount of flowers we take off September, making cuts of 10mm is nothing compared to what the tree to 80 mm. produces but it allows the tree to put “After flower pruning there should more resources into the remaining be no more yellow and the canopy flowers and enhances fruit set and should be a nice light green colour.” size.”

Flower pruning is not the whole Ian also structural prunes the answer to changing a tree’s biennial nature but it is a factor. Timing Contractor Michael Dillon uses a machete to flower prune an avocado tree. trees which are spaced 3.5m apart and kept low to allow picking from is crucial. In the Bay of Plenty it should be finished by the end of October.

“My personal view is we probably haven’t the ground. He sees flower pruning as a technique to use alongside structural The sooner it is done, the better. The been feeding the trees enough. Every pruning and all other aspects of good wood which is left will set fruit for the aspect of tree health has to be looked at orchard management. next season. carefully, including the timing of fertiliser Consultant Jerome Hardy says the “My advice to growers who are unsure is application, sprays, the use of irrigation primary objective of flower pruning is to do half the orchard only and see what where available and mulching.” to reduce or mitigate alternate bearing happens.

BOP contractor Brett Murray hasn’t but consideration should also be given to “One orchard we work in at Omokoroa done a lot of flower pruning for clients in height and size control and ‘shaping’ a tree produced 25 tonnes a hectare after we the last three years because most now have for picker and spray access. flower pruned when I didn’t think it was an annual structural pruning programme.

“My view on the role of flower pruning necessary but the owner wanted it done. It “I did quite a lot of flower pruning has changed over recent years and I now has now set what looks like a 20 tonne per for around five years with good results believe the most effective approach is hectare crop for the coming season.” but now that we do a 20 per cent prune limited flower pruning as a follow-up to BOP Contracter Michael Darling who each year between March and the end structural pruning. This can help achieve manages six orchards and works on up of September, there is no need to flower all the above objectives with less risk plus to 110 others, says flowering takes a lot prune as well. reduce the canopy to root ratio which will of energy for a tree and believes the best “Growers who prune every three years assist with tree health and fruit size. way of controlling flower numbers is by should consider a 15 to 20 per cent flower 55

Flower pruning update: industry view

Continued...

Consultant Colin Partridge says the “The risk with extensive and exclusive term ‘flower pruning’ is really a misnomer flower pruning is that we tend to because it is not the small avocado flowers remove all the determinant flowering that are pruned. branches which extend above the canopy.

“Maybe it should be called ‘Selective In a marginal spring these extended, small branch pruning to stimulate new determinate flowers are the most reliable flower producing wood to help mitigate ‘fruit-setters’ and flower-pruning will have alternate bearing’ because that’s really what removed them. it aims to achieve. But let’s call it flower “If on the other hand we have a good pruning for this article. spring we cry ‘Success!’ because we now “My experience with flower pruning have a commercial (not excessive) crop, no exposed fruit and plenty of flush emerging from the pruning cuts, but this is not always a guaranteed outcome.”

Jerome says the same can be achieved with a much reduced risk if the primary tool is structural pruning – making the macro cuts in the autumn after a large crop has been picked and at a time when there is little new crop on the tree.

“At this time, carbohydrate accumulation and floral bud formation/initiation will be at the Before – an avocado tree in the high point of a two year cycle. distinctive yellow of full flower.

Most importantly the tree will be only months away from a heavy flowering, so large structural pruning will remove a significant amount of flower and -provided enough is done - avoid the total carbohydrate depletion that will occur in an on-year flowering.”

The primary goals are to reduce the flowering intensity of the tree and promote new growth, both in the right proportion, and reduce height and promote access to spray and pickers.

“So, prune in the summer After – an avocado tree with half its or autumn with big (15cm to flowers removed, leaving one side 30cm) cuts to reduce height and complexity. You should be making yellow and the other green. at least a couple of major cuts in the top for height and a couple started in about 2000 when I field trialled of major cuts for access in the side of the some pruning using shelter trimmers. canopy every year. In the years when you Results were not good because far too approach a heavy flowering, prune more much regrowth was stimulated by the heavily and re-visit your trees in September indiscriminate cuts made by the blades. with loppers to ‘restore balance’ by flower“Since then, it is my experience that pruning. Flower-pruning is only on trees flower pruning can be a useful tool that still look like they are flowering too to apply in expected ‘on-years’ when heavily (but these should be the exception). sometimes so much fruit is set, new flush “Avocado growers should be thinking like takes ages to develop and is weak when kiwifruit growers and pruning every year it does grow. In those circumstances, to a specific recommendation and with a pruning out branches of between two specific and measurable outcome in mind. centimetres and six centimetres in diameter Key criteria and outcomes are canopy to will stimulate new growth to develop just root ratio, flower to canopy ratio, height, behind the cuts. However, for this new access, promotion of spring flush, return wood to mature sufficiently to produce crop, tree health.” flowers the following spring, pruning

should be done from August onwards and not later than end November. New growth stimulated by pruning any later tends to stay vegetative.

“Using tree size as a guide, don’t be afraid to cut a lot of branches if necessary to ensure chances of good return flowering.

Also prune such that the cut surface is exposed to lots of light; cutting too far back into the canopy will make for weak, lanky growth. Choose branches that are clearly stressed/yellowed and sticking out from beyond the main canopy line if they are present,” says Colin.

“Flower pruning is not a guarantee of regular bearing but if done effectively and flowers develop on the new growth, at least one starts with a chance because without flowers, no cropping can occur.”

Tony Bradley of Aongatete Coolstores says the company doesn’t do a lot of flower pruning.

“We don’t do it as it is uneconomic and not as necessary as a good pruning programme.

We have been running an annual pruning programme for five to six years designed to improve structure and remove leaf in the tree mass to get the tree in balance with root carrying capacity. I believe the theory behind flower pruning is not to manage crop set but to promote new wood growth.”

One benefit of flower pruning is that it will promote a set with the shoot growing at the right time to produce more flowers for the following year.

Tony believes if a tree has limited resources, these are better applied to fewer flowers, which is another way in which flower pruning can be useful.

He says there can be an issue around achieving the right balance between taking enough flowers and taking too many.

“It is important to make judgements tree by tree and understand what phase the tree is in.

“We are doing less and less as if you prune trees every year you do not need to flower prune. Targeted annual pruning is a more contemporary method to encourage trees to develop new growth.”

If you have any questions or comments about flower pruning, please email Alvaro alvaro.vidiella@nzavocado.co.nz

56

Lynda Uttinger

NZAGA STAFF PROFILE

Supporting NZAGA projects Lynda Uttinger is currently working for NZAGA on a short-term contract, providing administrative support for the commodity levy referendum and primary growth partnership funding application.

Lynda was previously an executive assistant at Apata Ltd and is a qualified legal executive. lynda.uttinger@nzavocado.co.nz

To book advertising space in the Summer issue of Avoscene please contact Daphne Keller.

Booking deadline for next issue is November 15th, 2012.

Contact Daphne on 07 928 3044 or email daphne@thesun.co.nz 57

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Assisting with current NZAGA research programmes; field and laboratory work – trials and treatments; fruit quality assessments; sample collection and preparation; data entry and analysis. glenys.parton@nzavocado.co.nz

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