Avoscene July 2013

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

AUGUST 2013

 New industry collaborations Avogreen two years on  Get ready for the grower conference 

Directors Bay of Plenty Ashby Whitehead NZAGA & AIC Chair Ph 07 573 6680 m. 027 283 2192 alwhitehead@xtra.co.nz

Contents Regular Columns

Far North Ian Broadhurst Ph 09 406 7308 m. 021 395 906 kingavocado@xtra.co.nz At Large Roger Barber Ph 09 435 0785 m. 021 488 124 barbers@ihug.co.nz John Cotterell Ph 07 549 3395 m. 0274 513 138 jccotterell@actrix.gen.nz John Schnackenberg Ph 07 549 0717 m. 021 731 437 jschnack@ihug.co.nz

Chairman’s comment CEO’s comment Exporters’ comment Local marketers’ comment Organic growers’comment Regional Roundups New Zealand Avocado highlights Features

Rest of NZ

Grower comment: Avogreen two years on Market focus: Australia Avocentric: Matthew and Helen Heller Collaboration positive move for industry

David French Ph 09 238 3359 m. 0274 375 315 famille@ps.gen.nz

News

Tony Ponder NZAGA Vice Chair Ph 07 552 4223 m. 0274 733 712 tony@flaxmillavocado.co.nz

Export Directors Alistair Young

Avoscene Advertising & Editorial Avoscene is published by New Zealand Avocado 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: Rose Hodges at Sun Media Ltd email rose@thesun.co.nz Design and production: Kym Johnson, Sun Media Ltd email kym@thesun.co.nz

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Industry news Avocado news from the world BOP Young Fruit Grower Growers and experts to meet

19 21 22 25

26 31 32 35

Research Hillside avocado planting

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Technical May field days report The economics of Uniconazole Reading your trees

38 46 47

Printed at: Kale Print

Subscriptions NZ $125 plus GST per year (five issues) In New Zealand NZ $27 per single copy NZ Avocado Office PO Box 13267, Tauranga 3141 Ph: 07 571 6147 or 0800 AVOCADO (0800 286 2236) Fax: 07 571 6145 www.nzavocado.co.nz

Health and Safety Powerlines can kill

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ruit es of f d a r g l ket al ax mar m h s tail e r • F ale, re s e l o h d w Zealan rogrammes • New t por p o rt and ex R exp r y G O p to ust f the ss the ind o e n o • O w ts acr in ne payou ence i r e p s ex et mark lth of • Wea eveloping and d JARROD REDWOOD Avocado Program Manager P +64 9 573 8581 M +64 27 200 0295 E jredwood@freshmax.co.nz KiM FRAsER Domestic Manager P +64 9 917 1485 M +64 21 629 816 E kfraser@freshmax.co.nz DAvE ALDERtOn technical services M +64 21 505 814 E dalderton@freshmax.co.nz

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I Chairman’s Comment I

Time to get

By Ashby Whitehead NZAGA and AIC chairman alwhitehead@xtra.co.nz

serious about biosecurity On June 20 I attended my first Horticulture New Zealand product group meeting in Wellington.

Item number one on the agenda was Andrew Fenton announcing he was standing down as chair of HortNZ, effective as at the HortNZ AGM. I would like to give a big thank you to Andrew from the avocado industry for all his hard work over the past eight years.

There was also good discussion at this meeting over the future focus report, the objectives of the future focus project are: • To ensure that HortNZ is effectively representing growers on industry wide issues; • That the funds spent are for the benefit of growers and that the organisation is prepared and well positioned to best serve growers in the future.

Some of the key issues were: • The alignment of strategy between HortNZ and product groups • Clarity of roles • Reform of HortNZ governance structure • Building Hortnz staff capability • Improved communication between HortNZ and product groups.

The report was prepared by Deloittes in consultation with the 22 affiliated product groups and is leading to a fair bit of change in the way that HortNZ is governed and the way in which it interacts with the product groups in the future.

Government Industry Agreements (GIA)

Lois Ransom, GIA secretariat for the Government industry advisory, gave an update on the reasons For GIA: • To give better biosecurity outcomes • Joint decision-making and cost sharing • Heavier on partnership • Provide the contractual vehicle for

delivering specific biosecurity outcomes agreed by government and industry for readiness and/or response.

Lois also advised that the GIA deed would be ready for signing in August or September at the latest.

Parliament has already signed off legislation giving them the ability to tax individual growers to recoupe any money used for readiness or response from those that have not signed the deed. It was at that point in the presentation I heard a voice in my ear “No taxation without representation”.

This is one topic that isn’t going to go away. As growers I would like you all to give it some thought. At this year’s NZAGA and AIC AGM there will be a remit put forward by the Board to formalize our engagement in a consultation process with you that would facilitate a final decision on if we sign the GIA deed.

To learn more, the GIA website www. gia.org.nz is a good place to start. We will more than likely be doing a round of road shows dedicated to GIA if the aforementioned remit is supported, as this needs to be in consultation with growers as it will affect us all.

Barry O’Neil of Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH) gave an excellent presentation on the draft biosecurity operational agreement for Mediterranean oriental and Queensland fruit fly. This document was created for the kiwifruit industry but also has implications across all other sectors affected by fruit fly.

Biosecurity is one of the biggest issues our industry faces so let’s all start thinking about it as it will come at a cost to us whether we are sitting around the decision-making table or not.

Those were my high lights from my HortNZ meeting apart from having to spend an extra night in Wellington due to the storm - we are all very lucky that those winds didn’t hit the avocado growing regions as we would have been devastated.

Upcoming export season On a more positive note Avec is advising the Board that the upcoming export season is looking good for those growers with fruit. I would like to take this opportunity to ask growers that they support exporters in their endeavors to develop new markets.

While they may not be the highest returning markets they will become very valuable in the future as we look to our next biggest crop which the exporters say looks likely to be 2014-15 season.

With that in mind all the markets need to be developed sooner rather than later.

Nutritional Values 9-12 September The joint New Zealand and Australian Conference is on 9-12 September along with our Annual General Meeting.

We would love to see you all there and you will definitely get something out of the conference as it is for the benefit of growers to bring you up to speed with the latest in our industry.

The registration fee is a small investment to pay for a once in four year event (held in New Zealand only once every eight years) and it is not even the cost of one spray and is tax deductible - like the spray, so I urge you to call the NZ Avocado office on 0800 286 2236 to register for this not to be missed event. I hope to see you there. 

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“A set price for packing regardless of volume picked per day, and an experienced picking gang offering a competitive rate per bin, means there are no hidden costs. Combined with a hands on thinking avocado manager makes DMS the favoured packer for our crop.�

Terry Ridder, Ongare Point Katikati

Lets talk.

John Emett, Avocado Client Service Manager Ph: 07 578 9107. Mob: 0274 769 087 Email: john.emett@dms4kiwi.co.nz www.dms4kiwi.co.nz

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By Jen Scoular New Zealand Avocado CEO jen.scoular@nzavocado.co.nz

I CEO’s Comment I

Expect the unexpected I’m writing this as we head from London to Barcelona on a fabulous trip with my teenage daughters to revisit some of our favourite spots in Europe.

Having spent quite some time in London I have to mention the weather – it still dominates initial conversation in this country and it still disappoints. The day we arrived, the beginning of their summer, it was the same temperature as it was in Tauranga. Although warmer than Wellington the day my daughters flew out – Rebecca had to get out of Wellington the day of the polar storm – and we all spent 10 hours wondering what plan B was if they didn’t get out of New Zealand as expected. Plan B was not required but it does bring in that constant question about plans for our upcoming season – do we collectively as an industry have a plan B, are we well enough set up for the unexpected?

Exporter and packer contracts Under the roles and accountabilities of the Export Marketing Strategy, all exporter-grower and packer-grower contracts are checked by us to ensure they meet the requirements of the EMS. We are not required, and in fact it is not our role to check on behalf of growers the

commercial aspects of these contracts, as they are contracts between the grower and their export and packer partner; however, I will remind you again that as growers you do need to ensure that the contract you sign does meet your needs. It should set out the terms and conditions you are prepared to accept for your avocados.

We set out exporter and packer contract roadmaps in Avoscene articles – see highlights on the following page – and I do encourage you to properly read your contract, and our suggestions, and talk to your contracting party, your exporter and your packer about the roles and accountabilities under the contract.

The exporter-grower contract should inform you about the marketing plan for the current season, with indication of a plan B if things change, and should provide you with confidence that market development is also looking out more than one season.

Avocados abroad I have been impressed with the amount of ready to eat avocados that we’ve seen available in London and Paris. Avocados are being sourced from Peru, Kenya and South Africa, and the majority of avocados I have seen are Hass or Hasslike, and are being sold ready to eat, or at least already colouring. We had one disappointment in a perfectly coloured Hass which was hard as nails inside – perhaps picked at a low maturity – another reminder for us in New Zealand

not to give the consumer that poor taste experience by picking before it has reached the 23 or 24 dry matter maturity.

Marks and Spencer, a favourite food hall of mine, offered avocados from Peru and South Africa; the Peruvian ones were bigger, but only a medium in New Zealand size terms, and looked great. The South African ones were offered in a two pack, small, and quite a mix of ripeness, at least from a colour perspective.

Down Portobello Road when the antiques markets segues into a produce market, they were offering bowls of produce for two pounds, with a variety of mixtures in the bowls, but the ones I was interested in were the bowls with three or four avocados plus tomatoes and lemons or limes. I’m sure there was garlic at the bottom too - an innovative way to sell guacamole all ready to go. We were there at the end of the day so I hope the price reflected an attempt to clear stock rather than being the standard price, because for seven or eight pieces of fruit it would not have left much return for the grower.

The store minder didn’t know where the avocados came from, but guessed they were Kenyan.

Sandwiches available around the city all offered avocados in some form, with a noticeably higher price for those with avocado. Mostly only chicken and avocado though, of the range I saw.

While in Paris, I had lunch with the Trade Commissioner, a former colleague.

Continued...

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Continued...

Ariane has worked in the beauty product and pharmaceutical environment and sees a lot of interest in avocado as an ingredient, and recently organised a food event where avocado oil was hugely popular, but she says it is hard to find avocado oil in Paris. She is interested to hear more about avocado powder being commercialised

by The Grove.

Avocado partnered with perfectly ripe cherry tomatoes and soft, smelly French cheese on warm, just baked crusty French bread tasted, as you can imagine, simply divine.

Growers’ conference Back at home, the team continue the huge effort preparing the Growers’ Conference – Nutritional Values.

This is your conference, and we thank those who have registered to date, and encourage strongly far more of you to commit to attending. The range of speakers is very impressive – and the more audience we have to help debate some of the information or science being presented, the better and more quickly we all learn how to maximise returns from avocados by producing more, and producing more consistently.

As an industry we all need to find solutions. Surely a good start is to make sure we are all up to date with the latest ideas, techniques and methods being tried and tested in NZ and around the world. I will be seriously disappointed if we don’t get a great turn-out at the conference.

I do believe that as an industry we need to leverage and improve our collective knowledge to beat our major challenge of irregular bearing. Equally importantly, we need to stand up together and raise the visibility of the industry, so that external funding and support is enhanced.

I’m not one for half-heartedness. Come on, support your industry, get on-line and register. Commit yourself now so we can plan for the right number of delegates and better ensure you have a terrific few days in the Bay. I look forward to seeing you there. 

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Roadmap to packer contracts highlights Avoscene issue Winter 2012 p23

• How and when will I be paid, through a pool or on consignment?

• What costs will be deducted from me for handling my Class 2 and 3 fruit?

• I have ownership of my fruit until – the packer purchases my fruit, the fruit is sold to a processor, the fruit is transferred to another industry party?

• Who will be responsible for selling my Class 2 fruit?

• Through what channel will this fruit be sold and to who?

• How will my class 3 fruit be disposed of?

• Has the packer secured insurance for my Class 2 and 3 fruit? If yes, what insurance is in place?

• Who covers the cost of in-market insurance or quality claims?

Roadmap to exporter contracts highlights Avoscene issue April 2013 p29

• Am I part of a pool and how do the polo rules apply to my fruit?

• What percentage of growers in my pool are applying a ‘best practice’ fungicide spray programme? Is this fruit being tracked to see if they perform better?

• What are you as my exporters doing to develop markets for expected high volumes in the future. How is the marketing paid for - a separate charge on my pool or paid from exporter commission?

• Who is accountable for my fruit along the supply chain?

• How does the pool treat fruit shipped but not sold?

• Will you know how much fruit has been shipped and not sold and why? Will this be reported to me?

• What insurance cover is provided for my fruit?

• What happens to fruit with residue levels over the limit?

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

I Exporters’ Comment I

New season approaches It troubles me that these articles I write for the Avoscene are becoming repetitive on key topics: crop estimation, crop flow by exporter and grower commitment.

It’s starting to feel like a soapbox session and I wonder who actually reads the content, I hope some do as these fundamentals of export will make the difference between success and failure in this industry.

The 2013 season is unique From:approachingMidge Munro To: compared to Kym when any previous season I Subject: Avoscene canDate: recall.

Friday, 19 July 2013 3:07:50 p.m.

Attachments:

Firstly there is a major swing to coordinated marketing with the vast majority of the New Zealand crop in the management control of two export entities into Australia and one into all other markets. The ability to flow and manage crop flow has never been better and there are now no credible excuses for any parties overloading a marketplace unnecessarily.

This season, crop estimation becomes even more critical as the overs and unders on volume are going to have a larger effect on a smaller number of players. Crop estimates from packers are consolidated by an industry working group and separately provided by exporters and consolidated into an export flow plan. The first exporter flow plan has come in at 2.7 million trays of export verses 2.6 million in the second Industry Crop Estimate. 2.6 million trays is enough volume to get into trouble

with flows into Australia and careful management is required.

Growers please help us manage this crop by committing to an exporter in good time for the planning and estimation of crop to be facilitated with some chance of accuracy.

In 2013, as never before our industry is well prepared to co-ordinate exporting and gain the best OGR result possible in a good volume season. The Australian market shows all signs of holding excellent value and Japan is developing nicely with more sophisticated ripe fruit programs. On paper we have more demand than supply and exporters are forecasting the season will be a good one. One reservation here though; if we don’t flow the crop well and the crop estimates are wrong we can still severely depreciate this opportunity. There you go, back on the same soapbox… 

image001.png

Midge Munro Communications Manager T +64 7 571 6147 F +64 7 571 6145 M +64 21 275 3331 E mmunro@nzavocado.co.nz 0800 AVOCADO

Level 5 Harrington House 32 Harington Street Tauranga 3110 PO Box 13267 TAURANGA 3141

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By Glen Dunseath Business & Marketing Manager Zeafruit glen@zeafruit.co.nz

I Local Marketers’ Comment I

Group considers local market issues With new season packing underway for the 2013-14 season there are a couple of key points that have been up for discussion amongst the local market working group during the last eight to ten weeks.

For those of you not familiar with the local market group, it is simple - driven

by NZ Avocado and facilitated by Bevan Jelley. A working group has been set up with its core task to focus on the domestic market.

The group includes a good spread of the local marketers, and a smaller number of packers. The key aims for the group have been driven by the key factors raised during the NZ Avocado mid and end of season grower roadshows around the regions - and in particular by the need to get a better level of professionalism into the domestic market.

The group has met twice with key points of discussion highlighting the following points as key industry issues for the domestic market: 1. Early season maturity levels 2. Crop flow forecasting

Early season maturity has been a significant issue within the local market during the last few seasons and it has been a well discussed point within this group.

Early season dry matter requirements are clear and the group has been very clear about the need for marketers to work with their suppliers and packers on this problem area.

Fruit should not be getting picked or packed without independent testing and passes certified - it is a key time for the industry at all levels as poor eating experiences could reduce further purchases as the season progresses.

On a positive note we have yet to have highlighted a significant breach of these standards - apart from a small volume of orchard direct to independent retail supply at about 15% dry matter direct from a BOP grower!

Crop flow forecasting was tabled as a potential method of understanding incoming volumes for the domestic market - no different to the planning utilised for export.

The aim is that marketers and packers table six week forecasts which are consolidated for the group to view and discuss - although never a 100% accurate, it is the starting point for some

crop management planning and will potentially reduce the effects of the peaks and troughs in supply that the industry is noted for.

Whilst some of the mid-season activity is beyond local market control due to export picking and packing there is still significant benefit to undertaking this activity.

As the season develops, actual packing data will be compared with the original forecasts - it was pleasing to note that all participants invited to submit forecasts did so, in four to six weeks’ time we will see how accurate the original forecast was.

Market Outlook Current demand is very good based upon limited volume entering the market and values are holding well, the next four to six weeks look to be similar based upon forecasted packing volumes There is a considerable amount of work being done within the retail programmes targeting understanding of ripened fruit, usage, and information. The development of ready to eat programmes remains a significant challenge to the domestic avocado industry and if successful a step that offers considerable growth opportunity to maximise the demand and value for local market fruit. ď Ž 11

2013 NZ Avocado Growers’ Association Inc. and Avocado Industry Council Ltd

Annual General Meeting

Tuesday 10 September 2013 3:30pm-6.00pm ASB Arena Baypark, Tauranga

Look out for an AGM pack in your letterbox early August – this includes voting information and the 2013 NZAGA and AIC annual report.

The AGM is for members of NZ Avocado Growers’ Association Inc.. Other industry participants are welcome but do not have speaking or voting rights.

This year’s AGM is being held during the New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers’ Conference so make a day or three of it and register for the conference at www.avocadoconference.co.nz. Please note: if you are not a conference delegate, you are still eligible to attend the AGM. Registration for the AGM is essential, please contact Jo at the NZ Avocado office via email jnunn@nzavocado.co.nz or call 0800 286 2236 by 23 August, 2013.

Registration and afternoon tea from 3:30pm.

AGM to commence 4:00pm sharp.

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By Martin Munro Chairman, NZ Organic Avocado Growers Inc martin.jane.munro@gmail.com

I Organic growers’ comment I

Unlocking the chamber of organic secrets

Winter greetings to all.

NZOAGI has been kept busy with its monthly Executive meetings during the last three months – we have been holding these regularly to reestablish the group and our objectives.

NZOAGI news Our current projects include the NZOAGI Annual General Meeting and field day (3 August), and we are putting together a working group to help us to bring together the problems, practices, ideas, needs and solutions of organic growers. If you have ideas you would like to chat about, please give me a call.

We are looking forward to the conference coming up in September and are pleased that Michelle Glogau, the CEO of BioGro New Zealand, will be there to deliver a presentation on the trends and potential for organic products.

Executive members will be available at the conference and will be identifiable by our black and green polos with the NZOAGI logo on. We are happy to speak to anyone who would like to know more about organics.

We would like to encourage new interested growers to join us. A membership form can be found on the NZ Avocado industry website - http:// industry.nzavocado.co.nz/industry/nz_

organic_avocado_growers_inc.csn The NZOAGI Executive has recently approved a change to our rules, to allow for associate members. This will enable individuals who are not organic avocado growers but are in the avocado industry (for example consultants, marketers etc) to join us and learn about growing avocados organically.

My orchard I, along with my wife Jane, have been farming organically in Tauranga since 1986. We have 15 acres, with the orchard of 300 trees covering half of this.

The variety is predominantly Hass and we have Fuerte pollinators. The age of the trees ranges from 3 to 26 years.

Our orchard is a regular cropper, although, like many orchards, the volumes do vary. In saying that, we are never devoid of fruit in the off years – we always have a crop worth doing something with. For the coming season, the crop is looking good - well up on last season’s.

Recent events Life on our orchard is always busy and we enjoy the many visitors we receive.

In May, NZ Avocado scientist Alvaro Vidiella and Manager of Projects Glenys Parton stopped by.

Alvaro was impressed by the tree health, crop size and how the orchard had coped with the summer drought, especially with us having no irrigation.

The main factor that puzzled him was that my management plan allows for minimal nitrogen input, pretty well zilch at 13kg per hectare in a natural form, yet my leaf test showed that the nitrogen level is 2.35% which according to Alvaro is above the 1.6% minimum recommended as desireable in international literature.

Levels of nitrogen have been stable at

this current level during the last five years.

In early June we hosted a group of 15 teenagers on a Rotary youth exchange from Europe and South America.

Tauranga Sunrise Rotary Club brought them to our place to show them a slice of the New Zealand horticulture industry. The youngsters were fascinated, to the point where one young man was eating anything he could lay his hands on! Just as well we are organic and spray free, so one can do that sort of thing.

My annual soil and leaf testing was carried out in April by soil scientist Philip Barlow (Bio Soil and Crop Limited) who I have worked with for more than five years. He prescribed my fertiliser programme for the coming year, with the main ingredients in the mix being sulphate of potash, boronate 32, fish meal and pelletised Peruvian sea bird guano. This was hand-spread (with gloves on!) mid-June, between rain showers, around each tree from drip line to trunk – 4kg on average per tree.

My current soil ph is 6.1, which is the lowest it has ever been. I believe my trees are enjoying it.

Within my management programme I carry out AvoGreen pest monitoring to satisfy export license requirements, but essentially I am spray free. Leafroller damage of late has been minimal, but with the dry summer, thrips are a challenge, so will have to visit the chamber of organic secrets for a stronger spell to cast on them.

Comments on my article are welcome and for growers interested in planting for organic production or joining NZOAG Inc., I can be contacted by email martin.jane.munro@gmail.com or phone 07 5480329.

For those in Northland, please email Mike Crum mpcjcrum@xtra.co.nz  13

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Regional R REST OF NZ

By David French

We are now well into winter and there is not long to go until our joint conference with Australia.

This is an event which is held every four years and alternates between here and Australia. This means New Zealand only hosts it once every eight years, and this year it is in Tauranga, so I would urge all growers to attend as you won’t see another one in New Zealand until 2021.

This year’s conference theme is Nutrition, both of the trees and the nutritional value of the fruit to the consumer.

As a prequel to this I was lucky enough to attend a four-day course in early June on sustainable agriculture. This was held in Pukekohe and was well supported by our local avocado growers, who comprised about 30% of the 35 attendees.

The course was organised by Guy Macindoe and conducted by Graham Sait of Australian company Nutri-Tech Solutions.

We learnt about the role of the different elements in the soil, and how they interact with each other and the microfauna in the soil. It was not a course about organics but there was a strong emphasis on working with nature not against it.

I feel I now have a better understanding of what makes the soil ‘tick’, and the nutritional requirements of my trees, and will be better equipped to understand what my soil and leaf test results mean.

The local growers who attended all seemed to get a lot out of it and I hope I will see you all at the conference next month. 

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Roundups MID NORTH

News and views from your regional NZAGA Grower Representatives

By Roger Barber

A well-attended field day was held near Whangarei in mid-May on Les and Irene Blagrove’s orchard in Maungatapere. NZ Avocado scientist Alvaro Vidiella updated growers on the research projects currently underway, including new cultivar trials and the performance of Sunny in the district. Of particular interest was the establishment of a block comparing Carmen and Maluma with Hass on clonal rootstocks.

It was replanted from trees with a heavy mortality from phytophthora root rot after heavy ripping, tile drainage and hump and hollowing had been carried out.

The field day also gave growers the chance to commiserate on the poor set throughout the district this season. However this does give us the opportunity to make major structural changes to the canopy without sacrificing crop.

The industry pruning trials underway in each production district aim to reduce the current confusion amongst growers at the multitude of different approaches being used. These trials focus on two main aspects; optimum time of pruning (spring or autumn), and severity of pruning (comparing three levels of pruning.)

The trials use a traditional approach to demonstrate the response to these treatments under the supervision of arborist Matt Leamy and using local contractors. The key is to open the canopy for maximum light interception and promote fruit bud initiation.

It will be interesting to compare some of the newer systems under trial, such as that promoted by Allan Hedge, with the more traditional pruning that has evolved. Pruning is an area the industry collectively needs to apply innovation and experiment on, to find the optimal solutions. Come to the conference in September to add your view or experience to the mix.

Meanwhile, the mid North is experiencing a particularly cold winter spell, although at the time of writing no frosts had yet eventuated. Growers in this district will be praying for warmer spring air temperatures to promote fruit set, so the dismal crop set this season is not repeated. 

AT LARGE

By John Schnackenberg

It was rewarding to attend the BOP Young Grower of the Year dinner in late June and see the calibre of young growers who have entered the horticulture industry and are set to become the next generation of leaders. This year all the competitors were from the kiwifruit industry and we look forward to seeing an avocado grower amongst them some time soon.

The contestants all had to present a three minute speech on the use of social media as a marketing tool.

Twitter, tweeting, Facebook and Facebook stalking are all terms the younger set are most comfortable with and are every-day tools even for our young growers.

An example presented that demonstrated the power of new technologies used Facebook to recruit kiwifruit harvesters at short notice.

Speaking of new technologies - will light meters become the new tool in successful avocado growing?

Most avocado growers will have heard of Allan Hedge and his innovative, if not controversial, approach to pruning avocado trees. Allan has declined at this stage to participate in the pruning trials NZ Avocado is currently conducting, so it will be difficult to identify the success of his methods without conducting well-structured trials, although I understand he welcomes scrutiny of what he is doing and NZ Avocado remains in touch with Allan.

NZ Avocado included Allan as a presenter in a recent round of field days in the Bay of Plenty and a decent number of growers, including John Cotterell and I, were there to hear directly from him about his methods.

Unfortunately the wind was taken out of his sails when there was a distraction with respect to Allan’s use of light meters to determine where and what wood to prune. I guess when someone first raised a pole and strings above a young kiwifruit vine to improve the development of replacement canes there was many an armchair critic then too.

The distraction was certainly unhelpful and clearly impacted Allan’s presentation, leaving this observer with an incomplete understanding of what Allan is trying to achieve. Don’t give up on us Allan – I for one am not about to write off your innovative way of rejuvenating avocado trees. 

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Passion in the provinces Blog excerpt from Peter Chrisp, Chief Executive New Zealand Trade & Enterprise 08/05/2013

In the Bay of Plenty I caught up with our old friend (and ex Hamburg Trade Commissioner) Jen Scoular, who is now CEO of the Avocado Industry Council, and spent a day in the avocado orchards and pack-houses.

Avocados are an up and coming category in NZ, and Jen has the job to facilitate modernisation of the industry… research, growing, packing, marketing. This is a big challenge that she is relishing. Again we saw some great examples of collaboration, as both Avanza and Avaco are formed as multi-company entities to share the costs of going to market, so they can together manage customer expectations and maintain a commitment to new market development.

One of the advantages of the industry is its co-location in Tauranga with Zespri, which provides a great exemplar of cooperation to build a brand… and in the offseason the kiwi-fruit packhouses can be used for avocados, which keeps fixed costs down for both industries. The big dilemma in the industry is the vexed issue of uneven annual crops (“irregular bearing”), which means New Zealand’s annual export crop

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harvests can fluctuate from 3.7 million trays in 2011, to 1.1 million trays in 2012. This makes it very difficult to reliably develop new export markets year on year, so this is the no.1 issue for the industry to solve.

Jen Scoular and Jo Hickey with Tony Ponder (second from right), CEO of F500 customer Southern Produce…winner of the Woolworths produce supplier of the year, which is a huge achievement for a kiwi company in the tough Aussie food trade. MPI’s David Hayes (far right), also spent the day with us, exemplifying NZInc in action.

Thanks so much to the Hawke’s Bay and BOP for your passion and your hospitality.

New Zealand Avocado Highlights Research update field days held NZAGA Grower Reps and Alvaro Vidiella visited orchards and more than 300 interested growers in Te Puke, Katikati, Whangarei, South Auckland and Far North in May, and Gisborne in July. Specific characteristics of the host orchards such as new cultivars and pruning techniques were included in the discussions. The field days were a good opportunity to update the industry on our current projects and to introduce the R&D programme that was approved by the Board in May. Thank you to Ron and Shirley Bailey, Ian Shultz, John and Cindy Cotterell, Kim Crocker, Les and Irene Blagrove, Graham and Kathy Coles, Ivan Stanisich, Geoff Thorpe and Malcolm Peach for each kindly hosting us and growers at your property.

Also thanks to our guest speakers: Allan Hedge, Mike Dillon and Matt Leamy.

Korean rural woman leaders learn about avocado industry

In May, Midge Munro presented the New Zealand avocado industry to a group of 23 high profile women involved in rural research and development, education, welfare improvement in rural community and communications in Korea. The women are industry leaders in the rural sector and also important consumers. The group were very interested to have Midge present the industry, as a woman leader in horticulture in New Zealand, and enjoyed a delicious avocado starter with their lunch and were educated on the benefits of avocados on health and beauty.

Connection with Korean community in Tauranga established

Bevan Jelley has established a connection with the Korean community living in Tauranga in an innovative and cost effective project to find out more about the Korean consumer and who our potential target may be for avocados in this market. We have hosted one successful meeting from which we learned about the social media Koreans use, where they like to shop for food, their eating habits, and what their current perceptions of avocados are. We will continue to meet with

this group regularly to build up a good knowledge of Korean consumers that will help inform promotional activity in this market.

Maturity monitoring underway Glenys Parton has been managing the maturity monitoring programme and as part of this has revamped the way we display this information on the industry website, as well as adding extra details on numbers of orchards tested and passed by Agfirst per region. To keep up to date with how maturities in your region are tracking, see: http://industry.nzavocado.co.nz/industry/ regional_maturity_monitoring.csn Local market crop flow forecasting process developed The local marketers forum has agreed to trial a crop flow forecasting process developed by NZ Avocado in an effort to coordinate and smooth out supply. Marketers will submit a six week forecast on a monthly basis which will be consolidated by NZ Avocado and sent back out to contributors. A conference call between all marketers and NZ Avocado will take place on a monthly basis to see how actuals and forecast are tracking.

Spectacular conference programme organised The NZ Avocado team has been coordinating a fantastic line up of speakers and activities for the joint New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers’ Conference being held 9-12 September in Tauranga. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from some of the world’s top avocado experts about optimising productivity on your orchard.

2013-14 industry crop estimate 2 2013-14 Season as at 26 June 2013

Trays

Total Crop

4,200,000

Export

2,600,000

Local market

1,600,000

Jen, Bevan and Midge with the group of Korean women living in Tauranga who are assisting with our understanding of the Korean consumer

Daesan rural woman leaders group at Mills Reef for presentations on the avocado and kiwifruit industries

17

I Growers’ comment I

Avogreen two years o Timing and consistency are vital to ensure pests are controlled under the AvoGreen programme, say those who train growers to monitor their crops.

Cathy Harris of CropCheck, Katikati, says failing to carry out regular checks can impact negatively on fruit quality.

“Some growers do a fantastic job but others don’t monitor as often as they should, which can reflect in their pack-out rate.”

Monitoring should be carried out every two weeks from January to May, or more often as pest numbers increase, and every three weeks for leafroller from August to December.

During winter months, monthly is advisable, to watch for increases of leafroller and six spotted mite, which have been increasing in severity over the last two to three years in the Bay of Plenty.

It’s three years since CropCheck was established to train growers and provide an orchard service using its own team of trained monitors, and Cathy says attitudes have changed in that time.

“Most growers are now really happy with AvoGreen but recently, when some orchards had little fruit to harvest, some growers pulled back on monitoring and spraying, which is understandable, but if pest levels get away on them, that may impact on their next crop.”

Stuart Pascoe, regional manager for Horticentre Northland, which trains growers to carry out their own pest monitoring, says orchardists have to commit to the programme.

“You can’t put it off and you can’t be distracted while doing it.”

Often when an orchard is run by a husband and wife team, one will take on responsibility for monitoring, he says. It is John Wilkinson of the Horticentre who carries out most of the training and Stuart says he’s excellent in the role, thanks to his methodical nature and science background.

“While we do sell the products to control pests, we put that to one side when teaching growers how to identify pests and make their own decisions, with our help if necessary, on what to do about what they find.”

Alaric Newbald of Katikati, who has been growing avocados for 30 years, used to be a ‘hard spray’ and a ‘calendar spray’ man but is now a supporter of the targeted sprays used in the AvoGreen programme.

“AvoGreen does make you more observant of what’s going on in the orchard. I do get monitors in on an irregular basis because they are better at finding thrips than I am. I have no problems finding leafroller or mites but thrips are harder to spot and they do so much damage.”

Alaric uses a ladder to check for insects higher up in the canopy as he believes inspection from the ground reveals only part of what’s happening.

18

on

By Elaine Fisher Journalist elaine@thesun.co.nz

“AvoGreen is a good system as you know you are killing what’s there because the sprays are targeted.”

The method of working out the threshold levels for spraying has changed and Alaric thinks it is now unnecessarily complicated as a slightly different calculation is required, separating out leaf and fruit infestations.

Jack Crozier manages 13 avocado orchards in the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel and employs monitors to carry out pest inspections.

“I did the monitoring course and it taught me to be more observant in the orchard. I think every grower should do the course, whether they will monitor their orchards or not.”

Jack admits to being distracted by other orchard tasks so decided monitoring was best left to experts who could concentrate fully on looking for insects.

“With modern targeted sprays you need to know what’s in the orchard so you can use the right sprays. I don’t think we are spraying less but the sprays are more targeted and one of the real benefits is in markets like Japan, as we can show we are spraying only when necessary. The old sprays used to kill everything.

“Even though I don’t do the monitoring I do have a better appreciation of what is going on in the orchard and with AvoGreen we have had a better pack-out rate.”

Diane Bryant-Jones of Houhora has been an advocate of the AvoGreen programme since 1999 when she was a monitor in the early trials.

“I think every grower should be using the programme,” says Diane, who now trains growers and others in the industry and also has a 4 canopy hectare avocado orchard.

Diane, who has a horticultural background, says she has learned a lot from the AvoGreen programme, and spraying only when required and the observational skills it helps growers develop are among its biggest benefits.

When AvoGreen was first introduced many growers were nervous about moving away from calendar spraying.

“They worried they might not see what harmful insects were in their orchards but most quickly overcame that concern. With AvoGreen the sprays are more effective because they are being applied at the optimum time and for specific pests, so while growers are not necessarily using less spray, it is more cost effective.

“Growers have the choice of when to spray, don’t have to spray as often and are not ending up with large infestations of insects because they are not taking out the beneficial insects as well as the unwanted ones.”

Growers should be encouraged to look for insect pests outside of the prescribed times, especially in the Far North where milder weather can mean pests are present even in winter.

“I would also like to see, in the long term, assessments extended to looking at the health of the tree overall, not just looking for insects.”

Diane recommends growers carry a magnifying glass whenever they are in their orchards to check out anything they see, even if they are not doing formal pest monitoring.

Sue Culham of Puripak Avocados Ltd also has a 6.2ha orchard East of Whangarei and has been using AvoGreen since the orchard began producing fruit for export in 2006.

“It’s a great programme which is auditable and fits back-to-back with the NZGAP systems we use. I like the fact that it gives growers the choice of when and what to spray. I think we have a higher export pack-out because we have less insect damage to our fruit thanks to Avogreen.”

Leafroller is the orchard’s biggest insect problem as far as fruit quality goes and in addition to AvoGreen monitoring, which Sue and a qualified staff member carry out, pheromone traps for light brown apple moth are placed in the orchard.

“I check the traps every Monday and if there are a number of male moths in them, then I know I’m likely to have a problem with leafroller. I’ve kept records so I can also see the times of year when leafrollers are likely to be at their worst.”

Not having to spray the whole orchards when insects are found is another advantage.

“Last year mites were a problem in just one sample block so we concentrated on that and stopped them spreading to the rest of the orchard.”

AvoGreen monitoring on the orchard goes from the bottom to the top of the trees thanks to the use of Hydraladas but Sue acknowledges not all orchardist have permanent access to the machines or would want to commit them to pest monitoring. However, she has found a difference in pest numbers at different levels in the canopy. In order to affect control, the spray unit is regularly calibrated to make sure spray is reaching all parts of the tree. The nine-year-old trees have also been reduced to 5.5m and the aim is to maintain that height.

Sue would like the opportunity to attend AvoGreen update training sessions to be informed of any new pests and to freshen up skills and believes such sessions should be voluntary, not compulsory for growers.

Janice Cates, who grows avocados on a 4ha orchard at Glenbervie in Northland, has been using AvoGreen monitoring officially for around four years. Before it became compulsory, she was monitoring her orchard for pests, so has found little difference in management practices.

“I used to do monitoring every two to three weeks anyway and think it is a good thing to keep a close eye on what is happening in the orchard and spray only when required.

“The AvoGreen programme also gives New Zealand avocados a slight edge in the international market, as we can say we spray according to best practice, and only when required.”

Ngaire Cliff of Whangarei says AvoGreen has been used for three years on the 64ha Cliff Orchard. “We have our own staff who are trained to do the monitoring.

Using it has made a difference to fruit quality, so there are cost benefits.”

The programme is very much a part of the routine orchard management and Ngaire is happy with how it works. 

19

ADVERTORIAL

20

By Elaine Fisher Journalist elaine@thesun.co.nz

I Market Focus I

Reduced Australia crop may increase market yield for New Zealand growers Many Australian avocado growers are facing a drop in fruit volumes from a third to a half of last season, and that’s potentially good news for their Trans-Tasman ‘cousins’.

New Zealand exporters are predicting the Australian market will be strong this season in terms of both volumes consumed and prices achieved.

Steve Trickett of Just Avocados says the signals coming out of Australia are for a reduced local crop and firmer market.

“It is quite clear that Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales growers (volumes) are well down and the expectation is that there will be strong demand for New Zealand fruit. I am quite confident the prospects are good for New Zealand avocados in Australia this season.

“The indications are that the season for our fruit will start a little earlier and may run later than normal.”

Steve says just how the marketing season in Australia will progress will be clearer in late July but already the main retailer Just Avocado works with has

indicated it will be looking for an import programme .

“That’s different from last year when there was retail chain push back against New Zealand fruit because of the projected volumes of Australian fruit available and the “Buy Australia” first policy. We are getting different signals this year.”

Jarrod Redwood of Whangarei, new avocado category manager for Freshmax, says the indications are promising for the new marketing season.

“We are going into the coming season with a very positive view on the market conditions. The current forecast for the Australian avocado industry is favourable for us and we envisage being able to capitalise on this again.

“We will also be continuing with some market development work outside of Australia. Any robust marketing programme has an element of market development to it, so we will be continuing to work with our customer base across other regions and build the profile and success of New Zealand avocado in some of these lesser developed markets.”

Chris Frost of JP Exports says the Australian customers the company works with are indicating they will want New Zealand avocados early and that demand will be strong.

“Last year some Australian supermarkets took only a small amount of New Zealand fruit and some took none at all. This year, due to the lack of crop in Western Australia, I believe that the Australian retail chains may accept more New Zealand fruit.

“JP Exports will endeavour to market at least 20 per cent of its supply to new and developing markets, outside of Australia, as part of an industry agreement, that all of the licenced exporters support.”

These markets include Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong and the Pacific Islands.

Newly formed avocado exporter AVOCO expects to hit the $50 million mark for this season’s earnings in Australia by the end of the harvest, which starts in late August.

Alistair Young, a director of AVOCO, says latest analysis of the potential harvest suggests there will be a better yield than usual, without it being a brilliant harvest.

“We were forecasting retail and wholesale sales in Australia of about $40 million when we launched AVOCO. However, the harvest predictions and updated market expectations should lead to it nearing the $50 million sales barrier for the 2013-14 season in Australia – which is about 20 per cent ahead of our initial expectations.”  21

I Avocentric I

Tomato skills rel

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Heller Orchard stats: 3.5 ha at Ongare Point 350 trees, 12 to 30 years old 6.5m height of trees 18 tonnes/ha 4 year average

Former greenhouse tomato growers Helen and Matthew Heller are happy with their decision to buy an avocado orchard near Katikati.

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levant to orcharding After 25 years growing tomatoes in greenhouses Matthew and Helen Heller decided to switch ‘codes’ and become avocado orchardists.

“Operating greenhouses is almost as much a tie as milking cows because it’s a seven days a week operation and the plants and glasshouses need constant monitoring and attention,” says Matthew.

In 2007 the couple sold their two hectares of greenhouses at Bombay and bought a well-established 3.5ha avocado orchard at Ongare Point near Katikati.

Avocado growing was a deliberate choice.

“We wanted a crop we could manage ourselves without needing permanent staff and we wanted to grow something which didn’t require such intensive involvement,” says Matthew.

The fact that avocados don’t have to be picked all at once, and the length of their season, had particular appeal for the Hellers.

“In theory we can decide when to pick depending on market needs. The same fruit we could pick in September can be left on the tree until February if we choose.

“We feel that growers should work together with the marketers to achieve maximum returns for all growers, along with market development. Ideally local and export marketing should be combined to optimise the best returns for the fruit.

I am sure if a single pool was operated by the marketers, we would achieve higher returns for all growers,” Matthew says.

The orchard they purchased is long and narrow, running through a V-shaped gully between Ongare Point Road and Kauri Point Road, near the Tauranga Harbour.

Late on a July afternoon, as we walked the orchard, the trees on the Kauri Point (southern) side were bathed in sunlight, while those on the opposite slope were in shadow.

It’s an orchard of two halves and while it would appear logical that those on the colder, south-facing slope would be more prone to irregular bearing, Matthew says in fact they are the most consistent of the 350 trees.

“I think it is because they tend to flower

later and as a result pollination is better.”

The ages of the trees range from 12 to around 30 years and when the Hellers arrived the orchard had an almost unbroken canopy formed by very tall trees.

“There was no grass and all the fruit was at the top of the trees.”

The crop they inherited in 2007 was 18,000 trays.

“We made very little money from a 50 per cent pack-out due to fruit damage caused by wind rub because all the fruit was at the top of the trees. That volume of fruit was far too much for the trees.”

Although the trees had been well cared for in terms of nutrition, the Hellers decided they were too tall and in parts of the orchard, too close together.

“We took out about half the trees. On reflection maybe we removed too many, possibly we should have staghorned the older part of the orchard as taking the trees right out have left it quite gappy but we’ll never know now if we did the right thing or not.”

The height of the trees has been progressively reduced to around 6.5 metres and the aim is to create wellbalanced trees, open in the centre, with a canopy which extends down on all sides to just above the ground. This, together with good spraying, has increased the export pack-out to more than 85 per cent.

“We like to keep the ground beneath the trees clear of grass as I think it helps absorb heat, making the orchard warmer, but it is also important to have grass between the trees because if the grass isn’t growing, then you know you are not getting sunlight down to lower fruit.”

The orchard has produced a crop every year.

“In 2007 the production of 28 tonnes per hectare was way too much. In the last four years the orchard has averaged 18 tonnes and if we could do that every year I’d be happy.”

Matthew puts the orchard’s consistency in cropping down to annual pruning and not over-loading the trees with too much fruit. While growing tomatoes might not appear to have much in common with avocado orcharding, Matthew and Helen find the observational skills they developed while managing tomatoes are

By Elaine Fisher Journalist elaine@thesun.co.nz

useful when it comes to understanding avocados.

“In the greenhouses we worked out a fruit count per square metre and flower pruned to achieve that outcome without over-taxing the plants and I think the same is true of avocados.”

Flower pruning has been used on the orchard but annual structural pruning serves much the same purpose.

“I think it’s important to walk through your orchard frequently and observe what’s happening, looking out for any trees which don’t look happy, and then try to find the cause.”

Helen and Matthew are fans of the AvoGreen pest monitoring programme.

They self-monitor the orchard, which enables them to be informed of what pests are present and whether or not they pose a threat.

A helicopter is used to apply sprays when required. It’s a system which the couple believe gives better coverage, given the topography of their orchard, and is cost effective.

A standard avocado blend fertiliser is applied by hand to each tree, based on soil tests and recommendations from a consultant.

The orchard has irrigation, with water supplied from a bore and in last summer’s drought that proved a significant bonus, often irrigating more than 2000 litres per tree per week. There was also an irrigation frost protection system in the southern part of the orchard but Matthew has decommissioned it.

“Those trees had real root problems, caused I think by the soil being kept wet and cold.”

Despite his best efforts to save them, some of those trees have died and a small number of new varieties, including pollinators, have been planted.

Phytophthora injections are administered on a regular basis.

“We did try truck spraying but root tests showed that wasn’t working on mature trees, so we have gone back to injections.”

Matthew and Helen enjoy avocado growing. Even though they won’t get rich on their orchard, it does produce a good income and Matthew says there’s a lifestyle component that has a value over and beyond money.  23

By Elaine Fisher Journalist elaine@thesun.co.nz

Collaboration positive move for industry Greater collaboration this season among exporters is a positive move for the industry, says Ashby Whitehead the chair of NZ Avocado Growers’ Association and Avocado Industry Council.

“I think that exporters have taken on board the sentiment that growers showed after the low returning 2011-12 season.

They wanted to see more collaboration between exporters. This has started to happen and I believe that collaboration is a positive move from an industry perspective,” says Ashby.

In the 2011-12 season, New Zealand growers produced a record crop of six million trays but many also received a low return for their fruit. The oversupply of Australian market and some exporters failing to adhere to the voluntary flow plan to send 25 per cent of fruit to markets other than Australia, were among the reasons growers received around half what they had expected for their fruit, leading to calls for changes within the industry.

This season former marketing rivals have come together to form two new alliances to market New Zealand fruit, and indications are that other exporters may again collaborate in Japan, which should reduce in-market competition between exporters and result in improved returns for growers.

Such consolidation should result in more co-ordination of supply, and assist exporters in their efforts to develop new

markets too.

The alliances announced this season follow on from the success of the AVANZA model which has seen Primor Produce, Southern Produce (as the exclusive marketer of the Team Avocado Trust) and Just Avocados co-operate to sell New Zealand avocados under one brand in Asia.

That alliance still exists but Primor and Southern Produce have now formed The New Zealand Avocado Company Ltd (trading as AVOCO), a joint venture to export into Australia and Just Avocados Ltd and the NZ Avocado Marketing Ltd grower cooperative have a new partnership agreement to export and market avocados to Australia and the rest of the world. That announcement in June followed the formation of partnership between Just Avocados and Zeafruit for the distribution and sale of domestic grade fruit to a major retail chain.

Last season JP Exports and two other licenced exporters collaborated to export fruit to Japan under the NZAVO brand.

Chris Frost of JP Exports says: “We would like to and are willing to collaborate with other exporters in new and developing markets. It is essential for smaller exporters to work together in the Japanese market to achieve the critical mass needed to fill a container within six days and ship within seven, with the fruit size profile that is required.”

Chris says it is vital to develop new markets outside of Australia in order to ensure the future of the industry.

Jarrod Redwood, new avocado category manager for Freshmax, says the exporter was not involved in any formal collaboration last season.

“However we are always willing to

actively co-operate with other industry members,” says Jarrod.

AVOCO is the brand for the Primor and Southern Produce joint venture and Southern Produce director Alistair Young says the interests of the New Zealand avocado industry and its growers are best served by a unified entity that is focused totally on getting the best orchard-gate returns for growers.

“It is our belief that the way forward for the industry is to collaborate completely, as other primary industries have done successfully,” says Primor Produce director and general manager John Carroll.

“It’s the final piece in the marketing jigsaw for us. It marries all avocado export markets under a collaborative model for Southern Produce and Primor Produce. Growers have demanded we perform better as an export industry, and this is our response.”

AVOCO will represent the largest supply arrangement ex New Zealand into Australia. Under its new partnership, NZAML has entered into an agreement with Just Avocados for a minimum three year supply term whereby Just Avocados will perform the exporting function and marketing of the group’s volume to customer programmes in both Australia and the rest of the world.

“The industry will benefit from this consolidation both here at home as well as with the orderly placement of fruit in the export market place. This also reinforces the position of AVANZA over the next few years when disciplined development of new and emerging markets will be critical to successfully managing the projected increases in crop volume,” says Just Avocados managing director Andrew Darling.  25

Industry news Register now for the NZ and AU Avocado Growers’ Conference The fifth quadrennial New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers Conference is being held 9-12 September 2013 at the ASB Arena, Baypark, Tauranga.

If you want to increase your efficiency, productivity and results then do not miss Nutritional Values.

At this unique quadrennial event you will pick up advanced thinking on topical issues, network with other growers from New Zealand and Australia and arm yourself with information to improve your orchard business.

Register before 1 August for early bird rates and take advantage of the special rates for members of NZAGA and AIC (and Avocados Australia) and further discounts when registering a partner at the same time.

If you would like to register for the conference over the phone, Midge Munro and Jo Nunn are happy to assist, please call 0800 286 2236 or +64 7 571 6147 if calling from outside New Zealand.

Don’t miss this exciting event which is hosted in New Zealand only once every eight years.

For programme and speaker information go to www.avocadoconference.co.nz NZAGA AGM 10 September 2013 To be held 10 September, 4pm-6pm at the ASB Arena, Baypark, Tauranga during the Joint NZ & AU Avocado Growers’ Conference. All NZAGA members welcome regardless of if you are a delegate of the conference or not.

Registration for this event is essential – please contact 0800 286 2236 or 07 571 6147 or email jnunn@nzavocado.co.nz with your name and PPIN. Those who have registered for the conference and indicated during the registration process your intention to attend the AGM do not need to contact us again.

26

Export registration 2013-14 If you are planning to export your avocados this season then you need to register each of your orchard PPINs with Avocado Industry Council.

NZ Avocado is appealing to growers to register as soon as possible to help improve the accuracy of crop estimation. Accurate crop estimation aids marketers in developing effective supply arrangements with customers.

To complete the registration process you need to have following information available: • Your PPIN(s) and password(s) • The number of planted hectares of your orchard - the method for calculating this is outlined in the registration instructions found via the link below.

You must also be AvoGreen compliant to register for export. The online system links to your AvoGreen compliance details and will ask you to verify your details or alert you if there is an issue.

Export registration is completed online at https://secure.nzavocado.co.nz/ Those growers who are unable to register online can either seek assistance through their packhouse/exporter or can request a paper form to fill in from NZ Avocado which will attract an additional $30+GST administration fee as stipulated in the current Export Marketing Strategy (EMS).

Please call Sheryl Wilson 0800 286 2236 for assistance.

Maturity monitoring The Regional Maturity Monitoring page of the NZ Avocado website has been updated. To view the results go to http://industry.nzavocado.co.nz/ industry/regional_maturity_monitoring. csn Growers are reminded that industry best practice for domestic market maturity testing consists of a sample collection procedure as well as a testing procedure. All maturity tests must be

collected and verified by an independent third party 2013 Commodity Levy Order now in force Following the successful result of the 2012 Commodity Levy referendum, a new Commodity Levies Order for avocados came into force on 11 July, 2013.

As per the new Commodity Levies (Avocados) Order 2013, the new rates for the first levy year apply from 11 July 2013 and end on 30 April 2014.

The levy rates are as follows: 1/ For avocados grown and sold in New Zealand for consumption as fresh fruit • 3% of the selling price at the first point of sale 2/ For avocados grown in New Zealand and exported from New Zealand • 35 cents per tray equivalent (5.5kg) There are no levies on avocados grown in New Zealand and sold for processing.

The commodity levy provides funding predominantly for AGA management and governance, promotions, research and communications including Avoscene, AvoConnect and the industry website.

The Commodity Levy structure enables the organisation to have a strong grower voice and is important to maintaining grower influence over the future of the industry.

Food Residue Surveillance Programme NZ Avocado has been notified by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) that avocados will this year be included in the Food Residue Surveillance Programme (FRSP). From the period June 2013 to May 2014 they will be drawing random samples of avocados for residue testing. In particular they will be looking for residues of products that have been registered for use on avocados within the past 12 months. Specifically

this includes etoxazole (Paramite) and uniconazole (Sunny).

Please be aware that any fruit supplied to the local market could be sampled for residues as the fruit is purchased through commercial channels.

The FRSP allows MPI to: • monitor compliance in relation to new and existing food regulatory measures, • identify issues of potential importance to public health and safety, • monitor long-term trends in the levels of chemical hazards in food, • respond to issues of major community concern.

The results of the residue testing by crop are made public. The following has been extracted from the MPI website: “All the data collected through the FRSP is publicly available, although the producers, whose food products have been sampled, are not identified.

Unexpected or adverse results may be referred to officers within MPI, who decide if further action should be taken.

If the results indicate a high risk to consumers, then enforcement action may be recommended.”

For further information please see the following page on MPI’s website http:// www.foodsafety.govt.nz/policy-law/foodmonitoring-programmes/food-act-1981/frsp/ New supply and marketing partnership agreement between Just Avocados Ltd and NZ Avocado Marketing Ltd NZAML has entered into an agreement with Just Avocados for a minimum three year supply term whereby Just Avocados will perform the exporting and marketing of the group’s volume to customer programmes in both Australia and the rest of the world.

This arrangement is also complimented by the recent partnership established between Just Avocados and

Zeafruit for the distribution and sale of domestic grade fruit to a major retail chain.

Fresh Facts 2012 released ‘Fresh Facts’ is an annual document jointly published by Plant & Food Research and Horticulture New Zealand. The data booklet is a collection of industry measurements and financial figures from the New Zealand Horticulture Industry.

Download a copy from: http://www. freshfacts.co.nz/file/fresh-facts-2012.pdf Key facts relating to the avocado industry from the booklet: • Avocados listed as sixth largest horticultural export (in terms of FOB value) from New Zealand for 2012.

• Avocados are the third largest fresh fruit export from New Zealand behind kiwifruit and apples.

• Avocado oil had 1.8m FOB export value and 0.2m domestic value for 2012.

Joint-venture company – AVOCO, created to export into Australia Bay of Plenty-based Southern Produce Ltd and Auckland-based Primor Produce Ltd have put their avocado businesses together to create The New Zealand Avocado Company Ltd, which will trade as AVOCO. AVOCO will export avocados only.

Both companies will continue to operate their respective businesses in other fresh fruit products. All AVOCO exports into countries other than Australia will be handled through their longstanding AVANZA commercial arrangement.

Avocados stand out as fruit with potential to create meaningful export growth for New Zealand Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce released a new report on 13

June showing opportunities for further growth in the New Zealand fresh fruit sector, including into Asia.

The Coriolis Research report, Driving Growth in the Fresh Fruit Sector, says that New Zealand’s fruit exports are shifting towards Asia and away from traditional markets like Europe and North America.

“The report highlights that we can become a fruit bowl for Asia. Asian consumers prefer the sweetness and quality of New Zealand fruit and we are achieving considerable success there,” Mr Joyce says.

“New Zealand is sending fruit to more countries and there has also been a significant growth in the export value of fruit. Kiwifruit’s export value has almost doubled over the last decade, going from $567 million in 2002 to $1.043 billion in 2012.”

Industry comments in the report indicate that, while PSA has had a significant impact on the industry’s profitability, export value growth is likely to continue into the future when the impact of the disease has passed.

• The report highlights a number of potential directions for growth in the fresh fruit sector including new varieties, value-added products and new and emerging fruits.

• The report says that avocados, cherries and blueberries stand out as fruit that have the potential to create meaningful export growth. There are also opportunities to develop fruit extracts and ingredients for foodservice and nutraceuticals.

• Driving Growth in the Fresh Fruit Sector is part of a series of reports released under the Food & Beverage Information Project – the most comprehensive analysis of New Zealand’s food industry ever undertaken.

• The full report is available at http:// www.foodandbeverage.govt.nz/ 27

DUP0299 Avo Scene Ad-Kocide FP.indd 1

16/11/09 12:03:21 PM

ADVERTORIAL

Avocado ne Eastern Colombia welcomes Hass avocado plant Eastern Colombia’s first processing plant for fresh Hass avocados and Tahiti lemons has opened its doors in the Cauca Valley.

The plant comes with GlobalGAP certification and can process up to three containers of fruit a week, the Colombian Agriculture Institute (ICA) reported.

“This plant is very important for Colombian agricultural trade since Hass avocados are one of the most prioritized products for Colombian exports, mainly with the United States where the institute is working hard to achieve entrance of the product,” institute manager Teresita Beltrán Ospina said.

The eastern central region of Colombia produces a third of the nation’s Hass avocados with 1,832 planted Ha. The new plant is able to process 7.5 tons (MT) of fruit an hour, ICA said. It was built with the contribution of specialists from Mexico, Peru and Chile.

For 2013, Colombia hopes to produce 27,000 MT of Hass avocados and increase production to 62,000 by 2016.

Source: http://www.freshfruitportal.com/2013/07/04/ eastern-colombia-welcomes-hass-avocado-plant/ Mexico focuses on food safety to keep up avocado exports Mexico’s Michoacán state emphasized the importance last week of maintaining food safety standards as a measure to protect avocado exports, particularly with Japan.

This year the state exported 52,000 MT of avocado to the Asian nation and one of the most demanding markets in the world. To keep exports high, the Secretary of Agriculture (SAGARPA) announced the urgency of working hard on safety regulations.

State agriculture representative Antonio Guzmán Castañeda attributed current success on the Japanese market to investment in safety programs.

Within the next three years, the state hopes to increase avocado exports to Japan to 100,000 MT. Total avocado exports for July 2012 to July 2013 are estimated at 800,000 MT at a value of US$400 million.

To achieve the export goal, Michoacán will need more hectares of avocado certified for export. Only 24,000 hectares are currently approved for export, SAGARPA published.

An additional 53,000 hectares will need to be certified.

A government-organized meeting has been requested to 30

ews from the world bring together avocado producers, packers and state authorities to establish official standards for exportation in Mexico.

SAGARPA warned that problems such as surpassing maximum residue limits could negatively impact all producers across Mexico, emphasizing the importance of common standards.

Source: http://www.freshfruitportal. com/2013/07/01/mexico-focuseson-food-safety-to-keep-up-avocadoexports/?country=others US: Hass variety drives avocado category growth The US-based Hass Avocado Board (HAB) has found the variety it represents was a key driver for the avocado category in 2012, achieving US$1.4 billion in sales.

The board’s latest study, titled ‘Retail Sales Opportunity Analysis: Distribution and Sales of Greenskin and Hass Avocados’, found Hass account for 94% of retail avocado dollars and volume.

Most of the remaining avocados were Greenskins, accounting for around 5% of sales in the category, with contributions fluctuating less than one point during a three-year study.

“Hass avocados continue to be the predominant selling variety, driving category growth year-over-year,” Hass Avocado Board executive director Emiliano Escobedo said.

“The study shows that Hass avocados are in a favorable position with greater distribution and higher per-store averages of avocado sales, and accounted for $1.4 billion in retail dollars in 2012.”

The board found that with a similar selling price for both varieties, retailers who merchandised Hass avocados had significantly higher dollar sales. For 2012, the per-week retail dollar average of US$151 for the Hass variety was more than 10 times the US$13 average registered for Greenskins.

Hass avocados’ top three PLUs accounted

for 1.1 billion units while Greenskin’s top three PLUs amounted to 32.9 million units.”

Source: http://www.freshfruitportal. com/2013/06/05/u-s-hass-variety-drivesavocado-category-growth/?country=others Mexican scientists map avocado genome Scientists from Mexico’s National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity (Langebio) have successfully completed genome sequencing for a native variety of avocado, website Noticierotelevisa.esmas. com reported.

The story reported the project aimed to help breed new avocados with longer shelf life and stronger disease resistance.

“We have already finished the genetic mapping for the Mexican paper-skin avocado and are starting to work with about eight types of avocados,” researcher Alberto Estrella told the publication.

Another researcher, Luis Estrella, said a goal of the DNA sequencing was to assist in breeding avocados that didn’t grow as tall and therefore didn’t need as much water, allowing Mexican growers to stay competitive.

He added that 900 million genetic base pairs had been sequenced, among which adenine, thiamine and cytosine were found.

“We are finding some very interesting things in that proteins are involved in the avocado flesh being able to accumulate oil,” he was quoted as saying.

Langebio is based in Irapuato, Guanajuato state.

Source: http://www.freshfruitportal. com/2013/06/17/mexican-scientists-mapavocado-genome/?country=others Avocado industry take bruising with squeezers Researchers at University of Queensland Gatton are finding out who is to blame for bruised avocados in the supermarket.

Using shock watches and impact recording devices UQ PhD student Muhammad Sohail Mazhar tracked the impact on the fruit as they were taken to the stores.

He found they were arriving in store with very few bruises.

He is now looking to establish if potential customers squeezing or poking avocados to test their freshness are responsible for the bruising.

“A bruise in an avocado fruit can continue to grow and intensify for up to 96 hours,” Mr Mazhar said.

“This was established by using an MRI machine at The University of Queensland’s Centre for Advanced Imaging to nondestructively examine the bruised flesh over time within intact avocados.”

“The next stage of my doctorate will look carefully at shoppers’ and consumers’ contributions to bruising the avocado fruit in the retail store and at home and also into methods to reduce its occurring,” he said.

Professor Daryl Joyce, from UQ’s School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, believes that decision-aid tools and education initiatives to help shoppers choose fruit in the store may be the solution.

“Precise firmness-testing machines for avocados already exist in laboratories,” Prof Joyce said.

“If we could adapt such devices for use in supermarkets then it would mean that shoppers could learn how many days away the piece of fruit is from being ready to eat without them having to squeeze it.”

“A cost-effective firmness testing device combined with educating store staff, shoppers and consumers could well be the answer to bruise-free avocados,” he said.

Prof Joyce said the amount of bruising found in avocados was turning customers off them and damaging the industry.

Source: http://www.qt.com.au/news/ avocado-industry-takes-bruising-withsqueezers/1908235/ 31

Opotiki grower crowned Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower 2013 Opotiki grower Chris Anstis has been crowned the Bay of Plenty Fruit Grower 2013 after beating off tough competition from five other finalists in Mount Maunganui.

The regional competition was held at Baypark Function Centre on Wednesday 26 June, and was a day-long event requiring contestants to complete a series of tasks essential to running a fruit growing business.

Chris, 30, is the technical manager at Opotiki Packing and Coolstorage Ltd (OPAC), and won $1,500 cash and a one-day media and presentation course in Wellington. He will also receive an all-expenses paid trip to attend the Horticulture New Zealand Conference in Wellington in July.

Chris was also the Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower 2009. He says the competition was a rewarding experience, but it wasn’t without challenges.

“The competition really made me work hard and put all my skills to the test, which made winning the title even better.

The other contestants didn’t make it easy though, they are all great growers and there is definitely a lot of talent out there,” says Chris.

Second place went to Chris Clement, 27, from Tauranga and Miguel Peterle, 30, from Waikato placed third.

Chris will go on to compete for the national Young Grower of the Year title at the Horticulture New Zealand Conference in Wellington, July.

“I’m really looking forward to competing at the national competition in Wellington later this year. Based on my 2009 experience, it is always great getting to meet the other young growers performing at that level,” says Chris.

Contestants completed a range modules based on various aspects of horticulture

Get the full story of where your crop is heading with assistance from our technical field team.

• Horticulture is our business • Onsite advice when and where you need it • Skilled technical support

32

such as fertiliser, grafting, plant physiology, biosecurity, and employment contracts.

NZ Avocado and Cropcheck limited ran an AvoGreen pest identification and management module which tested the contestants’ ability to identify pests based on damage to fruit and leaves. They were also asked to comment on various control methods and predator insects.

Cathy Harris of Cropcheck, who developed the AvoGreen module for the competition, said “We were a little surprised by the lack of knowledge of the contestants in some cases about pest management in general. This made us very aware of the standard that we expect our staff to attain in becoming certified AvoGreen monitors and the knowledge required by growers to become owneroperators. The questions we prepared for the candidates were Level 4 difficulty as advised by BOP Polytech and were slightly simplified from what we use for our staff training.”

For more information, visit www.younggroweroftheyear.co.nz 

By Fiona Ewing, Powerco group health, safety, environment and quality manager

I Health & Safety I

Electricity can kill Every year in the New Zealand horticultural and farming sector, there is at least one death from accidental contact with overhead power lines. And for every death, there are a number of serious injuries.

People working around trees are particularly at risk. People have had electric shocks, suffered serious burns or even been killed when working around trees that have grown into overhead power lines.

As a major distributor of electricity in New Zealand’s avocado growing regions, Powerco is acutely aware of the potential danger to life when you have people, avocado trees and power lines in close proximity to each other. You don’t have to touch the live wire. In the same way that water always seeks lower ground, electricity is always seeking an earth. In that search, it can go through trees that are near or touching power lines. It can even jump through the air to a person’s equipment, through their body and into the ground.

To be safe, people should only work around trees that have branches that are four metres clear of overhead power lines.

Everybody in the avocado growing industry has a responsibility of care to themselves and their work mates.

Growers: know the routes of the overhead power lines crossing your property. This will help you plan the replanting of trees so they remain clear of power lines even when fully grown. It will help you plan your pruning so that trees are kept well clear of power lines.

Growers: make sure people working in your orchards, particularly pickers, know about the four metre rule and plan a safe way to work when anywhere near overhead power lines.

Orchard workers: look up and check for hidden power lines before you raise your work platforms. Power lines may be hidden in the branches.

Growers and packhouse operators also have some legal obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992. There are harsh penalties for ignoring those responsibilities – a fine of up to $500,000, up to two years imprisonment or both.

The actual business of keeping everybody healthy and safe is reasonably straight-forward – know where your overhead lines are, plant accordingly, prune responsibly and make sure your orchard workers understand the potential of electricity to injure or kill and the actions they can take to keep themselves safe.

We know that the avocado industry

takes health and safety seriously.

However, at busy times like picking when everyone is focused on the main job – getting the fruit off the trees and packed for market – it is easy for people to take their eye off the health and safety ball.

Powerco is keen to help in the business of keeping everybody in the industry safe at all times. We have posters for work places highlighting safety rules around power lines. We also run short safety workshops for growers and their staff and packhouses and their staff. All you have to do is ring our health and safety coordinator, Chris Neal, on 06 968 0128 and he will organise a suitable time. For further information go to powerco.co.nz Like being a good grower, packhouse operator, or orchard worker, health and safety takes time and commitment.

However, the possible result of not giving health and safety that time and commitment doesn’t bear thinking about.

To learn more about how you can keep yourself and your employees safe when working near power lines, visit our stand in the exhibition hall at the New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers’ Conference in September.

Powerco is New Zealand’s second largest electricity distribution company with 30,000 kilometers connecting 320,000 industrial, commercial, agricultural and commercial customers throughout the North Island. 

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Growers and experts to meet New Zealand Avocado Growers’ Association Inc. and Avocados Australia Ltd welcome all growers and members of the supply chain to attend Nutritional Values, the fifth quadrennial New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers’ Conference, at the ASB Arena Baypark, 9-12 September 2013.

Some of the world’s top avocado experts are coming to the New Zealand industry’s heartland for a major international conference in Tauranga – only held in New Zealand every eight years – enhancing the region’s reputation as a global fruit bowl.

The Bay of Plenty is this country’s prime region for avocado orchards, backed strongly by Northland. Growers will be able to sharpen their expertise and growing methods at this three-day conference.

Fifty experts from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and USA will present advanced thinking on pruning techniques, irregular bearing, disease management, new cultivars, nutrient management, pollination, quality improvement, new market development, promotions, economics, biosecurity, and supply chain improvement. Sessions are divided into three topic streams: Marketing Nutrition, Healthy Orchard and Strong Industry.

“We have a fantastic line-up of speakers who will inform, inspire and challenge growers,” says Ashby Whitehead, newly appointed chair of the NZAGA and AIC. “The theme of nutrition is designed to raise awareness among growers that they are not just growing fruit; we are producing a high-quality product

that meets the needs of consumers – consumers who are becoming increasingly conscious of the health benefits of the food they are eating. We need to explore opportunities to leverage the nutritional benefits of this fruit, especially as we seek to further develop markets in Asia.”

The joint New Zealand and Australia Avocado growers’ conference is hosted in New Zealand only every eight years.

It is held as part of the memorandum of understanding between NZ Avocado Growers Association Inc. and Australian counterparts Avocado Australia Ltd. Nutritional Values also represents a great opportunity for avocado industry product and service providers to promote their businesses to growers.

“We have had excellent support from businesses involved in the avocado industry, both local, national and from Australia,” says Midge Munro, NZ Avocado Communications Manager.

New exporter collaboration AVOCO is the Nutritional Values Principal Conference Partner.

“We are pleased to be able to introduce this new initiative to the industry at what is sure to be an exciting event,” says Alistair Young, a director of AVOCO. Delegates can register for the conference online at www.avocadoconference.co.nz.

Early bird prices and special rates for growers are available.

Highlights • NZ Avocado Ambassador and celebrity MasterChef Nadia Lim will present on culinary and nutritional aspects of avocados.

• Dr Zelda van Rooyen from South Africa will talk about tree decline in South Africa and how Westfalia Technological Services is helping producers remain competitive through developing Hasslike cultivars to improve productivity and stretch the season.

• Dr Jonathan Dixon from USA, who spent 10 years in the NZ avocado industry, now oversees the California Avocado Commission’s research program.

His particular interests are growing systems to manage alternate bearing and postharvest management of fruit.

• Join Grower Reps, consultants and fellow growers in the regional challenges discussion sessions.

• Top avocado researchers from Plant and Food Research New Zealand, University of Queensland and Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Australia will present on a variety of orchard management and post-harvest topics.

• Debate nitrogen use and pruning methods in our interactive panel discussions on these topics.

• Dr Mark Dreher, a nutrition research advisor to the Hass Avocado Board in the USA, will share information on the latest clinical trials to test effects of avocado on various aspects of health.

• Dr Russell Ballard, Independent chair of the Plant Market Access Council, whose involvement is sponsored by Port of Tauranga, will share insights on the New Zealand avocado industry’s potential.

• Michelle Glogau, CEO of BioGro New Zealand will share information on world trends and potential for organic products from New Zealand • Lisa Cork, recent winner of the PMA-A marketer of the year award, whose involvement is sponsored by Jenkins Freshpac Systems, Sinclair Systems International and j-tech Systems, will share her insights on innovative marketing and messaging.

• BNZ’s head of research Stephen Toplis will share the economic outlook for the Asian region – an important growth region for the avocado industry.

• Tim Knox, Ministry for Primary Industries and Simon Hegarty, Horticultural Export Authority will each speak on market access for New Zealand avocados into overseas markets.

• Brett Hewlett from New Zealand will share the global success story of innovative New Zealand natural health and beauty products company Comvita.

Continued...

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Conference schedule overview Please note this schedule has been updated since last issue of Avoscene. All activities are held at ASB Arena Baypark.

Date

Time

Activity

Monday 9 September

4:00pm – 6:00pm 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Conference registration open AVOCO™ Welcome Reception

Tuesday 10 September

8:00am 9:00am – 4:00pm 4:00pm – 6:00pm

Conference registration and speaker support centre opens Sessions and industry exhibition NZAGA Annual General Meeting – For NZAGA members Please note attendance is open to all NZAGA members regardless of if you are a conference delegate or not Australian avocado growers meeting – for Australian avocado growers

4:00pm – 6:00pm Wednesday 11 September 8:00am 9:00am – 4:50pm 4:50pm 7:30pm – 12:00am

Conference registration and speaker support centre opens Sessions and industry exhibition Conference Close Freshmax conference gala dinner

Thursday 12 September 10:00am – 4:00pm

Field trip to Bay of Plenty orchards, a processing facility and a packhouse for tours, demonstrations and discussion – meet at ASB Arena Baypark

Aongatete Coolstores Ltd – www.cooolstore.co.nz/products Asure Quality Ltd – www.assurequality.com Avocados Australia Limited – www.avocado.org.au AVOCO TM BT9 International – www.bt9-tech.com Capital Tractors & Machinery Carbon Conditioning (2012) Ltd – www.nulifehumates.co.nz Colour Vision Systems Pty Ltd – www.cvs.com.au

Chemjet – www.queenslandplastics.com.au Dow Agro Sciences Ltd – www.dowagro.com/nz Freshmax NZ Ltd – www.freshmax.co.nz Glenbrook Machinery – www.glenbrook.co.nz Gro-chem Horticulture – www.grochem.co.nz Hill Laboratories – www.hill-laboratories.com Horticentre Trust Hydralada Company Ltd – www.hydralada.com

Jenkins Frespac Systems/Sinclair Systems/J-Tech Australia – www.jenkinsgroup.co.nz Just Avocados Ltd – www.justavocados.co.nz New Zealand Avocado – www.nzavocado.co.nz/industry Omnia Specialties NZ Ltd – www.omnia.net.nz Powerco – www.powerco.co.nz Radford Software Ltd – www.radfords.co.nz Silvan New Zealand Pty Ltd – www.silvannz.co.nz

Other conference supporters Apata Ltd – www.apata.co.nz Avocado Oil New Zealand Limited – www.avocado-oil.co.nz Compac Sorting Equipment – www.compacsort.com Cooltainer New Zealand Ltd 36

Hortplus – www.hortplus.com Port of Tauranga – www.port-tauranga.co.nz Trevelyan’s Pack & Cool Ltd – www.trevelyans.co.nz Winstone Wallboards Ltd – Gypsum – www.gypsum.co.nz

ADVERTORIAL

With 38 years of experience, Hydralada Machines have earned a long reputation for safety and reliability. The Elevating Work Platforms the Company manufactures have delivered reliable service which brings with it low cost of operation, making these machines an integral component in the tree cropping scene. Look in any avocado orchard today and you’ll likely find a Hydralada at work, pruning or harvesting.

All of this is no coincidence - Hydralada actively focus their development efforts on producing machines which increase worker productivity to reduce the cost of labour to the growers. The single boom design which Hydralada have always produced means the machine is always located directly behind the operator and becomes an extension of the person. Controlling the machine with their feet and leaving hands free to pick fruit, prune, or whatever the task may be, the operation of Hydralada is second nature to many operators. Using powerful hydraulic chainsaws to prune the trees makes this operation so much easier and quicker. At harvest time, the Hydralada picking bag enables the pickers to accumulate significant volumes of fruit without bruising, bringing it safely back down to the bins on the ground.

Hydralada have now introduced a new ‘Adjustable Wide Track’ option for the popular Maxi Series of models. The `chassis footprint’ of these new machines is the same as a normal model which means transportation and operation in confined areas remains exactly the same as a standard machine. For operating on steeper slopes, the drive wheel legs can be extended to 3.20m OAW

which further improves the machine’s stability. This results in a machine with the features operators have become accustomed to, but with an increased margin of safety.

New technologies from Hydralada suppliers also help the quest for efficiency, the latest being the introduction of EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) onto the Kohler engines which is now optional on Hydralada Machines. This new system eliminates the carburettor and improves the efficiency of the engine to deliver growers significant improvements in fuel economy. In addition, these engines start much easier, and run smoother.

For growers with orchards on steeper hills and with terraces, Hydralada is introducing a completely new range of self levelling, swivel base machines. These are available with lift heights ranging from 6 metres through to 12.5 metres. With powerful diesel engines and four wheel drive, these machines provide access to problematic areas in complete safety. Ideal for terraced orchards.

Mechanisation offers the tools to meet the objectives of increasing efficiency and controlling cost, not to forget the constant challenge of producing top quality fruit. At the same time, safety is of paramount importance meaning the introduction of both safer and more efficient machinery is essential. Developments like this will keep Hydralada in the forefront as an important supplier to the avocado industry well into the foreseeable future.

Proven reliability, retained resale value, along with high productivity, ensures the Hydralada brand of equipment is your best investment.

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May field days report NZAGA Grower Reps and I visited orchards and more than 300 interested growers in Te Puke, Katikati, Whangarei, South Auckland and Far North in May, and Gisborne in July.

Specific characteristics of the host orchards such as new cultivars and pruning techniques were included in the discussions. The field days were a good opportunity to update the industry on our current projects and to introduce the R&D programme that was approved by the Board in May. Te Puke – Ron & Shirley Bailey’s orchard and Ian Shultz’ orchard Here we looked at trees involved in the cultivar trial, also the gene block, and some new pruning techniques similar to Allan Hedge’s method. We also saw a very clear example of the pollenizer effect with noticeably more fruit on the sides of Hass trees adjacent to a row of pollenizers. We later jumped the fence into the Schultz orchard. Ian Schultz is pruning his trees on an annual basis and is using Sunny to try to control the excess vigour of the trees. The trees look small for their age, and he is satisfied with this method. Ian also has a horizontal frost fan that he has just moved from his kiwifruit orchard to the lower part of his avocado orchard (see image on opposite page).

To book advertising space in the next issue of Avoscene please contact Rose Hodges.

Booking deadline for next issue is September 27th, 2013.

Contact Rose on 07 928 3043 or email rose@thesun.co.nz

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Katikati – John & Cindy Cotterell’s orchard and Kim Crocker’s orchard John, along with Mike Dillon (pruning contractor of the orchard), explained what their pruning strategy for the orchard has been in recent years. The trees are now at 11x11m spacing, even at this spacing the trees had grown

enough to be overcrowded with much shading at the bottom of the trees and most of the crop in the top. They started pruning, reducing drastically the size of the trees and the density of the main branches to open holes in the tree canopy.

They are now looking very healthy and have a good crop on them. Mike Dillon and Matt Leamy (overseer of the NZ Avocado pruning trial) offered us an explanation about how they understand that maintenance pruning can be done to achieve more consistent production while controlling the size of the trees, with the trees in the orchard as an example of the method. They think that opening holes in the canopy allows new branches to grow from inside the canopy to substitute the current bearing branches in coming seasons (see image on opposite page). We will keep in touch to follow the progress of this method.

We also saw very healthy Hass trees on Dusa rootstock planted in 2010 in a replant situation, with a considerable amount of fruit on them.

Towards the end of the morning we had a chance to see the bumble bee domiciles that David Pattemore of Plant and Food Research has been trialling this season.

At Kim Crocker’s orchard, Allan Hedge explained his pruning method to growers (see image below) which is explained on page 50 of the Summer 2012 issue of Avoscene. We then visited Kim’s Maluma block which has been having some trouble getting established due to a frost and wind prone site.

Whangarei – Les & Irene Blagrove’s orchard Les and Irene showed us the intense and dedicated work they have done to replant a very sick block. Apparently the block is on a poorly drained, relatively heavy soil. On top of this, the original Hass trees had been planted on Vista rootstock that is not very tolerant to tree decline.

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Inside this Issue

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Inside this issue • The Commo dity Levy for avocados • Strategy to improve qualityA • Roadmap to e on NZAG Updat exporte ts s r contract Projec Levy Research Commodity successful referendum

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Pruning at Kim Crocker’s orchard

Maluma at Peach’s orchard

Pruning at Cotterell’s orchard

Riversun’s Carmen

By Alvaro Vidiella NZ Avocado Scientist alvaro.vidella@nzavocado.co.nz

Consequently the whole block had very little production in the last years with the trees showing very intense symptoms of tree decline.

They have worked hard on drainage (they have laser drenched, deep ripped, humped and hollowed) and planted the trees on Dusa rootstock in early 2012. They have also treated the trees regularly with phosphorous acid to protect them against root rot fungi like Phytophthora. The young trees have grown very well and look extremely healthy at this point (see image below).

The block is part of a semi-commercial trial of Carmen and Maluma. Both cultivars are growing well. The Carmen trees are showing their expected higher vigour and their tendency to set an abundant autumn set. The Maluma trees are showing their reduced vigour and their tendency to grow on a single axis.

South Auckland – Graham & Kathy Cole’s orchard In South Auckland we had to seek refuge at the Waiau Pa Hall from heavy rain, meaning that unfortunately we had to postpone the visit to Graham and Kathy’s orchard. They have been working hard to grow healthy avocados on heavy soils. They are pioneers in hump and hollowing in the area. In each new planting they do, they raise the height of the humps to increase their effectiveness (see image below).

They use a plough to do the humps.

Far North – Ivan Stanisich’s orchard Thankfully Ivan had prepared a very neat auditorium in his shed with some hay bales, as again we were confronted with rain. We did however make it out to see the Maluma and Carmen plantings established on Zutano, Dusa, and Bounty rootstocks. The trees are doing relatively well, although the conditions of the soil are not ideal with what apparently seems to be some water logging prone soils at the bottom of the block. We finished our visit of the orchard at the Dusa planting that was established in 2007, one of the oldest commercial plantings of Dusa in the country.

These trees were planted quite close to each

other and are now looking a bit too crowded.

Overall, Ivan is quite satisfied with how these Dusa trees have performed and is now planning to carry out a thinning strategy.

Gisborne – Riversun Nurseries orchard and Malcolm Peach’s orchard In Gisborne we visited Riversun Nurseries’ new Maluma and Carmen planting and the Hass on different rootstocks (Duke 7, Dusa, Bounty and Zutano) planted at an intensive 5m x 3.5m. The trees are looking very healthy and they have a good crop load on them average of 70-80 fruit per tree. Geoff Thorpe is considering different strategies to control the size of the trees and to have a productive block without the expected adverse effects of overcrowding at a young tree age.

He has tried to guide the trees to a single axis by eliminating any dominant proleptic branches coming from the main trunk, favouring the development of sylleptic branches. He is also trying different amounts of Sunny® applied to the soil during summer.

The Hass planted on different rootstocks are looking good too. Even though it is not a replicated trial, it is a useful source of information about how these different rootstocks perform in a commercial situation side by side. In a wet spot, the Duke 7 (planted in the worst part of the spot) have died while the Dusa and Bounty beside them (in a relatively better position) are looking healthy.

The Maluma and the Carmen on this orchard are also looking very healthy. Again, the Carmen are currently setting relatively large amounts of autumn-set fruit (see image above). In a year like 2013 this could be an advantage since this fruit will mature in MayJune when the prices in the local market have been high. Also interesting is that this Carmen autumn-set fruit is setting and being retained at relatively low temperatures, with minimum temperatures below 5°C in many days of the past weeks. In this planting the Carmen are also showing their high vigour relative to Hass, and the Maluma is showing its low vigour

Ian Shultz’ frost fan

relative to Hass. While the Maluma seem to have plenty of flowering buds for this coming spring, Carmen seems to be doing most of its flowering now. It will be interesting to see what happens with fruit set in spring with these trees.

In the afternoon we visited Malcolm Peach’s Maluma and Carmen planting and had a discussion about the productivity of his old trees.

Gisborne is the original location for commercial avocado growing in New Zealand, but heavy soils have hindered production.

Malcolm’s orchard is not an exception, with heavy soils being a serious problem for him.

His old trees have been relatively productive in the past but now are showing some symptoms of tree decline. He has a new block of Hass on Dusa, and the trees are looking relatively healthy. The Carmen and Maluma are on Zutano rootstock and are looking relatively well. As in the previous sites, Carmen is growing vigorously and setting in autumn, and Maluma is showing less vigour than Hass and its typical single leader structure (see image on opposite page).

I would like to thank all the participants in this round of field days. It has been a real privilege for me to have access to work with you. We understand how busy everyone is and hope you feel your time was well invested. I enjoyed every visit and learned much from the discussions at each orchard.

Thank you to Ron and Shirley Bailey, Ian Schultz, John and Cindy Cotterell, Kim Crocker, Les and Irene Blagrove, Graham and Kathy Coles, Ivan Stanisich, Geoff Thorpe and Malcolm Peach for each kindly hosting us and growers at your property and for sharing your knowledge while explaining the characteristics of your orchards.

Also thanks to our guest speakers Allan Hedge, Mike Dillon and Matt Leamy for explaining their pruning methods in Katikati.

Finally I would like to thank all that attended the field days. Suggestions or comments about the field days are welcome, please contact me at alvaro.vidiella@nzavocado.co.nz 

Cole’s humped and hollowed site

39 Blagrove’s Dusa

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N U T R I O L O G Y *

*the science of growing

Dr Reuben Hofshi, Hofshi Foundation, California, USA. Dr Mary Lu Arpaia, University of California, Riverside, USA. Francisco Gardiazabal, GAMA, Quillota, Chile.

Francisco Mena, GAMA, Quillota, Chile.

Dr Grant Thorp, Plant & Food Research, New Zealand

Hillside avocado planting Is this an option for the New Zealand industry?

Figure 1. Hillside planting of Hass avocado trees in Chile.

Plant productivity is proportional to total intercepted light, while harvest index (the fraction of total annual growth allocated to the crop) is a measure of the proportion of the energy derived from that sunlight which is utilised to produce fruit.

These are key factors behind the success of modern orchard systems based on high-density, small-tree planting systems.

Avocado industries have barely begun to investigate this aspect of crop physiology, and New Zealand is no exception.

New high-density orchards promote early high yields. They also provide growers with the opportunity to manage trees and orchards better to produce consistent yields and thus minimise alternate bearing. While there has been good success with high-density planting systems with Hass on the hillsides of California and Chile, there has been limited adoption of this concept in New Zealand.

Land prices should be a strong driver for New Zealand avocado growers to consider hillside plantings. New Zealand avocado orchards have traditionally been planted on relatively flat land in the main

fruit-growing regions of the North Island, from Gisborne to Awanui. Avocado land in these regions is highly valued as it is also suitable for kiwifruit production.

In this article we discuss our experience with small-tree avocado orchards in hillside plantings in California and Chile, and ask the question “Are high-density hillside plantings of avocados an option for New Zealand growers?�

Californian and Chilean experiences In California and Chile most Hass avocados are planted on hillsides, mainly because cold air drains and settles in the land below, keeping the groves above in relative safety from a potential freeze (Figures 1, 2 & 3). However, it is not an easy task to grow large trees on hillsides and there are several major challenges.

Unlike flat land farming where deep soils, mechanisation, irrigation uniformity and easy canopy management, harvesting and accessibility are the norms, hillside plantings provide the opposite: irregular poor soils, poor hydraulic efficiency, difficult canopy management, poor accessibility, complicated harvesting and mechanisation of other farming operations.

Pickers must harvest fruit on hillsides by working from the steep ground with the aid of a picking-pole. Often when the height of the tree adjusted to the downhill slope is greater than 4 metres,

extension ladders are needed. This task requires highly agile and skilled labour, especially when accurate size picking is practised. The taller the tree, the more expertise is required. Additionally, skilled labour is in short supply and harvesting costs are steadily increasing. Pickers on tall trees under Californian conditions harvest an average of 1-2 bins (400800kg) per day, at an average cost to the grower of US$ 0.36 per kg. In Chile, a person picks 400kg per day at a cost of US$ 0.13 per kg.

Growers establishing new groves have the opportunity to select suitable sites on hillsides to optimise efficiencies when the trees come into production. Aspect and steepness are the two most important variables. Slopes facing towards the sun will be warmer and more productive than slopes facing away from the sun.

In California, this means that southfacing slopes have a greater potential to be more productive than north-facing slopes. In New Zealand and Chile, slopes facing north would be more productive than south-facing slopes. In California, these south-facing slopes are also more protected from dry, north-easterly Santa Ana winds that can be devastating to avocados. Since the coastal and inland hills of southern California are highly eroded, there is seldom a tract of land with uniform soils or that faces entirely in one direction. Many slopes range from slightly steep to very steep. Other 41

Hillside Planting Continued

Figure 2. Example of hillside plantings of avocado trees in California, with Reed trees at high-density planting distances (foreground) and Hass trees at standard spacing (middle-distance).

than north-facing slopes, where organic matter decomposition rates are moderate, many hillside soils in southern California contain less than 1% organic matter, concentrated mainly in the upper 15cm of the topsoil. In Chile, the situation is similar, but it is the north-facing slopes that have very low organic matter, and this is also usually within the first 10-15cm of the topsoil. New Zealand avocado soils typically have more than 7% organic matter.

Irrigation system distribution uniformity (DU) is a very important part of efficient farming and is of critical importance on hillsides. It is difficult to accomplish an efficient DU (over 90%) on hillsides, although with the advent of pressure-compensating emitters, things have greatly improved. The DU in hillside groves ranges between 70-85% and even lower, especially in systems that were poorly designed or are not sufficiently maintained.

A key issue in developing low operational-cost hillside plantings in Chile and California is a well-designed roading system that permits pickers to walk short distances to deliver the fruit, and also helps to drain rainwater to avoid erosion problems (Figure 1).

If it is necessary to spray avocado trees on steep hillsides, efficient application of spray materials can also be challenging.

In California and Chile, applications of pesticide sprays are often made by helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft.

Even with these difficulties in producing avocados on hillsides, there are some very successful hillside orchards in California and Chile (Hofshi 2005; Gardiazabal & Mena 2011). The key to the success of these orchards has been the adoption of 42

small-tree, high-density planting systems.

Comparison of planting systems for hillside plantings Growers have a range of options for planting distances and layouts when establishing new avocado orchards. Here we examine the three types of planting systems usually employed on hillside orchards in California and Chile. For simplicity, we assume 100% of the ground is dedicated to Hass trees and does not allow for headlands, orchard tracks or polleniser trees (Table 1).

1. Regular large tree, low-density planting system of 7m x 7m with 204 trees/ha. Trees are allowed to grow with minimal or no pruning. Crop accumulation is slow because of the wide spacing. At some stage (7-10 years after planting), trees may be removed in a diagonal fashion to avoid overcrowding so that remaining trees are left at 9 x 10m spacing with 111 trees/ha, or otherwise the trees are heavily pruned e.g. staghorned or cut back to the stump (Hofshi et al. 2010). Low density planting systems are the least suitable for hillside plantings, although improvements are possible if a “selective limb removal� pruning programme is employed to maintain trees at 4.0 m tall (Thorp & Stowell 2001). However, ladders are still needed for harvesting fruit. Fruit harvesting can become quite costly if multiple size-picks are made.

2. The hedgerow planting system is an attractive alternative to large free-standing trees, especially when mechanical pruning is possible, but mechanical pruning with large machinery is not feasible on hillside sites. In the hedgerow system, trees are normally planted at 3m x 6m

(556 trees/ha) along the contour with no consideration to orientation, following the slope in a north-south direction whenever possible, or just down the slope, as it is often done in Chile. Trees are pyramidal in shape, wide at the base and sloping at 20 degrees to form a curved edge at the top. Pruning is necessary starting in the second or third year. In Chile, where cool conditions restrict tree growth, first pruning in this system is usually done in the fifth or sixth year. For light efficiency, maximum tree height is 80% of the distance between rows.

3. High-density, small-tree planting systems are the easiest to manage in hillside plantings. Trees are planted in an equidistant configuration, with Hass being planted at 3m x 3m (1111 trees/ ha), while more upright varieties such as Lamb Hass, Maluma Hass and Reed are planted at 2.5m x 2.5m (1,600 trees/ ha). Actually, in Chile there are now quite a number of new hectares planted with Hass at 2.5m x 2.5m. Trees should be trained in the nursery to form a single leader, with subsequent selective pruning to eliminate large lateral branches, to produce free-standing trees in the form of a slender pyramid. In Chile, small nursery trees are used at planting to reduce the need for pruning and to promote the formation of less vigorous, sylleptic shoots. Trees are kept at 2-3m tall for Hass and 2m for more upright cultivars. This is the best system for hillside plantings, as harvesting costs are reduced because there is no need for ladder work or the use of elevated picking platforms.

There are obviously additional costs associated with each of the above planting

Figure 4. Hillside planting of Reed avocado trees in the Far North of New Zealand.

systems. With more trees planted per ha, the cost of purchasing trees will be much greater. However, this is quickly compensated for with increased cash flow from early production from high-density plantings. In Chile today there are trials with Hass at 1.25m x 1.25m, looking to cover the total initial investment cost with the first production. Pruning costs would be expected to be higher with hedgerows and high-density systems than with lowdensity systems with no pruning. In reality, this difference is not great, as each round of pruning should require just one or two cuts per tree; a small crew can prune large areas in a relatively short time especially if the trees are kept small and all parts of the canopy are reachable from the ground without the need for ladders and extension tools.

Older avocado groves in California were planted at low densities with planting distances similar to those used in most current plantings in New Zealand. The trees fill in their allocated space over time and when crowding occurs, the trees are either heavily pruned or thinned.

With small-tree, high-density planting systems, more attention is paid to the early development of the trees’ fruiting framework. With a few selective pruning interventions, trees are maintained at less than 3.0 m high. With this approach, pruning requirements are minimal, there is no need for tree thinning, and fruit harvests are easier.

High-density planting systems with small trees have the potential to increase the amount of light harvested by the trees and the efficiency with which this is converted into fruit and profitable yields.

With smaller trees there is less structural wood so there is more energy available

for the production of fruit. Furthermore, by careful early tree management it is possible to train the trees into a slender pyramid form. This will ensure better light transmission within the canopy and support floral bud and fruit development through a greater portion of the canopy.

It is also important to remember that with high planting densities, yield per tree to achieve sustainable target yields per hectare is surprisingly low (Table 2). For example, at a 3m x 3m spacing (1111 trees per hectare), trees need to produce just 18 kg/tree to achieve 20t/ha. At the more traditional 7m x 7m spacing (204 trees per hectare), the larger trees need to produce 98kg/tree to achieve 20t/ha.

Results from high-density hillside plantings in Chile have been spectacular (Gardiazabal & Mena 2011). In one example, a 28.7ha orchard planted in January 2006 consistently produced around 21 t/ha each year from 2008 to 2012 (Table 3). A strict tree training and pruning regime was employed during the first year of growth at this orchard, with pruners taking care to select only sylleptic lateral shoots and remove dominant proleptic shoots to produce a slender pyramid tree shape (Thorp & Sedgley 1993). While in the right climate/ environment it is possible to achieve these early high yields from high-density plantings, a renewal pruning system is still needed to maintain these yields over the longer term.

Management of Hass trees in highdensity plantings can be problematic as growers tend to delay the removal of dominant side branches. Management of Reed and Maluma Hass trees is a much simpler option because these trees naturally produce a slender pyramid tree shape.

Hillside plantings – a new paradigm for New Zealand orchards?

Key objectives for avocado growers are to produce more fruit and to produce these fruit at a lower cost. High-density plantings with small trees on less expensive hillside sites meet both these objectives and are worth consideration by New Zealand growers.

Land will be cheaper with hillside sites, so cost of establishment will be less than with flat-land sites with the same planting density. Productivity will be improved with hillside sites, by avoiding low-lying flat-land sites more likely to accumulate cold air and create frost pockets. On hillsides, small-tree, high-density orchards are preferable as picking costs will be less with all fruit harvested from the ground, and labour will require only a low level of expertise.

Growers in California and Chile have several years of experience with the establishment of small-tree high-density plantings on hillsides. There have been few examples of high-density hillside plantings in New Zealand, so growers here do not have this experience (Figure 4). The authors are confident that the high-density approach will work for New Zealand growers, although the ideal tree spacing may need to be adjusted based on the inherent tree vigour of trees grown under New Zealand conditions.

While scientists can contribute to and lead the debate, New Zealand growers have the opportunity to put these systems into practice themselves, to confirm the economic benefits in their own conditions, and to contribute to a paradigm shift in orchard management.

43

Hillside Planting

Figure 3. Dr Rueben Hofshi at a hillside planting of Hass avocado trees in California at 3m x 3m spacing.

Continued

Table 1. Comparison of three different planting systems for avocados.

Large trees High Density

Hedgerow

Small trees Low Density

Cropping surface 4 sides (until trees touch) plus top 2 sides plus top Tree Height Tallest (unpruned trees) Medium (depends on distance between rows)

Tree thinning costs Yes No Pruning costs Minimal (low branches only) Severe (every 3 years)

Planting orientation Contour North-south preferred

No. of trees per ha Least Medium Spraying for pests and foliar nutrition High cost, requires helicopter in most Medium, helicopter and some ground

cases when trees are mature application depending on slope Productivity lost None till shading occurs Loss occurs every 3rd year when one side

severely pruned Harvest costs High Medium Harvest equipment required (picking Most intensive Medium platforms, ladders and picking poles) Worker efficiency Low Medium Early production (on per ha basis) Least Medium Rejuvenation strategy Stump trees: keep same trees forever Side replacement every 3 years Trees position relative to the sun Best during early years Only if land contour permits N-S planting Exposed canopy surface area Best during early years, Medium

then worse when crowded Pathways for bees Good in early years Medium Ease of harvesting Easy, as long as trees remain Difficult, lateral movement is blocked

relatively small Size-picking Accuracy Low Medium Cost of harvesting Highest Medium Table 2. Yield of avocado fruit required per tree (kg/tree) to achieve target yields per hectare at a range of planting distances suitable for hillside and flat-land growing sites.

Planting distance (m) Number of trees (per ha) Allocated space (m2)

Target Production (t/ha) 10 15 20 25 30

“Small trees” suitable for hillside sites with no machinery access required. Kg per tree 3x3 1111 9 9 5x5 400 25 25

14 38

18 23 27 50 63 75

“Hedgerow“ trees for medium density plantings on hillsides or flat land 3x6 5x8

556 250

18 40

“Large trees” for standard orchard layout requiring machinery access for harvests 7x7 204 49 9x10 111 90

18 40

27 60

36 80

45 54 100 120

49 74 98 123 147 90 135 180 225 270

4 sides plus top Smallest (depends on distance between trees) No Minimal (on-going selective limb removal) No specific orientation – equidistant Highest Ground application feasible None (high productivity from is young trees) Low None High Highest Tree replacement every 10+ years Best Best Always good Always easy to pick Most accurate Lowest

Table 3. Production (kg/ha) from a small-tree, high density Hass avocado orchard in Chile, planted at 3 x 3 m spacing (1,111 trees/ha) in summer 2006 (updated from Gardiazabal & Mena 2011).

2007

453

2008

18,263

2009

20,581

2010

23,911

2011

23,532

2012

14,800

Further reading Gardiazabal F and Mena F. 2011. The avocado industry in Chile and its evolution. California Avocado Society 2011 Yearbook 94: 52-69. http://www.avocadosource.com/CAS_Yearbooks/ CAS_94_2011/CAS_2011_V94_PG_052-068.pdf Hofshi R. 1999. High-Density Avocado Planting - An Argument for Replanting Trees. Subtropical Fruit News 7 (1): 4-7. http://www.avocadosource.com/papers/research_articles/hofshireuben1999.htm Hofshi R. 2004. Beyond yield: re-engineering the avocado. 2° Seminario Internacional de Paltos. 29 Septiembre – 1 Octubre, 2004. Sociedad Gardiazabal y Magdahl Ltda.Quillota, Chile. http://www. avocadosource.com/journals/2_seminario/2_seminario_hofshi_beyond_yield_eng.pdf Hofshi R. 2005. Planting systems on hillsides – a holistic approach. Presentation to New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers’ Conference, Rotorua. http://www.avocadosource.com/journals/ausnz/ausnz_2005/presentations/session9_hofshi_2005.pdf Hofshi R, Tapia M and Arpaia ML. 2010. Stump and topwork - a technique for rejuvenating mature avocado trees. California Avocado Society 2010 Yearbook 93: 51-71. http://www. avocadosource.com/cas_yearbooks/cas_93_2010/cas_2010_v93_pg_051-071.pdf

44

Thorp TG. 2000. High-density planting systems – the debate continues? Proceedings of Avocado Brainstorming ’99. (Eds. ML Arpaia and R Hofshi) California Avocado Commission and University of California, Riverside (Oct 27-28): 66-67. (http://www.avocadosource.com/journals/ brainstorming_1999/panel_3_canopy_management/brainstorming%2099_panel%203_thorp_ pages%2066-67.pdf) Thorp TG and Barnett AM. 2011. High density planting systems for Hass avocados. AvoScene, October: 36-37.

Thorp TG and Sedgley M. 1993. Architectural analysis of tree form in a range of avocado cultivars. Scientia Horticulturae 53: 85-98. http://www.avocadosource.com/journals/elsevier/ scientiahort_1993_53_85-98_thorp.pdf Thorp TG and Stowell B. 2001: Effect of pruning height and selective limb removal on yield of large Hass avocado trees. HortScience, 36 (4): 699-702. http://www.avocadosource.com/journals/ hortscience/hortsci_2001_36_4_pg_699-702.pdf Vidiella A 2012. Technical visit to Chile. Avoscene. October: 29-30.

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45

By A P Bradley, B Ag Science, Dip Management. Registered Consultant Member NZIPIM. tony@aaltd.co.nz

The economics of Uniconazole Background Recent research by Grochem (1) and NZAGA (2), into the use of uniconazole (active ingredient of Sunny®) has identified increases in fresh fruit harvest weights when the product is applied during fruit set.

Fruit weight has been reported to increase from between 18% (Grochem) and 4.3% (NZAGA). While there may be a range of benefits resulting from the use of Sunny, this article aims to report potential economic benefits including those as a result of increased harvesting productivity, identified

by Aongatete Avocados Limited (AAL).

This aspect was not investigated in the trials undertaken by Grochem or NZAGA. When applied to plants uniconazole inhibits the biosynthesis of gibberellins, a natural plant growth regulator. Reduction of gibberellin levels typically reduces vegetative growth with two main consequences: shorter branches and therefore smaller trees; and a higher allocation of resources to the development of reproductive organs (fruit).

Sunny® is relatively easy to apply with the correct equipment.

The application of uniconazole in avocado crops has become a widespread practice internationally. Sunny® was registered for use on avocados in New Zealand in August 2010.

A key element from research undertaken in New Zealand indicates timing of application and dilution rates are critical to the product’s success. To date, success in New Zealand has been measured and reported as increased fruit size.

During the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, AAL collected harvest data from orchards that had applied Sunny®. As with Grochem and NZAGA trials, AAL pickers also noted an observable increase in fruit size. During both picking seasons there was an immediate measurable lift in harvest productivity when harvesting treated trees compared with untreated trees. Analysis of picking day data identified an increase in the output rate of bins completed for each labor hour each day (kg of fruit per day per picker). That is assuming the picking rate per piece of fruit remained the same then the increase in the number of bins generated per labor hour per day was assumed to be attributed to increase size in fruit.

Potential increases in profitability can be estimated by extrapolating increased fruit weight, as found in the Grochem and NZAGA trials to date, in terms of commercial production., This report considers three potential benefits in the use of Sunny® as follows: 1) The impact of an increase in the individual fruit size as determined by weight.

46

Cost of Chemical Application

0.5% dilution /ha

Chemical ($1500/5 litre @ 400litres/ha @ 0.5% dilution)

0.75% dilution/ha

includes buffers and additional chemicals

$650

$975

Spraying Application (contractor plus calibration) ($125/hr@1.25hr/ha)

$156

$156

Total

$806

$1131

Gross benefit Additional export trays:Additional size profile Harvest cost savings Total gross benefit (1+2+3)

5%=100TE@ $15.00 +1*size profile 2000TE@$1.50/size 11cents/kg ($0.64/TE for 2000TE) Application at 0.5%

$1,500 $3,000 $1,280 $5,780

Net to bottom line:- additional income and savings per ha Per TE Per Kg

on untreated on untreated

$2.49/TE $0.30/kg

2) The impact of the increase yield per hectare.

3) Savings in on-orchard-costs as a result of improved yields as measured on both a per hectare and a per tray basis.

The following assumptions have been made in the analysis and conclusions: 1) Untreated fruit remains constant to the model.

2) Reject fruit as a percent of the yield remains constant across treatments.

3) The benefit from the product use is applicable to individual fruit.

4) Harvesting costs remain constant on a daily basis.

5) There is no increase in number of fruit being harvested, just the size.

6) Cost to pick is assumed at $2.45/export tray at 2000 tray equivalents/hectare (TE/ha) at 65% pack-out = 17 tonnes/ha fresh fruit weight 7) Costs to grow remain the same on a per hectare basis. (excluding the cost of uniconazole) 8) The average untreated fruit harvested is 2 tonnes/machine/day.

9) Harvesting fruit with Sunny® applied (treated) lifted daily harvesting yield by 30% or 0.6 tonnes (3).

10) Reduced average cost ($/bin, $/kg, $/ TE) as hours worked remain constant.

11) Costs remain constant on a per hectare basis and the increase in fruit weight is fully benefited at full price i.e. no picking cost.

12) Additional benefit on a per tray basis that is on a marginal benefit basis with cost/ benefits spread over the total crop.

Discussion Uniconazole is being applied at significantly higher rates and by ground based fertigation processes elsewhere in the world. The strategies and purposes for application vary when compared to the current use within New Zealand as do

$4,974 +16.6% +11%

the costs. In New Zealand the product is generally applied by fan blast sprayers and this increases the challenges of accurate applications as trees get larger and denser.

Tree age appears to be a factor in the success of the product with younger trees yielding bigger benefits than older mature trees.

Market restrictions apply where no MRL exists for a given market. Currently only Australia, New Zealand and Japan have MRLs. While there may be debate around the level of the benefit when measuring such a programme, the analysis indicates a financial benefit when measured on a per hectare basis using this product in New Zealand growing situations. It also indicates there is a range of factors to consider when using this product and in considering the benefits.

Ongoing tree management needs to consider the long term impact of additional crop yields in relation to nutritional needs, mineral depletion and replacement growth to carry the flowering cycle. Additional benefits, not currently measured or considered in this report, may include savings in tree pruning and any link between the product use and flower set. Similarly additional costs are not fully recognized and may include additional fertiliser with higher yields, tree stress, and market disadvantages.

Importantly growers using this product in commercial application must consider their timing, costs, water availability, and growth cycle and link it to their strategic objectives for cropping production.  References 1) Grochem field trials 05/11.

2) Vidiella, A., 2013. Learning about Sunny®(uniconazole) in NZ avocados. Avoscene, April issue, 44-46.

3) AAL Daily harvest sheets 2011, 2012.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and does not represent the views of NZAGA or AIC.

Reading your trees

S TA F F C O N TA C T S

A New Zealand Avocado Grower’s Guide

Below are the key tree characteristics as set out in your Reading Your Trees Guide to assess from at this time of year: • April to September: Flower buds, pages 6-8 • September: Roots, page 28 - 29 • September: Canopy density, pages 30-31 Once your trees have been assessed you will be ready to consider the suggested intervention strategies. At the bottom of each section in this guide there are a number of factors to consider to optimise your orchard management. You will need to determine which is the best option for your own situation – if in doubt, seek specialist advice.

Download the Reading Your Trees workbook from the industry website under Resources > and select Orchard Management Guidelines from the drop down box. This workbook complements the Reading Your Trees guide and allows you to record your assessments.

Jen Scoular

Glenys Parton

NZ Avocado Chief Executive Officer

Manager Projects

Develop and implement the industry strategy. jen.scoular@nzavocado.co.nz

Edwina Aitchison Personal Assistant to the CEO

Administrative support to the AGA Executive and the AIC Board; Conference and meeting organisation. Administration support for new germplasm. edwinaaitchison@nzavocado.co.nz

Dr Henry Pak Technical Manager

Quality systems; research & development; managing external research & development providers. henrypak@nzavocado.co.nz

Nici Kennerley Business Manager

Accounting functions and reporting of industry data. nici.kennerley@nzavocado.co.nz

Midge Munro Communications Manager

Implementing the communication strategy: promotions, stakeholder events and publications, industry website development, media liaison. midgemunro@nzavocado.co.nz

Bevan Jelley New Zealand Market

Identifying issues in local market supply chain and developing strategies to add value. bevan.jelley@nzavocado.co.nz

Assisting with current NZ Avocado 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

Bart Hofstee Research Technician

Assisting with current NZ Avocado research programmes. barthofstee@nzavocado.co.nz

Sheryl Wilson Office Administrator

Grower registration; AvoGreen administration; weekly reporting; crop estimation. sherylwilson@nzavocado.co.nz

Joanne Nunn Administration Assistant

Reception and general administration duties. jnunn@nzavocado.co.nz

Dr Alvaro Vidiella Scientist

Managing and implementing the NZ Avocado research programme. alvaro.vidiella@nzavocado.co.nz

NZ Avocado Office: 0800 AVOCADO

www.grochem.co.nz

47

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I Chairman’s Comment I

Time to get

By Ashby Whitehead NZAGA and AIC chairman alwhitehead@xtra.co.nz

serious about biosecurity On June 20 I attended my first Horticulture New Zealand product group meeting in Wellington.

Item number one on the agenda was Andrew Fenton announcing he was standing down as chair of HortNZ, effective as at the HortNZ AGM. I would like to give a big thank you to Andrew from the avocado industry for all his hard work over the past eight years.

There was also good discussion at this meeting over the future focus report, the objectives of the future focus project are: • To ensure that HortNZ is effectively representing growers on industry wide issues; • That the funds spent are for the benefit of growers and that the organisation is prepared and well positioned to best serve growers in the future.

Some of the key issues were: • The alignment of strategy between HortNZ and product groups • Clarity of roles • Reform of HortNZ governance structure • Building Hortnz staff capability • Improved communication between HortNZ and product groups.

The report was prepared by Deloittes in consultation with the 22 affiliated product groups and is leading to a fair bit of change in the way that HortNZ is governed and the way in which it interacts with the product groups in the future.

Government Industry Agreements (GIA)

Lois Ransom, GIA secretariat for the Government industry advisory, gave an update on the reasons For GIA: • To give better biosecurity outcomes • Joint decision-making and cost sharing • Heavier on partnership • Provide the contractual vehicle for

delivering specific biosecurity outcomes agreed by government and industry for readiness and/or response.

Lois also advised that the GIA deed would be ready for signing in August or September at the latest.

Parliament has already signed off legislation giving them the ability to tax individual growers to recoupe any money used for readiness or response from those that have not signed the deed. It was at that point in the presentation I heard a voice in my ear “No taxation without representation”.

This is one topic that isn’t going to go away. As growers I would like you all to give it some thought. At this year’s NZAGA and AIC AGM there will be a remit put forward by the Board to formalize our engagement in a consultation process with you that would facilitate a final decision on if we sign the GIA deed.

To learn more, the GIA website www. gia.org.nz is a good place to start. We will more than likely be doing a round of road shows dedicated to GIA if the aforementioned remit is supported, as this needs to be in consultation with growers as it will affect us all.

Barry O’Neil of Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH) gave an excellent presentation on the draft biosecurity operational agreement for Mediterranean oriental and Queensland fruit fly. This document was created for the kiwifruit industry but also has implications across all other sectors affected by fruit fly.

Biosecurity is one of the biggest issues our industry faces so let’s all start thinking about it as it will come at a cost to us whether we are sitting around the decision-making table or not.

Those were my high lights from my HortNZ meeting apart from having to spend an extra night in Wellington due to the storm - we are all very lucky that those winds didn’t hit the avocado growing regions as we would have been devastated.

Upcoming export season On a more positive note Avec is advising the Board that the upcoming export season is looking good for those growers with fruit. I would like to take this opportunity to ask growers that they support exporters in their endeavors to develop new markets.

While they may not be the highest returning markets they will become very valuable in the future as we look to our next biggest crop which the exporters say looks likely to be 2014-15 season.

With that in mind all the markets need to be developed sooner rather than later.

Nutritional Values 9-12 September The joint New Zealand and Australian Conference is on 9-12 September along with our Annual General Meeting.

We would love to see you all there and you will definitely get something out of the conference as it is for the benefit of growers to bring you up to speed with the latest in our industry.

The registration fee is a small investment to pay for a once in four year event (held in New Zealand only once every eight years) and it is not even the cost of one spray and is tax deductible - like the spray, so I urge you to call the NZ Avocado office on 0800 286 2236 to register for this not to be missed event. I hope to see you there. 

5

“A set price for packing regardless of volume picked per day, and an experienced picking gang offering a competitive rate per bin, means there are no hidden costs. Combined with a hands on thinking avocado manager makes DMS the favoured packer for our crop.�

Terry Ridder, Ongare Point Katikati

Lets talk.

John Emett, Avocado Client Service Manager Ph: 07 578 9107. Mob: 0274 769 087 Email: john.emett@dms4kiwi.co.nz www.dms4kiwi.co.nz

6

By Jen Scoular New Zealand Avocado CEO jen.scoular@nzavocado.co.nz

I CEO’s Comment I

Expect the unexpected I’m writing this as we head from London to Barcelona on a fabulous trip with my teenage daughters to revisit some of our favourite spots in Europe.

Having spent quite some time in London I have to mention the weather – it still dominates initial conversation in this country and it still disappoints. The day we arrived, the beginning of their summer, it was the same temperature as it was in Tauranga. Although warmer than Wellington the day my daughters flew out – Rebecca had to get out of Wellington the day of the polar storm – and we all spent 10 hours wondering what plan B was if they didn’t get out of New Zealand as expected. Plan B was not required but it does bring in that constant question about plans for our upcoming season – do we collectively as an industry have a plan B, are we well enough set up for the unexpected?

Exporter and packer contracts Under the roles and accountabilities of the Export Marketing Strategy, all exporter-grower and packer-grower contracts are checked by us to ensure they meet the requirements of the EMS. We are not required, and in fact it is not our role to check on behalf of growers the

commercial aspects of these contracts, as they are contracts between the grower and their export and packer partner; however, I will remind you again that as growers you do need to ensure that the contract you sign does meet your needs. It should set out the terms and conditions you are prepared to accept for your avocados.

We set out exporter and packer contract roadmaps in Avoscene articles – see highlights on the following page – and I do encourage you to properly read your contract, and our suggestions, and talk to your contracting party, your exporter and your packer about the roles and accountabilities under the contract.

The exporter-grower contract should inform you about the marketing plan for the current season, with indication of a plan B if things change, and should provide you with confidence that market development is also looking out more than one season.

Avocados abroad I have been impressed with the amount of ready to eat avocados that we’ve seen available in London and Paris. Avocados are being sourced from Peru, Kenya and South Africa, and the majority of avocados I have seen are Hass or Hasslike, and are being sold ready to eat, or at least already colouring. We had one disappointment in a perfectly coloured Hass which was hard as nails inside – perhaps picked at a low maturity – another reminder for us in New Zealand

not to give the consumer that poor taste experience by picking before it has reached the 23 or 24 dry matter maturity.

Marks and Spencer, a favourite food hall of mine, offered avocados from Peru and South Africa; the Peruvian ones were bigger, but only a medium in New Zealand size terms, and looked great. The South African ones were offered in a two pack, small, and quite a mix of ripeness, at least from a colour perspective.

Down Portobello Road when the antiques markets segues into a produce market, they were offering bowls of produce for two pounds, with a variety of mixtures in the bowls, but the ones I was interested in were the bowls with three or four avocados plus tomatoes and lemons or limes. I’m sure there was garlic at the bottom too - an innovative way to sell guacamole all ready to go. We were there at the end of the day so I hope the price reflected an attempt to clear stock rather than being the standard price, because for seven or eight pieces of fruit it would not have left much return for the grower.

The store minder didn’t know where the avocados came from, but guessed they were Kenyan.

Sandwiches available around the city all offered avocados in some form, with a noticeably higher price for those with avocado. Mostly only chicken and avocado though, of the range I saw.

While in Paris, I had lunch with the Trade Commissioner, a former colleague.

Continued...

7

Continued...

Ariane has worked in the beauty product and pharmaceutical environment and sees a lot of interest in avocado as an ingredient, and recently organised a food event where avocado oil was hugely popular, but she says it is hard to find avocado oil in Paris. She is interested to hear more about avocado powder being commercialised

by The Grove.

Avocado partnered with perfectly ripe cherry tomatoes and soft, smelly French cheese on warm, just baked crusty French bread tasted, as you can imagine, simply divine.

Growers’ conference Back at home, the team continue the huge effort preparing the Growers’ Conference – Nutritional Values.

This is your conference, and we thank those who have registered to date, and encourage strongly far more of you to commit to attending. The range of speakers is very impressive – and the more audience we have to help debate some of the information or science being presented, the better and more quickly we all learn how to maximise returns from avocados by producing more, and producing more consistently.

As an industry we all need to find solutions. Surely a good start is to make sure we are all up to date with the latest ideas, techniques and methods being tried and tested in NZ and around the world. I will be seriously disappointed if we don’t get a great turn-out at the conference.

I do believe that as an industry we need to leverage and improve our collective knowledge to beat our major challenge of irregular bearing. Equally importantly, we need to stand up together and raise the visibility of the industry, so that external funding and support is enhanced.

I’m not one for half-heartedness. Come on, support your industry, get on-line and register. Commit yourself now so we can plan for the right number of delegates and better ensure you have a terrific few days in the Bay. I look forward to seeing you there. 

8

Roadmap to packer contracts highlights Avoscene issue Winter 2012 p23

• How and when will I be paid, through a pool or on consignment?

• What costs will be deducted from me for handling my Class 2 and 3 fruit?

• I have ownership of my fruit until – the packer purchases my fruit, the fruit is sold to a processor, the fruit is transferred to another industry party?

• Who will be responsible for selling my Class 2 fruit?

• Through what channel will this fruit be sold and to who?

• How will my class 3 fruit be disposed of?

• Has the packer secured insurance for my Class 2 and 3 fruit? If yes, what insurance is in place?

• Who covers the cost of in-market insurance or quality claims?

Roadmap to exporter contracts highlights Avoscene issue April 2013 p29

• Am I part of a pool and how do the polo rules apply to my fruit?

• What percentage of growers in my pool are applying a ‘best practice’ fungicide spray programme? Is this fruit being tracked to see if they perform better?

• What are you as my exporters doing to develop markets for expected high volumes in the future. How is the marketing paid for - a separate charge on my pool or paid from exporter commission?

• Who is accountable for my fruit along the supply chain?

• How does the pool treat fruit shipped but not sold?

• Will you know how much fruit has been shipped and not sold and why? Will this be reported to me?

• What insurance cover is provided for my fruit?

• What happens to fruit with residue levels over the limit?

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

I Exporters’ Comment I

New season approaches It troubles me that these articles I write for the Avoscene are becoming repetitive on key topics: crop estimation, crop flow by exporter and grower commitment.

It’s starting to feel like a soapbox session and I wonder who actually reads the content, I hope some do as these fundamentals of export will make the difference between success and failure in this industry.

The 2013 season is unique Fr o m : approachingMidge Munro To : compared to K ym when any previous season I Su b j e c t : Avoscene canD a recall. t e : F riday, 1 9 July 201 3 3:07:50 p.m.

At t a c h m e n t s :

Firstly there is a major swing to coordinated marketing with the vast majority of the New Zealand crop in the management control of two export entities into Australia and one into all other markets. The ability to flow and manage crop flow has never been better and there are now no credible excuses for any parties overloading a marketplace unnecessarily.

This season, crop estimation becomes even more critical as the overs and unders on volume are going to have a larger effect on a smaller number of players. Crop estimates from packers are consolidated by an industry working group and separately provided by exporters and consolidated into an export flow plan. The first exporter flow plan has come in at 2.7 million trays of export verses 2.6 million in the second Industry Crop Estimate. 2.6 million trays is enough volume to get into trouble

with flows into Australia and careful management is required.

Growers please help us manage this crop by committing to an exporter in good time for the planning and estimation of crop to be facilitated with some chance of accuracy.

In 2013, as never before our industry is well prepared to co-ordinate exporting and gain the best OGR result possible in a good volume season. The Australian market shows all signs of holding excellent value and Japan is developing nicely with more sophisticated ripe fruit programs. On paper we have more demand than supply and exporters are forecasting the season will be a good one. One reservation here though; if we don’t flow the crop well and the crop estimates are wrong we can still severely depreciate this opportunity. There you go, back on the same soapbox… 

image001 .png

Midge Munro Communications Manager T +64 7 571 6147 F +64 7 571 6145 M +64 21 275 3331 E mmunro@nzavocado.co.nz 0800 AVOCADO

Level 5 Harrington House 32 Harington Street Tauranga 3110 PO Box 13267 TAURANGA 3141

9

By Glen Dunseath Business & Marketing Manager Zeafruit glen@zeafruit.co.nz

I Local Marketers’ Comment I

Group considers local market issues With new season packing underway for the 2013-14 season there are a couple of key points that have been up for discussion amongst the local market working group during the last eight to ten weeks.

For those of you not familiar with the local market group, it is simple - driven

by NZ Avocado and facilitated by Bevan Jelley. A working group has been set up with its core task to focus on the domestic market.

The group includes a good spread of the local marketers, and a smaller number of packers. The key aims for the group have been driven by the key factors raised during the NZ Avocado mid and end of season grower roadshows around the regions - and in particular by the need to get a better level of professionalism into the domestic market.

The group has met twice with key points of discussion highlighting the following points as key industry issues for the domestic market: 1. Early season maturity levels 2. Crop flow forecasting

Early season maturity has been a significant issue within the local market during the last few seasons and it has been a well discussed point within this group.

Early season dry matter requirements are clear and the group has been very clear about the need for marketers to work with their suppliers and packers on this problem area.

Fruit should not be getting picked or packed without independent testing and passes certified - it is a key time for the industry at all levels as poor eating experiences could reduce further purchases as the season progresses.

On a positive note we have yet to have highlighted a significant breach of these standards - apart from a small volume of orchard direct to independent retail supply at about 15% dry matter direct from a BOP grower!

Crop flow forecasting was tabled as a potential method of understanding incoming volumes for the domestic market - no different to the planning utilised for export.

The aim is that marketers and packers table six week forecasts which are consolidated for the group to view and discuss - although never a 100% accurate, it is the starting point for some

crop management planning and will potentially reduce the effects of the peaks and troughs in supply that the industry is noted for.

Whilst some of the mid-season activity is beyond local market control due to export picking and packing there is still significant benefit to undertaking this activity.

As the season develops, actual packing data will be compared with the original forecasts - it was pleasing to note that all participants invited to submit forecasts did so, in four to six weeks’ time we will see how accurate the original forecast was.

Market Outlook Current demand is very good based upon limited volume entering the market and values are holding well, the next four to six weeks look to be similar based upon forecasted packing volumes There is a considerable amount of work being done within the retail programmes targeting understanding of ripened fruit, usage, and information. The development of ready to eat programmes remains a significant challenge to the domestic avocado industry and if successful a step that offers considerable growth opportunity to maximise the demand and value for local market fruit.  11

2013 NZ Avocado Growers’ Association Inc. and Avocado Industry Council Ltd

Annual General Meeting

Tuesday 10 September 2013 3:30pm-6.00pm ASB Arena Baypark, Tauranga

Look out for an AGM pack in your letterbox early August – this includes voting information and the 2013 NZAGA and AIC annual report.

The AGM is for members of NZ Avocado Growers’ Association Inc.. Other industry participants are welcome but do not have speaking or voting rights.

This year’s AGM is being held during the New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers’ Conference so make a day or three of it and register for the conference at www.avocadoconference.co.nz. Please note: if you are not a conference delegate, you are still eligible to attend the AGM. Registration for the AGM is essential, please contact Jo at the NZ Avocado office via email jnunn@nzavocado.co.nz or call 0800 286 2236 by 23 August, 2013.

Registration and afternoon tea from 3:30pm.

AGM to commence 4:00pm sharp.

ThermoMax FROST PROTECTION - Protection to – 2 C - Easy to spray on - Can be applied via fertigation - Effective for three weeks - Internal warming of up to 2 degrees

Sprayed and Unsprayed after a –2C frost in BOP

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www.bdmax.co.nz

12

By Martin Munro Chairman, NZ Organic Avocado Growers Inc martin.jane.munro@gmail.com

I Organic growers’ comment I

Unlocking the chamber of organic secrets

Winter greetings to all.

NZOAGI has been kept busy with its monthly Executive meetings during the last three months – we have been holding these regularly to reestablish the group and our objectives.

NZOAGI news Our current projects include the NZOAGI Annual General Meeting and field day (3 August), and we are putting together a working group to help us to bring together the problems, practices, ideas, needs and solutions of organic growers. If you have ideas you would like to chat about, please give me a call.

We are looking forward to the conference coming up in September and are pleased that Michelle Glogau, the CEO of BioGro New Zealand, will be there to deliver a presentation on the trends and potential for organic products.

Executive members will be available at the conference and will be identifiable by our black and green polos with the NZOAGI logo on. We are happy to speak to anyone who would like to know more about organics.

We would like to encourage new interested growers to join us. A membership form can be found on the NZ Avocado industry website - http:// industry.nzavocado.co.nz/industry/nz_

organic_avocado_growers_inc.csn The NZOAGI Executive has recently approved a change to our rules, to allow for associate members. This will enable individuals who are not organic avocado growers but are in the avocado industry (for example consultants, marketers etc) to join us and learn about growing avocados organically.

My orchard I, along with my wife Jane, have been farming organically in Tauranga since 1986. We have 15 acres, with the orchard of 300 trees covering half of this.

The variety is predominantly Hass and we have Fuerte pollinators. The age of the trees ranges from 3 to 26 years.

Our orchard is a regular cropper, although, like many orchards, the volumes do vary. In saying that, we are never devoid of fruit in the off years – we always have a crop worth doing something with. For the coming season, the crop is looking good - well up on last season’s.

Recent events Life on our orchard is always busy and we enjoy the many visitors we receive.

In May, NZ Avocado scientist Alvaro Vidiella and Manager of Projects Glenys Parton stopped by.

Alvaro was impressed by the tree health, crop size and how the orchard had coped with the summer drought, especially with us having no irrigation.

The main factor that puzzled him was that my management plan allows for minimal nitrogen input, pretty well zilch at 13kg per hectare in a natural form, yet my leaf test showed that the nitrogen level is 2.35% which according to Alvaro is above the 1.6% minimum recommended as desireable in international literature.

Levels of nitrogen have been stable at

this current level during the last five years.

In early June we hosted a group of 15 teenagers on a Rotary youth exchange from Europe and South America.

Tauranga Sunrise Rotary Club brought them to our place to show them a slice of the New Zealand horticulture industry. The youngsters were fascinated, to the point where one young man was eating anything he could lay his hands on! Just as well we are organic and spray free, so one can do that sort of thing.

My annual soil and leaf testing was carried out in April by soil scientist Philip Barlow (Bio Soil and Crop Limited) who I have worked with for more than five years. He prescribed my fertiliser programme for the coming year, with the main ingredients in the mix being sulphate of potash, boronate 32, fish meal and pelletised Peruvian sea bird guano. This was hand-spread (with gloves on!) mid-June, between rain showers, around each tree from drip line to trunk – 4kg on average per tree.

My current soil ph is 6.1, which is the lowest it has ever been. I believe my trees are enjoying it.

Within my management programme I carry out AvoGreen pest monitoring to satisfy export license requirements, but essentially I am spray free. Leafroller damage of late has been minimal, but with the dry summer, thrips are a challenge, so will have to visit the chamber of organic secrets for a stronger spell to cast on them.

Comments on my article are welcome and for growers interested in planting for organic production or joining NZOAG Inc., I can be contacted by email martin.jane.munro@gmail.com or phone 07 5480329.

For those in Northland, please email Mike Crum mpcjcrum@xtra.co.nz  13

t

sa

u ee

S

Regional R REST OF NZ

By David French

We are now well into winter and there is not long to go until our joint conference with Australia.

This is an event which is held every four years and alternates between here and Australia. This means New Zealand only hosts it once every eight years, and this year it is in Tauranga, so I would urge all growers to attend as you won’t see another one in New Zealand until 2021.

This year’s conference theme is Nutrition, both of the trees and the nutritional value of the fruit to the consumer.

As a prequel to this I was lucky enough to attend a four-day course in early June on sustainable agriculture. This was held in Pukekohe and was well supported by our local avocado growers, who comprised about 30% of the 35 attendees.

The course was organised by Guy Macindoe and conducted by Graham Sait of Australian company Nutri-Tech Solutions.

We learnt about the role of the different elements in the soil, and how they interact with each other and the microfauna in the soil. It was not a course about organics but there was a strong emphasis on working with nature not against it.

I feel I now have a better understanding of what makes the soil ‘tick’, and the nutritional requirements of my trees, and will be better equipped to understand what my soil and leaf test results mean.

The local growers who attended all seemed to get a lot out of it and I hope I will see you all at the conference next month. 

14

Roundups MID NORTH

News and views from your regional NZAGA Grower Representatives

By Roger Barber

A well-attended field day was held near Whangarei in mid-May on Les and Irene Blagrove’s orchard in Maungatapere. NZ Avocado scientist Alvaro Vidiella updated growers on the research projects currently underway, including new cultivar trials and the performance of Sunny in the district. Of particular interest was the establishment of a block comparing Carmen and Maluma with Hass on clonal rootstocks.

It was replanted from trees with a heavy mortality from phytophthora root rot after heavy ripping, tile drainage and hump and hollowing had been carried out.

The field day also gave growers the chance to commiserate on the poor set throughout the district this season. However this does give us the opportunity to make major structural changes to the canopy without sacrificing crop.

The industry pruning trials underway in each production district aim to reduce the current confusion amongst growers at the multitude of different approaches being used. These trials focus on two main aspects; optimum time of pruning (spring or autumn), and severity of pruning (comparing three levels of pruning.)

The trials use a traditional approach to demonstrate the response to these treatments under the supervision of arborist Matt Leamy and using local contractors. The key is to open the canopy for maximum light interception and promote fruit bud initiation.

It will be interesting to compare some of the newer systems under trial, such as that promoted by Allan Hedge, with the more traditional pruning that has evolved. Pruning is an area the industry collectively needs to apply innovation and experiment on, to find the optimal solutions. Come to the conference in September to add your view or experience to the mix.

Meanwhile, the mid North is experiencing a particularly cold winter spell, although at the time of writing no frosts had yet eventuated. Growers in this district will be praying for warmer spring air temperatures to promote fruit set, so the dismal crop set this season is not repeated. 

AT LARGE

By John Schnackenberg

It was rewarding to attend the BOP Young Grower of the Year dinner in late June and see the calibre of young growers who have entered the horticulture industry and are set to become the next generation of leaders. This year all the competitors were from the kiwifruit industry and we look forward to seeing an avocado grower amongst them some time soon.

The contestants all had to present a three minute speech on the use of social media as a marketing tool.

Twitter, tweeting, Facebook and Facebook stalking are all terms the younger set are most comfortable with and are every-day tools even for our young growers.

An example presented that demonstrated the power of new technologies used Facebook to recruit kiwifruit harvesters at short notice.

Speaking of new technologies - will light meters become the new tool in successful avocado growing?

Most avocado growers will have heard of Allan Hedge and his innovative, if not controversial, approach to pruning avocado trees. Allan has declined at this stage to participate in the pruning trials NZ Avocado is currently conducting, so it will be difficult to identify the success of his methods without conducting well-structured trials, although I understand he welcomes scrutiny of what he is doing and NZ Avocado remains in touch with Allan.

NZ Avocado included Allan as a presenter in a recent round of field days in the Bay of Plenty and a decent number of growers, including John Cotterell and I, were there to hear directly from him about his methods.

Unfortunately the wind was taken out of his sails when there was a distraction with respect to Allan’s use of light meters to determine where and what wood to prune. I guess when someone first raised a pole and strings above a young kiwifruit vine to improve the development of replacement canes there was many an armchair critic then too.

The distraction was certainly unhelpful and clearly impacted Allan’s presentation, leaving this observer with an incomplete understanding of what Allan is trying to achieve. Don’t give up on us Allan – I for one am not about to write off your innovative way of rejuvenating avocado trees. 

15

New Zealand Avocado Highlights Research update field days held NZAGA Grower Reps and Alvaro Vidiella visited orchards and more than 300 interested growers in Te Puke, Katikati, Whangarei, South Auckland and Far North in May, and Gisborne in July. Specific characteristics of the host orchards such as new cultivars and pruning techniques were included in the discussions. The field days were a good opportunity to update the industry on our current projects and to introduce the R&D programme that was approved by the Board in May. Thank you to Ron and Shirley Bailey, Ian Shultz, John and Cindy Cotterell, Kim Crocker, Les and Irene Blagrove, Graham and Kathy Coles, Ivan Stanisich, Geoff Thorpe and Malcolm Peach for each kindly hosting us and growers at your property.

Also thanks to our guest speakers: Allan Hedge, Mike Dillon and Matt Leamy.

Korean rural woman leaders learn about avocado industry

In May, Midge Munro presented the New Zealand avocado industry to a group of 23 high profile women involved in rural research and development, education, welfare improvement in rural community and communications in Korea. The women are industry leaders in the rural sector and also important consumers. The group were very interested to have Midge present the industry, as a woman leader in horticulture in New Zealand, and enjoyed a delicious avocado starter with their lunch and were educated on the benefits of avocados on health and beauty.

Connection with Korean community in Tauranga established

Bevan Jelley has established a connection with the Korean community living in Tauranga in an innovative and cost effective project to find out more about the Korean consumer and who our potential target may be for avocados in this market. We have hosted one successful meeting from which we learned about the social media Koreans use, where they like to shop for food, their eating habits, and what their current perceptions of avocados are. We will continue to meet with

this group regularly to build up a good knowledge of Korean consumers that will help inform promotional activity in this market.

Maturity monitoring underway Glenys Parton has been managing the maturity monitoring programme and as part of this has revamped the way we display this information on the industry website, as well as adding extra details on numbers of orchards tested and passed by Agfirst per region. To keep up to date with how maturities in your region are tracking, see: http://industry.nzavocado.co.nz/industry/ regional_maturity_monitoring.csn Local market crop flow forecasting process developed The local marketers forum has agreed to trial a crop flow forecasting process developed by NZ Avocado in an effort to coordinate and smooth out supply. Marketers will submit a six week forecast on a monthly basis which will be consolidated by NZ Avocado and sent back out to contributors. A conference call between all marketers and NZ Avocado will take place on a monthly basis to see how actuals and forecast are tracking.

Spectacular conference programme organised The NZ Avocado team has been coordinating a fantastic line up of speakers and activities for the joint New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers’ Conference being held 9-12 September in Tauranga. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from some of the world’s top avocado experts about optimising productivity on your orchard.

2013-14 industry crop estimate 2 2013-14 Season as at 26 June 2013

Trays

Total Crop

4,200,000

Export

2,600,000

Local market

1,600,000

Jen, Bevan and Midge with the group of Korean women living in Tauranga who are assisting with our understanding of the Korean consumer

Daesan rural woman leaders group at Mills Reef for presentations on the avocado and kiwifruit industries

17

I Growers’ comment I

Avogreen two years o Timing and consistency are vital to ensure pests are controlled under the AvoGreen programme, say those who train growers to monitor their crops.

Cathy Harris of CropCheck, Katikati, says failing to carry out regular checks can impact negatively on fruit quality.

“Some growers do a fantastic job but others don’t monitor as often as they should, which can reflect in their pack-out rate.”

Monitoring should be carried out every two weeks from January to May, or more often as pest numbers increase, and every three weeks for leafroller from August to December.

During winter months, monthly is advisable, to watch for increases of leafroller and six spotted mite, which have been increasing in severity over the last two to three years in the Bay of Plenty.

It’s three years since CropCheck was established to train growers and provide an orchard service using its own team of trained monitors, and Cathy says attitudes have changed in that time.

“Most growers are now really happy with AvoGreen but recently, when some orchards had little fruit to harvest, some growers pulled back on monitoring and spraying, which is understandable, but if pest levels get away on them, that may impact on their next crop.”

Stuart Pascoe, regional manager for Horticentre Northland, which trains growers to carry out their own pest monitoring, says orchardists have to commit to the programme.

“You can’t put it off and you can’t be distracted while doing it.”

Often when an orchard is run by a husband and wife team, one will take on responsibility for monitoring, he says. It is John Wilkinson of the Horticentre who carries out most of the training and Stuart says he’s excellent in the role, thanks to his methodical nature and science background.

“While we do sell the products to control pests, we put that to one side when teaching growers how to identify pests and make their own decisions, with our help if necessary, on what to do about what they find.”

Alaric Newbald of Katikati, who has been growing avocados for 30 years, used to be a ‘hard spray’ and a ‘calendar spray’ man but is now a supporter of the targeted sprays used in the AvoGreen programme.

“AvoGreen does make you more observant of what’s going on in the orchard. I do get monitors in on an irregular basis because they are better at finding thrips than I am. I have no problems finding leafroller or mites but thrips are harder to spot and they do so much damage.”

Alaric uses a ladder to check for insects higher up in the canopy as he believes inspection from the ground reveals only part of what’s happening.

18

on

By Elaine Fisher Journalist elaine@thesun.co.nz

“AvoGreen is a good system as you know you are killing what’s there because the sprays are targeted.”

The method of working out the threshold levels for spraying has changed and Alaric thinks it is now unnecessarily complicated as a slightly different calculation is required, separating out leaf and fruit infestations.

Jack Crozier manages 13 avocado orchards in the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel and employs monitors to carry out pest inspections.

“I did the monitoring course and it taught me to be more observant in the orchard. I think every grower should do the course, whether they will monitor their orchards or not.”

Jack admits to being distracted by other orchard tasks so decided monitoring was best left to experts who could concentrate fully on looking for insects.

“With modern targeted sprays you need to know what’s in the orchard so you can use the right sprays. I don’t think we are spraying less but the sprays are more targeted and one of the real benefits is in markets like Japan, as we can show we are spraying only when necessary. The old sprays used to kill everything.

“Even though I don’t do the monitoring I do have a better appreciation of what is going on in the orchard and with AvoGreen we have had a better pack-out rate.”

Diane Bryant-Jones of Houhora has been an advocate of the AvoGreen programme since 1999 when she was a monitor in the early trials.

“I think every grower should be using the programme,” says Diane, who now trains growers and others in the industry and also has a 4 canopy hectare avocado orchard.

Diane, who has a horticultural background, says she has learned a lot from the AvoGreen programme, and spraying only when required and the observational skills it helps growers develop are among its biggest benefits.

When AvoGreen was first introduced many growers were nervous about moving away from calendar spraying.

“They worried they might not see what harmful insects were in their orchards but most quickly overcame that concern. With AvoGreen the sprays are more effective because they are being applied at the optimum time and for specific pests, so while growers are not necessarily using less spray, it is more cost effective.

“Growers have the choice of when to spray, don’t have to spray as often and are not ending up with large infestations of insects because they are not taking out the beneficial insects as well as the unwanted ones.”

Growers should be encouraged to look for insect pests outside of the prescribed times, especially in the Far North where milder weather can mean pests are present even in winter.

“I would also like to see, in the long term, assessments extended to looking at the health of the tree overall, not just looking for insects.”

Diane recommends growers carry a magnifying glass whenever they are in their orchards to check out anything they see, even if they are not doing formal pest monitoring.

Sue Culham of Puripak Avocados Ltd also has a 6.2ha orchard East of Whangarei and has been using AvoGreen since the orchard began producing fruit for export in 2006.

“It’s a great programme which is auditable and fits back-to-back with the NZGAP systems we use. I like the fact that it gives growers the choice of when and what to spray. I think we have a higher export pack-out because we have less insect damage to our fruit thanks to Avogreen.”

Leafroller is the orchard’s biggest insect problem as far as fruit quality goes and in addition to AvoGreen monitoring, which Sue and a qualified staff member carry out, pheromone traps for light brown apple moth are placed in the orchard.

“I check the traps every Monday and if there are a number of male moths in them, then I know I’m likely to have a problem with leafroller. I’ve kept records so I can also see the times of year when leafrollers are likely to be at their worst.”

Not having to spray the whole orchards when insects are found is another advantage.

“Last year mites were a problem in just one sample block so we concentrated on that and stopped them spreading to the rest of the orchard.”

AvoGreen monitoring on the orchard goes from the bottom to the top of the trees thanks to the use of Hydraladas but Sue acknowledges not all orchardist have permanent access to the machines or would want to commit them to pest monitoring. However, she has found a difference in pest numbers at different levels in the canopy. In order to affect control, the spray unit is regularly calibrated to make sure spray is reaching all parts of the tree. The nine-year-old trees have also been reduced to 5.5m and the aim is to maintain that height.

Sue would like the opportunity to attend AvoGreen update training sessions to be informed of any new pests and to freshen up skills and believes such sessions should be voluntary, not compulsory for growers.

Janice Cates, who grows avocados on a 4ha orchard at Glenbervie in Northland, has been using AvoGreen monitoring officially for around four years. Before it became compulsory, she was monitoring her orchard for pests, so has found little difference in management practices.

“I used to do monitoring every two to three weeks anyway and think it is a good thing to keep a close eye on what is happening in the orchard and spray only when required.

“The AvoGreen programme also gives New Zealand avocados a slight edge in the international market, as we can say we spray according to best practice, and only when required.”

Ngaire Cliff of Whangarei says AvoGreen has been used for three years on the 64ha Cliff Orchard. “We have our own staff who are trained to do the monitoring.

Using it has made a difference to fruit quality, so there are cost benefits.”

The programme is very much a part of the routine orchard management and Ngaire is happy with how it works. 

19

ADVERTORIAL

20

By Elaine Fisher Journalist elaine@thesun.co.nz

I Market Focus I

Reduced Australia crop may increase market yield for New Zealand growers Many Australian avocado growers are facing a drop in fruit volumes from a third to a half of last season, and that’s potentially good news for their Trans-Tasman ‘cousins’.

New Zealand exporters are predicting the Australian market will be strong this season in terms of both volumes consumed and prices achieved.

Steve Trickett of Just Avocados says the signals coming out of Australia are for a reduced local crop and firmer market.

“It is quite clear that Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales growers (volumes) are well down and the expectation is that there will be strong demand for New Zealand fruit. I am quite confident the prospects are good for New Zealand avocados in Australia this season.

“The indications are that the season for our fruit will start a little earlier and may run later than normal.”

Steve says just how the marketing season in Australia will progress will be clearer in late July but already the main retailer Just Avocado works with has

indicated it will be looking for an import programme .

“That’s different from last year when there was retail chain push back against New Zealand fruit because of the projected volumes of Australian fruit available and the “Buy Australia” first policy. We are getting different signals this year.”

Jarrod Redwood of Whangarei, new avocado category manager for Freshmax, says the indications are promising for the new marketing season.

“We are going into the coming season with a very positive view on the market conditions. The current forecast for the Australian avocado industry is favourable for us and we envisage being able to capitalise on this again.

“We will also be continuing with some market development work outside of Australia. Any robust marketing programme has an element of market development to it, so we will be continuing to work with our customer base across other regions and build the profile and success of New Zealand avocado in some of these lesser developed markets.”

Chris Frost of JP Exports says the Australian customers the company works with are indicating they will want New Zealand avocados early and that demand will be strong.

“Last year some Australian supermarkets took only a small amount of New Zealand fruit and some took none at all. This year, due to the lack of crop in Western Australia, I believe that the Australian retail chains may accept more New Zealand fruit.

“JP Exports will endeavour to market at least 20 per cent of its supply to new and developing markets, outside of Australia, as part of an industry agreement, that all of the licenced exporters support.”

These markets include Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong and the Pacific Islands.

Newly formed avocado exporter AVOCO expects to hit the $50 million mark for this season’s earnings in Australia by the end of the harvest, which starts in late August.

Alistair Young, a director of AVOCO, says latest analysis of the potential harvest suggests there will be a better yield than usual, without it being a brilliant harvest.

“We were forecasting retail and wholesale sales in Australia of about $40 million when we launched AVOCO. However, the harvest predictions and updated market expectations should lead to it nearing the $50 million sales barrier for the 2013-14 season in Australia – which is about 20 per cent ahead of our initial expectations.”  21

I Avocentric I

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levant to orcharding After 25 years growing tomatoes in greenhouses Matthew and Helen Heller decided to switch ‘codes’ and become avocado orchardists.

“Operating greenhouses is almost as much a tie as milking cows because it’s a seven days a week operation and the plants and glasshouses need constant monitoring and attention,” says Matthew.

In 2007 the couple sold their two hectares of greenhouses at Bombay and bought a well-established 3.5ha avocado orchard at Ongare Point near Katikati.

Avocado growing was a deliberate choice.

“We wanted a crop we could manage ourselves without needing permanent staff and we wanted to grow something which didn’t require such intensive involvement,” says Matthew.

The fact that avocados don’t have to be picked all at once, and the length of their season, had particular appeal for the Hellers.

“In theory we can decide when to pick depending on market needs. The same fruit we could pick in September can be left on the tree until February if we choose.

“We feel that growers should work together with the marketers to achieve maximum returns for all growers, along with market development. Ideally local and export marketing should be combined to optimise the best returns for the fruit.

I am sure if a single pool was operated by the marketers, we would achieve higher returns for all growers,” Matthew says.

The orchard they purchased is long and narrow, running through a V-shaped gully between Ongare Point Road and Kauri Point Road, near the Tauranga Harbour.

Late on a July afternoon, as we walked the orchard, the trees on the Kauri Point (southern) side were bathed in sunlight, while those on the opposite slope were in shadow.

It’s an orchard of two halves and while it would appear logical that those on the colder, south-facing slope would be more prone to irregular bearing, Matthew says in fact they are the most consistent of the 350 trees.

“I think it is because they tend to flower

later and as a result pollination is better.”

The ages of the trees range from 12 to around 30 years and when the Hellers arrived the orchard had an almost unbroken canopy formed by very tall trees.

“There was no grass and all the fruit was at the top of the trees.”

The crop they inherited in 2007 was 18,000 trays.

“We made very little money from a 50 per cent pack-out due to fruit damage caused by wind rub because all the fruit was at the top of the trees. That volume of fruit was far too much for the trees.”

Although the trees had been well cared for in terms of nutrition, the Hellers decided they were too tall and in parts of the orchard, too close together.

“We took out about half the trees. On reflection maybe we removed too many, possibly we should have staghorned the older part of the orchard as taking the trees right out have left it quite gappy but we’ll never know now if we did the right thing or not.”

The height of the trees has been progressively reduced to around 6.5 metres and the aim is to create wellbalanced trees, open in the centre, with a canopy which extends down on all sides to just above the ground. This, together with good spraying, has increased the export pack-out to more than 85 per cent.

“We like to keep the ground beneath the trees clear of grass as I think it helps absorb heat, making the orchard warmer, but it is also important to have grass between the trees because if the grass isn’t growing, then you know you are not getting sunlight down to lower fruit.”

The orchard has produced a crop every year.

“In 2007 the production of 28 tonnes per hectare was way too much. In the last four years the orchard has averaged 18 tonnes and if we could do that every year I’d be happy.”

Matthew puts the orchard’s consistency in cropping down to annual pruning and not over-loading the trees with too much fruit. While growing tomatoes might not appear to have much in common with avocado orcharding, Matthew and Helen find the observational skills they developed while managing tomatoes are

By Elaine Fisher Journalist elaine@thesun.co.nz

useful when it comes to understanding avocados.

“In the greenhouses we worked out a fruit count per square metre and flower pruned to achieve that outcome without over-taxing the plants and I think the same is true of avocados.”

Flower pruning has been used on the orchard but annual structural pruning serves much the same purpose.

“I think it’s important to walk through your orchard frequently and observe what’s happening, looking out for any trees which don’t look happy, and then try to find the cause.”

Helen and Matthew are fans of the AvoGreen pest monitoring programme.

They self-monitor the orchard, which enables them to be informed of what pests are present and whether or not they pose a threat.

A helicopter is used to apply sprays when required. It’s a system which the couple believe gives better coverage, given the topography of their orchard, and is cost effective.

A standard avocado blend fertiliser is applied by hand to each tree, based on soil tests and recommendations from a consultant.

The orchard has irrigation, with water supplied from a bore and in last summer’s drought that proved a significant bonus, often irrigating more than 2000 litres per tree per week. There was also an irrigation frost protection system in the southern part of the orchard but Matthew has decommissioned it.

“Those trees had real root problems, caused I think by the soil being kept wet and cold.”

Despite his best efforts to save them, some of those trees have died and a small number of new varieties, including pollinators, have been planted.

Phytophthora injections are administered on a regular basis.

“We did try truck spraying but root tests showed that wasn’t working on mature trees, so we have gone back to injections.”

Matthew and Helen enjoy avocado growing. Even though they won’t get rich on their orchard, it does produce a good income and Matthew says there’s a lifestyle component that has a value over and beyond money.  23

By Elaine Fisher Journalist elaine@thesun.co.nz

Collaboration positive move for industry Greater collaboration this season among exporters is a positive move for the industry, says Ashby Whitehead the chair of NZ Avocado Growers’ Association and Avocado Industry Council.

“I think that exporters have taken on board the sentiment that growers showed after the low returning 2011-12 season.

They wanted to see more collaboration between exporters. This has started to happen and I believe that collaboration is a positive move from an industry perspective,” says Ashby.

In the 2011-12 season, New Zealand growers produced a record crop of six million trays but many also received a low return for their fruit. The oversupply of Australian market and some exporters failing to adhere to the voluntary flow plan to send 25 per cent of fruit to markets other than Australia, were among the reasons growers received around half what they had expected for their fruit, leading to calls for changes within the industry.

This season former marketing rivals have come together to form two new alliances to market New Zealand fruit, and indications are that other exporters may again collaborate in Japan, which should reduce in-market competition between exporters and result in improved returns for growers.

Such consolidation should result in more co-ordination of supply, and assist exporters in their efforts to develop new

markets too.

The alliances announced this season follow on from the success of the AVANZA model which has seen Primor Produce, Southern Produce (as the exclusive marketer of the Team Avocado Trust) and Just Avocados co-operate to sell New Zealand avocados under one brand in Asia.

That alliance still exists but Primor and Southern Produce have now formed The New Zealand Avocado Company Ltd (trading as AVOCO), a joint venture to export into Australia and Just Avocados Ltd and the NZ Avocado Marketing Ltd grower cooperative have a new partnership agreement to export and market avocados to Australia and the rest of the world. That announcement in June followed the formation of partnership between Just Avocados and Zeafruit for the distribution and sale of domestic grade fruit to a major retail chain.

Last season JP Exports and two other licenced exporters collaborated to export fruit to Japan under the NZAVO brand.

Chris Frost of JP Exports says: “We would like to and are willing to collaborate with other exporters in new and developing markets. It is essential for smaller exporters to work together in the Japanese market to achieve the critical mass needed to fill a container within six days and ship within seven, with the fruit size profile that is required.”

Chris says it is vital to develop new markets outside of Australia in order to ensure the future of the industry.

Jarrod Redwood, new avocado category manager for Freshmax, says the exporter was not involved in any formal collaboration last season.

“However we are always willing to

actively co-operate with other industry members,” says Jarrod.

AVOCO is the brand for the Primor and Southern Produce joint venture and Southern Produce director Alistair Young says the interests of the New Zealand avocado industry and its growers are best served by a unified entity that is focused totally on getting the best orchard-gate returns for growers.

“It is our belief that the way forward for the industry is to collaborate completely, as other primary industries have done successfully,” says Primor Produce director and general manager John Carroll.

“It’s the final piece in the marketing jigsaw for us. It marries all avocado export markets under a collaborative model for Southern Produce and Primor Produce. Growers have demanded we perform better as an export industry, and this is our response.”

AVOCO will represent the largest supply arrangement ex New Zealand into Australia. Under its new partnership, NZAML has entered into an agreement with Just Avocados for a minimum three year supply term whereby Just Avocados will perform the exporting function and marketing of the group’s volume to customer programmes in both Australia and the rest of the world.

“The industry will benefit from this consolidation both here at home as well as with the orderly placement of fruit in the export market place. This also reinforces the position of AVANZA over the next few years when disciplined development of new and emerging markets will be critical to successfully managing the projected increases in crop volume,” says Just Avocados managing director Andrew Darling.  25

Industry news Register now for the NZ and AU Avocado Growers’ Conference The fifth quadrennial New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers Conference is being held 9-12 September 2013 at the ASB Arena, Baypark, Tauranga.

If you want to increase your efficiency, productivity and results then do not miss Nutritional Values.

At this unique quadrennial event you will pick up advanced thinking on topical issues, network with other growers from New Zealand and Australia and arm yourself with information to improve your orchard business.

Register before 1 August for early bird rates and take advantage of the special rates for members of NZAGA and AIC (and Avocados Australia) and further discounts when registering a partner at the same time.

If you would like to register for the conference over the phone, Midge Munro and Jo Nunn are happy to assist, please call 0800 286 2236 or +64 7 571 6147 if calling from outside New Zealand.

Don’t miss this exciting event which is hosted in New Zealand only once every eight years.

For programme and speaker information go to www.avocadoconference.co.nz NZAGA AGM 10 September 2013 To be held 10 September, 4pm-6pm at the ASB Arena, Baypark, Tauranga during the Joint NZ & AU Avocado Growers’ Conference. All NZAGA members welcome regardless of if you are a delegate of the conference or not.

Registration for this event is essential – please contact 0800 286 2236 or 07 571 6147 or email jnunn@nzavocado.co.nz with your name and PPIN. Those who have registered for the conference and indicated during the registration process your intention to attend the AGM do not need to contact us again.

26

Export registration 2013-14 If you are planning to export your avocados this season then you need to register each of your orchard PPINs with Avocado Industry Council.

NZ Avocado is appealing to growers to register as soon as possible to help improve the accuracy of crop estimation. Accurate crop estimation aids marketers in developing effective supply arrangements with customers.

To complete the registration process you need to have following information available: • Your PPIN(s) and password(s) • The number of planted hectares of your orchard - the method for calculating this is outlined in the registration instructions found via the link below.

You must also be AvoGreen compliant to register for export. The online system links to your AvoGreen compliance details and will ask you to verify your details or alert you if there is an issue.

Export registration is completed online at https://secure.nzavocado.co.nz/ Those growers who are unable to register online can either seek assistance through their packhouse/exporter or can request a paper form to fill in from NZ Avocado which will attract an additional $30+GST administration fee as stipulated in the current Export Marketing Strategy (EMS).

Please call Sheryl Wilson 0800 286 2236 for assistance.

Maturity monitoring The Regional Maturity Monitoring page of the NZ Avocado website has been updated. To view the results go to http://industry.nzavocado.co.nz/ industry/regional_maturity_monitoring. csn Growers are reminded that industry best practice for domestic market maturity testing consists of a sample collection procedure as well as a testing procedure. All maturity tests must be

collected and verified by an independent third party 2013 Commodity Levy Order now in force Following the successful result of the 2012 Commodity Levy referendum, a new Commodity Levies Order for avocados came into force on 11 July, 2013.

As per the new Commodity Levies (Avocados) Order 2013, the new rates for the first levy year apply from 11 July 2013 and end on 30 April 2014.

The levy rates are as follows: 1/ For avocados grown and sold in New Zealand for consumption as fresh fruit • 3% of the selling price at the first point of sale 2/ For avocados grown in New Zealand and exported from New Zealand • 35 cents per tray equivalent (5.5kg) There are no levies on avocados grown in New Zealand and sold for processing.

The commodity levy provides funding predominantly for AGA management and governance, promotions, research and communications including Avoscene, AvoConnect and the industry website.

The Commodity Levy structure enables the organisation to have a strong grower voice and is important to maintaining grower influence over the future of the industry.

Food Residue Surveillance Programme NZ Avocado has been notified by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) that avocados will this year be included in the Food Residue Surveillance Programme (FRSP). From the period June 2013 to May 2014 they will be drawing random samples of avocados for residue testing. In particular they will be looking for residues of products that have been registered for use on avocados within the past 12 months. Specifically

this includes etoxazole (Paramite) and uniconazole (Sunny).

Please be aware that any fruit supplied to the local market could be sampled for residues as the fruit is purchased through commercial channels.

The FRSP allows MPI to: • monitor compliance in relation to new and existing food regulatory measures, • identify issues of potential importance to public health and safety, • monitor long-term trends in the levels of chemical hazards in food, • respond to issues of major community concern.

The results of the residue testing by crop are made public. The following has been extracted from the MPI website: “All the data collected through the FRSP is publicly available, although the producers, whose food products have been sampled, are not identified.

Unexpected or adverse results may be referred to officers within MPI, who decide if further action should be taken.

If the results indicate a high risk to consumers, then enforcement action may be recommended.”

For further information please see the following page on MPI’s website http:// www.foodsafety.govt.nz/policy-law/foodmonitoring-programmes/food-act-1981/frsp/ New supply and marketing partnership agreement between Just Avocados Ltd and NZ Avocado Marketing Ltd NZAML has entered into an agreement with Just Avocados for a minimum three year supply term whereby Just Avocados will perform the exporting and marketing of the group’s volume to customer programmes in both Australia and the rest of the world.

This arrangement is also complimented by the recent partnership established between Just Avocados and

Zeafruit for the distribution and sale of domestic grade fruit to a major retail chain.

Fresh Facts 2012 released ‘Fresh Facts’ is an annual document jointly published by Plant & Food Research and Horticulture New Zealand. The data booklet is a collection of industry measurements and financial figures from the New Zealand Horticulture Industry.

Download a copy from: http://www. freshfacts.co.nz/file/fresh-facts-2012.pdf Key facts relating to the avocado industry from the booklet: • Avocados listed as sixth largest horticultural export (in terms of FOB value) from New Zealand for 2012.

• Avocados are the third largest fresh fruit export from New Zealand behind kiwifruit and apples.

• Avocado oil had 1.8m FOB export value and 0.2m domestic value for 2012.

Joint-venture company – AVOCO, created to export into Australia Bay of Plenty-based Southern Produce Ltd and Auckland-based Primor Produce Ltd have put their avocado businesses together to create The New Zealand Avocado Company Ltd, which will trade as AVOCO. AVOCO will export avocados only.

Both companies will continue to operate their respective businesses in other fresh fruit products. All AVOCO exports into countries other than Australia will be handled through their longstanding AVANZA commercial arrangement.

Avocados stand out as fruit with potential to create meaningful export growth for New Zealand Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce released a new report on 13

June showing opportunities for further growth in the New Zealand fresh fruit sector, including into Asia.

The Coriolis Research report, Driving Growth in the Fresh Fruit Sector, says that New Zealand’s fruit exports are shifting towards Asia and away from traditional markets like Europe and North America.

“The report highlights that we can become a fruit bowl for Asia. Asian consumers prefer the sweetness and quality of New Zealand fruit and we are achieving considerable success there,” Mr Joyce says.

“New Zealand is sending fruit to more countries and there has also been a significant growth in the export value of fruit. Kiwifruit’s export value has almost doubled over the last decade, going from $567 million in 2002 to $1.043 billion in 2012.”

Industry comments in the report indicate that, while PSA has had a significant impact on the industry’s profitability, export value growth is likely to continue into the future when the impact of the disease has passed.

• The report highlights a number of potential directions for growth in the fresh fruit sector including new varieties, value-added products and new and emerging fruits.

• The report says that avocados, cherries and blueberries stand out as fruit that have the potential to create meaningful export growth. There are also opportunities to develop fruit extracts and ingredients for foodservice and nutraceuticals.

• Driving Growth in the Fresh Fruit Sector is part of a series of reports released under the Food & Beverage Information Project – the most comprehensive analysis of New Zealand’s food industry ever undertaken.

• The full report is available at http:// www.foodandbeverage.govt.nz/ 27

DUP0299 Avo Scene Ad-Kocide FP.indd 1

16/11/09 12:03:21 PM

ADVERTORIAL

Avocado ne Eastern Colombia welcomes Hass avocado plant Eastern Colombia’s first processing plant for fresh Hass avocados and Tahiti lemons has opened its doors in the Cauca Valley.

The plant comes with GlobalGAP certification and can process up to three containers of fruit a week, the Colombian Agriculture Institute (ICA) reported.

“This plant is very important for Colombian agricultural trade since Hass avocados are one of the most prioritized products for Colombian exports, mainly with the United States where the institute is working hard to achieve entrance of the product,” institute manager Teresita Beltrán Ospina said.

The eastern central region of Colombia produces a third of the nation’s Hass avocados with 1,832 planted Ha. The new plant is able to process 7.5 tons (MT) of fruit an hour, ICA said. It was built with the contribution of specialists from Mexico, Peru and Chile.

For 2013, Colombia hopes to produce 27,000 MT of Hass avocados and increase production to 62,000 by 2016.

Source: http://www.freshfruitportal.com/2013/07/04/ eastern-colombia-welcomes-hass-avocado-plant/ Mexico focuses on food safety to keep up avocado exports Mexico’s Michoacán state emphasized the importance last week of maintaining food safety standards as a measure to protect avocado exports, particularly with Japan.

This year the state exported 52,000 MT of avocado to the Asian nation and one of the most demanding markets in the world. To keep exports high, the Secretary of Agriculture (SAGARPA) announced the urgency of working hard on safety regulations.

State agriculture representative Antonio Guzmán Castañeda attributed current success on the Japanese market to investment in safety programs.

Within the next three years, the state hopes to increase avocado exports to Japan to 100,000 MT. Total avocado exports for July 2012 to July 2013 are estimated at 800,000 MT at a value of US$400 million.

To achieve the export goal, Michoacán will need more hectares of avocado certified for export. Only 24,000 hectares are currently approved for export, SAGARPA published.

An additional 53,000 hectares will need to be certified.

A government-organized meeting has been requested to 30

ews from the world bring together avocado producers, packers and state authorities to establish official standards for exportation in Mexico.

SAGARPA warned that problems such as surpassing maximum residue limits could negatively impact all producers across Mexico, emphasizing the importance of common standards.

Source: http://www.freshfruitportal. com/2013/07/01/mexico-focuseson-food-safety-to-keep-up-avocadoexports/?country=others US: Hass variety drives avocado category growth The US-based Hass Avocado Board (HAB) has found the variety it represents was a key driver for the avocado category in 2012, achieving US$1.4 billion in sales.

The board’s latest study, titled ‘Retail Sales Opportunity Analysis: Distribution and Sales of Greenskin and Hass Avocados’, found Hass account for 94% of retail avocado dollars and volume.

Most of the remaining avocados were Greenskins, accounting for around 5% of sales in the category, with contributions fluctuating less than one point during a three-year study.

“Hass avocados continue to be the predominant selling variety, driving category growth year-over-year,” Hass Avocado Board executive director Emiliano Escobedo said.

“The study shows that Hass avocados are in a favorable position with greater distribution and higher per-store averages of avocado sales, and accounted for $1.4 billion in retail dollars in 2012.”

The board found that with a similar selling price for both varieties, retailers who merchandised Hass avocados had significantly higher dollar sales. For 2012, the per-week retail dollar average of US$151 for the Hass variety was more than 10 times the US$13 average registered for Greenskins.

Hass avocados’ top three PLUs accounted

for 1.1 billion units while Greenskin’s top three PLUs amounted to 32.9 million units.”

Source: http://www.freshfruitportal. com/2013/06/05/u-s-hass-variety-drivesavocado-category-growth/?country=others Mexican scientists map avocado genome Scientists from Mexico’s National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity (Langebio) have successfully completed genome sequencing for a native variety of avocado, website Noticierotelevisa.esmas. com reported.

The story reported the project aimed to help breed new avocados with longer shelf life and stronger disease resistance.

“We have already finished the genetic mapping for the Mexican paper-skin avocado and are starting to work with about eight types of avocados,” researcher Alberto Estrella told the publication.

Another researcher, Luis Estrella, said a goal of the DNA sequencing was to assist in breeding avocados that didn’t grow as tall and therefore didn’t need as much water, allowing Mexican growers to stay competitive.

He added that 900 million genetic base pairs had been sequenced, among which adenine, thiamine and cytosine were found.

“We are finding some very interesting things in that proteins are involved in the avocado flesh being able to accumulate oil,” he was quoted as saying.

Langebio is based in Irapuato, Guanajuato state.

Source: http://www.freshfruitportal. com/2013/06/17/mexican-scientists-mapavocado-genome/?country=others Avocado industry take bruising with squeezers Researchers at University of Queensland Gatton are finding out who is to blame for bruised avocados in the supermarket.

Using shock watches and impact recording devices UQ PhD student Muhammad Sohail Mazhar tracked the impact on the fruit as they were taken to the stores.

He found they were arriving in store with very few bruises.

He is now looking to establish if potential customers squeezing or poking avocados to test their freshness are responsible for the bruising.

“A bruise in an avocado fruit can continue to grow and intensify for up to 96 hours,” Mr Mazhar said.

“This was established by using an MRI machine at The University of Queensland’s Centre for Advanced Imaging to nondestructively examine the bruised flesh over time within intact avocados.”

“The next stage of my doctorate will look carefully at shoppers’ and consumers’ contributions to bruising the avocado fruit in the retail store and at home and also into methods to reduce its occurring,” he said.

Professor Daryl Joyce, from UQ’s School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, believes that decision-aid tools and education initiatives to help shoppers choose fruit in the store may be the solution.

“Precise firmness-testing machines for avocados already exist in laboratories,” Prof Joyce said.

“If we could adapt such devices for use in supermarkets then it would mean that shoppers could learn how many days away the piece of fruit is from being ready to eat without them having to squeeze it.”

“A cost-effective firmness testing device combined with educating store staff, shoppers and consumers could well be the answer to bruise-free avocados,” he said.

Prof Joyce said the amount of bruising found in avocados was turning customers off them and damaging the industry.

Source: http://www.qt.com.au/news/ avocado-industry-takes-bruising-withsqueezers/1908235/ 31

Opotiki grower crowned Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower 2013 Opotiki grower Chris Anstis has been crowned the Bay of Plenty Fruit Grower 2013 after beating off tough competition from five other finalists in Mount Maunganui.

The regional competition was held at Baypark Function Centre on Wednesday 26 June, and was a day-long event requiring contestants to complete a series of tasks essential to running a fruit growing business.

Chris, 30, is the technical manager at Opotiki Packing and Coolstorage Ltd (OPAC), and won $1,500 cash and a one-day media and presentation course in Wellington. He will also receive an all-expenses paid trip to attend the Horticulture New Zealand Conference in Wellington in July.

Chris was also the Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower 2009. He says the competition was a rewarding experience, but it wasn’t without challenges.

“The competition really made me work hard and put all my skills to the test, which made winning the title even better.

The other contestants didn’t make it easy though, they are all great growers and there is definitely a lot of talent out there,” says Chris.

Second place went to Chris Clement, 27, from Tauranga and Miguel Peterle, 30, from Waikato placed third.

Chris will go on to compete for the national Young Grower of the Year title at the Horticulture New Zealand Conference in Wellington, July.

“I’m really looking forward to competing at the national competition in Wellington later this year. Based on my 2009 experience, it is always great getting to meet the other young growers performing at that level,” says Chris.

Contestants completed a range modules based on various aspects of horticulture

Get the full story of where your crop is heading with assistance from our technical field team.

• Horticulture is our business • Onsite advice when and where you need it • Skilled technical support

32

such as fertiliser, grafting, plant physiology, biosecurity, and employment contracts.

NZ Avocado and Cropcheck limited ran an AvoGreen pest identification and management module which tested the contestants’ ability to identify pests based on damage to fruit and leaves. They were also asked to comment on various control methods and predator insects.

Cathy Harris of Cropcheck, who developed the AvoGreen module for the competition, said “We were a little surprised by the lack of knowledge of the contestants in some cases about pest management in general. This made us very aware of the standard that we expect our staff to attain in becoming certified AvoGreen monitors and the knowledge required by growers to become owneroperators. The questions we prepared for the candidates were Level 4 difficulty as advised by BOP Polytech and were slightly simplified from what we use for our staff training.”

For more information, visit www.younggroweroftheyear.co.nz 

By Fiona Ewing, Powerco group health, safety, environment and quality manager

I Health & Safety I

Electricity can kill Every year in the New Zealand horticultural and farming sector, there is at least one death from accidental contact with overhead power lines. And for every death, there are a number of serious injuries.

People working around trees are particularly at risk. People have had electric shocks, suffered serious burns or even been killed when working around trees that have grown into overhead power lines.

As a major distributor of electricity in New Zealand’s avocado growing regions, Powerco is acutely aware of the potential danger to life when you have people, avocado trees and power lines in close proximity to each other. You don’t have to touch the live wire. In the same way that water always seeks lower ground, electricity is always seeking an earth. In that search, it can go through trees that are near or touching power lines. It can even jump through the air to a person’s equipment, through their body and into the ground.

To be safe, people should only work around trees that have branches that are four metres clear of overhead power lines.

Everybody in the avocado growing industry has a responsibility of care to themselves and their work mates.

Growers: know the routes of the overhead power lines crossing your property. This will help you plan the replanting of trees so they remain clear of power lines even when fully grown. It will help you plan your pruning so that trees are kept well clear of power lines.

Growers: make sure people working in your orchards, particularly pickers, know about the four metre rule and plan a safe way to work when anywhere near overhead power lines.

Orchard workers: look up and check for hidden power lines before you raise your work platforms. Power lines may be hidden in the branches.

Growers and packhouse operators also have some legal obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992. There are harsh penalties for ignoring those responsibilities – a fine of up to $500,000, up to two years imprisonment or both.

The actual business of keeping everybody healthy and safe is reasonably straight-forward – know where your overhead lines are, plant accordingly, prune responsibly and make sure your orchard workers understand the potential of electricity to injure or kill and the actions they can take to keep themselves safe.

We know that the avocado industry

takes health and safety seriously.

However, at busy times like picking when everyone is focused on the main job – getting the fruit off the trees and packed for market – it is easy for people to take their eye off the health and safety ball.

Powerco is keen to help in the business of keeping everybody in the industry safe at all times. We have posters for work places highlighting safety rules around power lines. We also run short safety workshops for growers and their staff and packhouses and their staff. All you have to do is ring our health and safety coordinator, Chris Neal, on 06 968 0128 and he will organise a suitable time. For further information go to powerco.co.nz Like being a good grower, packhouse operator, or orchard worker, health and safety takes time and commitment.

However, the possible result of not giving health and safety that time and commitment doesn’t bear thinking about.

To learn more about how you can keep yourself and your employees safe when working near power lines, visit our stand in the exhibition hall at the New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers’ Conference in September.

Powerco is New Zealand’s second largest electricity distribution company with 30,000 kilometers connecting 320,000 industrial, commercial, agricultural and commercial customers throughout the North Island. 

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Growers and experts to meet New Zealand Avocado Growers’ Association Inc. and Avocados Australia Ltd welcome all growers and members of the supply chain to attend Nutritional Values, the fifth quadrennial New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers’ Conference, at the ASB Arena Baypark, 9-12 September 2013.

Some of the world’s top avocado experts are coming to the New Zealand industry’s heartland for a major international conference in Tauranga – only held in New Zealand every eight years – enhancing the region’s reputation as a global fruit bowl.

The Bay of Plenty is this country’s prime region for avocado orchards, backed strongly by Northland. Growers will be able to sharpen their expertise and growing methods at this three-day conference.

Fifty experts from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and USA will present advanced thinking on pruning techniques, irregular bearing, disease management, new cultivars, nutrient management, pollination, quality improvement, new market development, promotions, economics, biosecurity, and supply chain improvement. Sessions are divided into three topic streams: Marketing Nutrition, Healthy Orchard and Strong Industry.

“We have a fantastic line-up of speakers who will inform, inspire and challenge growers,” says Ashby Whitehead, newly appointed chair of the NZAGA and AIC. “The theme of nutrition is designed to raise awareness among growers that they are not just growing fruit; we are producing a high-quality product

that meets the needs of consumers – consumers who are becoming increasingly conscious of the health benefits of the food they are eating. We need to explore opportunities to leverage the nutritional benefits of this fruit, especially as we seek to further develop markets in Asia.”

The joint New Zealand and Australia Avocado growers’ conference is hosted in New Zealand only every eight years.

It is held as part of the memorandum of understanding between NZ Avocado Growers Association Inc. and Australian counterparts Avocado Australia Ltd. Nutritional Values also represents a great opportunity for avocado industry product and service providers to promote their businesses to growers.

“We have had excellent support from businesses involved in the avocado industry, both local, national and from Australia,” says Midge Munro, NZ Avocado Communications Manager.

New exporter collaboration AVOCO is the Nutritional Values Principal Conference Partner.

“We are pleased to be able to introduce this new initiative to the industry at what is sure to be an exciting event,” says Alistair Young, a director of AVOCO. Delegates can register for the conference online at www.avocadoconference.co.nz.

Early bird prices and special rates for growers are available.

Highlights • NZ Avocado Ambassador and celebrity MasterChef Nadia Lim will present on culinary and nutritional aspects of avocados.

• Dr Zelda van Rooyen from South Africa will talk about tree decline in South Africa and how Westfalia Technological Services is helping producers remain competitive through developing Hasslike cultivars to improve productivity and stretch the season.

• Dr Jonathan Dixon from USA, who spent 10 years in the NZ avocado industry, now oversees the California Avocado Commission’s research program.

His particular interests are growing systems to manage alternate bearing and postharvest management of fruit.

• Join Grower Reps, consultants and fellow growers in the regional challenges discussion sessions.

• Top avocado researchers from Plant and Food Research New Zealand, University of Queensland and Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Australia will present on a variety of orchard management and post-harvest topics.

• Debate nitrogen use and pruning methods in our interactive panel discussions on these topics.

• Dr Mark Dreher, a nutrition research advisor to the Hass Avocado Board in the USA, will share information on the latest clinical trials to test effects of avocado on various aspects of health.

• Dr Russell Ballard, Independent chair of the Plant Market Access Council, whose involvement is sponsored by Port of Tauranga, will share insights on the New Zealand avocado industry’s potential.

• Michelle Glogau, CEO of BioGro New Zealand will share information on world trends and potential for organic products from New Zealand • Lisa Cork, recent winner of the PMA-A marketer of the year award, whose involvement is sponsored by Jenkins Freshpac Systems, Sinclair Systems International and j-tech Systems, will share her insights on innovative marketing and messaging.

• BNZ’s head of research Stephen Toplis will share the economic outlook for the Asian region – an important growth region for the avocado industry.

• Tim Knox, Ministry for Primary Industries and Simon Hegarty, Horticultural Export Authority will each speak on market access for New Zealand avocados into overseas markets.

• Brett Hewlett from New Zealand will share the global success story of innovative New Zealand natural health and beauty products company Comvita.

Continued...

35

Conference schedule overview Please note this schedule has been updated since last issue of Avoscene. All activities are held at ASB Arena Baypark.

Date

Time

Activity

Monday 9 September

4:00pm – 6:00pm 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Conference registration open AVOCO™ Welcome Reception

Tuesday 10 September

8:00am 9:00am – 4:00pm 4:00pm – 6:00pm

Conference registration and speaker support centre opens Sessions and industry exhibition NZAGA Annual General Meeting – For NZAGA members Please note attendance is open to all NZAGA members regardless of if you are a conference delegate or not Australian avocado growers meeting – for Australian avocado growers

4:00pm – 6:00pm Wednesday 11 September 8:00am 9:00am – 4:50pm 4:50pm 7:30pm – 12:00am

Conference registration and speaker support centre opens Sessions and industry exhibition Conference Close Freshmax conference gala dinner

Thursday 12 September 10:00am – 4:00pm

Field trip to Bay of Plenty orchards, a processing facility and a packhouse for tours, demonstrations and discussion – meet at ASB Arena Baypark

Aongatete Coolstores Ltd – www.cooolstore.co.nz/products Asure Quality Ltd – www.assurequality.com Avocados Australia Limited – www.avocado.org.au AVOCO TM BT9 International – www.bt9-tech.com Capital Tractors & Machinery Carbon Conditioning (2012) Ltd – www.nulifehumates.co.nz Colour Vision Systems Pty Ltd – www.cvs.com.au

Chemjet – www.queenslandplastics.com.au Dow Agro Sciences Ltd – www.dowagro.com/nz Freshmax NZ Ltd – www.freshmax.co.nz Glenbrook Machinery – www.glenbrook.co.nz Gro-chem Horticulture – www.grochem.co.nz Hill Laboratories – www.hill-laboratories.com Horticentre Trust Hydralada Company Ltd – www.hydralada.com

Jenkins Frespac Systems/Sinclair Systems/J-Tech Australia – www.jenkinsgroup.co.nz Just Avocados Ltd – www.justavocados.co.nz New Zealand Avocado – www.nzavocado.co.nz/industry Omnia Specialties NZ Ltd – www.omnia.net.nz Powerco – www.powerco.co.nz Radford Software Ltd – www.radfords.co.nz Silvan New Zealand Pty Ltd – www.silvannz.co.nz

Other conference supporters Apata Ltd – www.apata.co.nz Avocado Oil New Zealand Limited – www.avocado-oil.co.nz Compac Sorting Equipment – www.compacsort.com Cooltainer New Zealand Ltd 36

Hortplus – www.hortplus.com Port of Tauranga – www.port-tauranga.co.nz Trevelyan’s Pack & Cool Ltd – www.trevelyans.co.nz Winstone Wallboards Ltd – Gypsum – www.gypsum.co.nz

May field days report NZAGA Grower Reps and I visited orchards and more than 300 interested growers in Te Puke, Katikati, Whangarei, South Auckland and Far North in May, and Gisborne in July.

Specific characteristics of the host orchards such as new cultivars and pruning techniques were included in the discussions. The field days were a good opportunity to update the industry on our current projects and to introduce the R&D programme that was approved by the Board in May. Te Puke – Ron & Shirley Bailey’s orchard and Ian Shultz’ orchard Here we looked at trees involved in the cultivar trial, also the gene block, and some new pruning techniques similar to Allan Hedge’s method. We also saw a very clear example of the pollenizer effect with noticeably more fruit on the sides of Hass trees adjacent to a row of pollenizers. We later jumped the fence into the Schultz orchard. Ian Schultz is pruning his trees on an annual basis and is using Sunny to try to control the excess vigour of the trees. The trees look small for their age, and he is satisfied with this method. Ian also has a horizontal frost fan that he has just moved from his kiwifruit orchard to the lower part of his avocado orchard (see image on opposite page).

To book advertising space in the next issue of Avoscene please contact Rose Hodges.

Booking deadline for next issue is September 27th, 2013.

Contact Rose on 07 928 3043 or email rose@thesun.co.nz

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Katikati – John & Cindy Cotterell’s orchard and Kim Crocker’s orchard John, along with Mike Dillon (pruning contractor of the orchard), explained what their pruning strategy for the orchard has been in recent years. The trees are now at 11x11m spacing, even at this spacing the trees had grown

enough to be overcrowded with much shading at the bottom of the trees and most of the crop in the top. They started pruning, reducing drastically the size of the trees and the density of the main branches to open holes in the tree canopy.

They are now looking very healthy and have a good crop on them. Mike Dillon and Matt Leamy (overseer of the NZ Avocado pruning trial) offered us an explanation about how they understand that maintenance pruning can be done to achieve more consistent production while controlling the size of the trees, with the trees in the orchard as an example of the method. They think that opening holes in the canopy allows new branches to grow from inside the canopy to substitute the current bearing branches in coming seasons (see image on opposite page). We will keep in touch to follow the progress of this method.

We also saw very healthy Hass trees on Dusa rootstock planted in 2010 in a replant situation, with a considerable amount of fruit on them.

Towards the end of the morning we had a chance to see the bumble bee domiciles that David Pattemore of Plant and Food Research has been trialling this season.

At Kim Crocker’s orchard, Allan Hedge explained his pruning method to growers (see image below) which is explained on page 50 of the Summer 2012 issue of Avoscene. We then visited Kim’s Maluma block which has been having some trouble getting established due to a frost and wind prone site.

Whangarei – Les & Irene Blagrove’s orchard Les and Irene showed us the intense and dedicated work they have done to replant a very sick block. Apparently the block is on a poorly drained, relatively heavy soil. On top of this, the original Hass trees had been planted on Vista rootstock that is not very tolerant to tree decline.

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Inside this Issue

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Inside this issue • The Commo dity Levy for avocados • Strategy to improve qualityA • Roadmap to e on NZAG Updat exporte ts s r contract Projec Levy Research Commodity successful referendum

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• Pruning: managin

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Pruning at Kim Crocker’s orchard

Maluma at Peach’s orchard

Pruning at Cotterell’s orchard

Riversun’s Carmen

By Alvaro Vidiella NZ Avocado Scientist alvaro.vidella@nzavocado.co.nz

Consequently the whole block had very little production in the last years with the trees showing very intense symptoms of tree decline.

They have worked hard on drainage (they have laser drenched, deep ripped, humped and hollowed) and planted the trees on Dusa rootstock in early 2012. They have also treated the trees regularly with phosphorous acid to protect them against root rot fungi like Phytophthora. The young trees have grown very well and look extremely healthy at this point (see image below).

The block is part of a semi-commercial trial of Carmen and Maluma. Both cultivars are growing well. The Carmen trees are showing their expected higher vigour and their tendency to set an abundant autumn set. The Maluma trees are showing their reduced vigour and their tendency to grow on a single axis.

South Auckland – Graham & Kathy Cole’s orchard In South Auckland we had to seek refuge at the Waiau Pa Hall from heavy rain, meaning that unfortunately we had to postpone the visit to Graham and Kathy’s orchard. They have been working hard to grow healthy avocados on heavy soils. They are pioneers in hump and hollowing in the area. In each new planting they do, they raise the height of the humps to increase their effectiveness (see image below).

They use a plough to do the humps.

Far North – Ivan Stanisich’s orchard Thankfully Ivan had prepared a very neat auditorium in his shed with some hay bales, as again we were confronted with rain. We did however make it out to see the Maluma and Carmen plantings established on Zutano, Dusa, and Bounty rootstocks. The trees are doing relatively well, although the conditions of the soil are not ideal with what apparently seems to be some water logging prone soils at the bottom of the block. We finished our visit of the orchard at the Dusa planting that was established in 2007, one of the oldest commercial plantings of Dusa in the country.

These trees were planted quite close to each

other and are now looking a bit too crowded.

Overall, Ivan is quite satisfied with how these Dusa trees have performed and is now planning to carry out a thinning strategy.

Gisborne – Riversun Nurseries orchard and Malcolm Peach’s orchard In Gisborne we visited Riversun Nurseries’ new Maluma and Carmen planting and the Hass on different rootstocks (Duke 7, Dusa, Bounty and Zutano) planted at an intensive 5m x 3.5m. The trees are looking very healthy and they have a good crop load on them average of 70-80 fruit per tree. Geoff Thorpe is considering different strategies to control the size of the trees and to have a productive block without the expected adverse effects of overcrowding at a young tree age.

He has tried to guide the trees to a single axis by eliminating any dominant proleptic branches coming from the main trunk, favouring the development of sylleptic branches. He is also trying different amounts of Sunny® applied to the soil during summer.

The Hass planted on different rootstocks are looking good too. Even though it is not a replicated trial, it is a useful source of information about how these different rootstocks perform in a commercial situation side by side. In a wet spot, the Duke 7 (planted in the worst part of the spot) have died while the Dusa and Bounty beside them (in a relatively better position) are looking healthy.

The Maluma and the Carmen on this orchard are also looking very healthy. Again, the Carmen are currently setting relatively large amounts of autumn-set fruit (see image above). In a year like 2013 this could be an advantage since this fruit will mature in MayJune when the prices in the local market have been high. Also interesting is that this Carmen autumn-set fruit is setting and being retained at relatively low temperatures, with minimum temperatures below 5°C in many days of the past weeks. In this planting the Carmen are also showing their high vigour relative to Hass, and the Maluma is showing its low vigour

Ian Shultz’ frost fan

relative to Hass. While the Maluma seem to have plenty of flowering buds for this coming spring, Carmen seems to be doing most of its flowering now. It will be interesting to see what happens with fruit set in spring with these trees.

In the afternoon we visited Malcolm Peach’s Maluma and Carmen planting and had a discussion about the productivity of his old trees.

Gisborne is the original location for commercial avocado growing in New Zealand, but heavy soils have hindered production.

Malcolm’s orchard is not an exception, with heavy soils being a serious problem for him.

His old trees have been relatively productive in the past but now are showing some symptoms of tree decline. He has a new block of Hass on Dusa, and the trees are looking relatively healthy. The Carmen and Maluma are on Zutano rootstock and are looking relatively well. As in the previous sites, Carmen is growing vigorously and setting in autumn, and Maluma is showing less vigour than Hass and its typical single leader structure (see image on opposite page).

I would like to thank all the participants in this round of field days. It has been a real privilege for me to have access to work with you. We understand how busy everyone is and hope you feel your time was well invested. I enjoyed every visit and learned much from the discussions at each orchard.

Thank you to Ron and Shirley Bailey, Ian Schultz, John and Cindy Cotterell, Kim Crocker, Les and Irene Blagrove, Graham and Kathy Coles, Ivan Stanisich, Geoff Thorpe and Malcolm Peach for each kindly hosting us and growers at your property and for sharing your knowledge while explaining the characteristics of your orchards.

Also thanks to our guest speakers Allan Hedge, Mike Dillon and Matt Leamy for explaining their pruning methods in Katikati.

Finally I would like to thank all that attended the field days. Suggestions or comments about the field days are welcome, please contact me at alvaro.vidiella@nzavocado.co.nz 

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39 Blagrove’s Dusa

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N U T R I O L O G Y *

*the science of growing

Dr Reuben Hofshi, Hofshi Foundation, California, USA. Dr Mary Lu Arpaia, University of California, Riverside, USA. Francisco Gardiazabal, GAMA, Quillota, Chile.

Francisco Mena, GAMA, Quillota, Chile.

Dr Grant Thorp, Plant & Food Research, New Zealand

Hillside avocado planting Is this an option for the New Zealand industry?

Figure 1. Hillside planting of Hass avocado trees in Chile.

Plant productivity is proportional to total intercepted light, while harvest index (the fraction of total annual growth allocated to the crop) is a measure of the proportion of the energy derived from that sunlight which is utilised to produce fruit.

These are key factors behind the success of modern orchard systems based on high-density, small-tree planting systems.

Avocado industries have barely begun to investigate this aspect of crop physiology, and New Zealand is no exception.

New high-density orchards promote early high yields. They also provide growers with the opportunity to manage trees and orchards better to produce consistent yields and thus minimise alternate bearing. While there has been good success with high-density planting systems with Hass on the hillsides of California and Chile, there has been limited adoption of this concept in New Zealand.

Land prices should be a strong driver for New Zealand avocado growers to consider hillside plantings. New Zealand avocado orchards have traditionally been planted on relatively flat land in the main

fruit-growing regions of the North Island, from Gisborne to Awanui. Avocado land in these regions is highly valued as it is also suitable for kiwifruit production.

In this article we discuss our experience with small-tree avocado orchards in hillside plantings in California and Chile, and ask the question “Are high-density hillside plantings of avocados an option for New Zealand growers?�

Californian and Chilean experiences In California and Chile most Hass avocados are planted on hillsides, mainly because cold air drains and settles in the land below, keeping the groves above in relative safety from a potential freeze (Figures 1, 2 & 3). However, it is not an easy task to grow large trees on hillsides and there are several major challenges.

Unlike flat land farming where deep soils, mechanisation, irrigation uniformity and easy canopy management, harvesting and accessibility are the norms, hillside plantings provide the opposite: irregular poor soils, poor hydraulic efficiency, difficult canopy management, poor accessibility, complicated harvesting and mechanisation of other farming operations.

Pickers must harvest fruit on hillsides by working from the steep ground with the aid of a picking-pole. Often when the height of the tree adjusted to the downhill slope is greater than 4 metres,

extension ladders are needed. This task requires highly agile and skilled labour, especially when accurate size picking is practised. The taller the tree, the more expertise is required. Additionally, skilled labour is in short supply and harvesting costs are steadily increasing. Pickers on tall trees under Californian conditions harvest an average of 1-2 bins (400800kg) per day, at an average cost to the grower of US$ 0.36 per kg. In Chile, a person picks 400kg per day at a cost of US$ 0.13 per kg.

Growers establishing new groves have the opportunity to select suitable sites on hillsides to optimise efficiencies when the trees come into production. Aspect and steepness are the two most important variables. Slopes facing towards the sun will be warmer and more productive than slopes facing away from the sun.

In California, this means that southfacing slopes have a greater potential to be more productive than north-facing slopes. In New Zealand and Chile, slopes facing north would be more productive than south-facing slopes. In California, these south-facing slopes are also more protected from dry, north-easterly Santa Ana winds that can be devastating to avocados. Since the coastal and inland hills of southern California are highly eroded, there is seldom a tract of land with uniform soils or that faces entirely in one direction. Many slopes range from slightly steep to very steep. Other 41

Hillside Planting Continued

Figure 2. Example of hillside plantings of avocado trees in California, with Reed trees at high-density planting distances (foreground) and Hass trees at standard spacing (middle-distance).

than north-facing slopes, where organic matter decomposition rates are moderate, many hillside soils in southern California contain less than 1% organic matter, concentrated mainly in the upper 15cm of the topsoil. In Chile, the situation is similar, but it is the north-facing slopes that have very low organic matter, and this is also usually within the first 10-15cm of the topsoil. New Zealand avocado soils typically have more than 7% organic matter.

Irrigation system distribution uniformity (DU) is a very important part of efficient farming and is of critical importance on hillsides. It is difficult to accomplish an efficient DU (over 90%) on hillsides, although with the advent of pressure-compensating emitters, things have greatly improved. The DU in hillside groves ranges between 70-85% and even lower, especially in systems that were poorly designed or are not sufficiently maintained.

A key issue in developing low operational-cost hillside plantings in Chile and California is a well-designed roading system that permits pickers to walk short distances to deliver the fruit, and also helps to drain rainwater to avoid erosion problems (Figure 1).

If it is necessary to spray avocado trees on steep hillsides, efficient application of spray materials can also be challenging.

In California and Chile, applications of pesticide sprays are often made by helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft.

Even with these difficulties in producing avocados on hillsides, there are some very successful hillside orchards in California and Chile (Hofshi 2005; Gardiazabal & Mena 2011). The key to the success of these orchards has been the adoption of 42

small-tree, high-density planting systems.

Comparison of planting systems for hillside plantings Growers have a range of options for planting distances and layouts when establishing new avocado orchards. Here we examine the three types of planting systems usually employed on hillside orchards in California and Chile. For simplicity, we assume 100% of the ground is dedicated to Hass trees and does not allow for headlands, orchard tracks or polleniser trees (Table 1).

1. Regular large tree, low-density planting system of 7m x 7m with 204 trees/ha. Trees are allowed to grow with minimal or no pruning. Crop accumulation is slow because of the wide spacing. At some stage (7-10 years after planting), trees may be removed in a diagonal fashion to avoid overcrowding so that remaining trees are left at 9 x 10m spacing with 111 trees/ha, or otherwise the trees are heavily pruned e.g. staghorned or cut back to the stump (Hofshi et al. 2010). Low density planting systems are the least suitable for hillside plantings, although improvements are possible if a “selective limb removal” pruning programme is employed to maintain trees at 4.0 m tall (Thorp & Stowell 2001). However, ladders are still needed for harvesting fruit. Fruit harvesting can become quite costly if multiple size-picks are made.

2. The hedgerow planting system is an attractive alternative to large free-standing trees, especially when mechanical pruning is possible, but mechanical pruning with large machinery is not feasible on hillside sites. In the hedgerow system, trees are normally planted at 3m x 6m

(556 trees/ha) along the contour with no consideration to orientation, following the slope in a north-south direction whenever possible, or just down the slope, as it is often done in Chile. Trees are pyramidal in shape, wide at the base and sloping at 20 degrees to form a curved edge at the top. Pruning is necessary starting in the second or third year. In Chile, where cool conditions restrict tree growth, first pruning in this system is usually done in the fifth or sixth year. For light efficiency, maximum tree height is 80% of the distance between rows.

3. High-density, small-tree planting systems are the easiest to manage in hillside plantings. Trees are planted in an equidistant configuration, with Hass being planted at 3m x 3m (1111 trees/ ha), while more upright varieties such as Lamb Hass, Maluma Hass and Reed are planted at 2.5m x 2.5m (1,600 trees/ ha). Actually, in Chile there are now quite a number of new hectares planted with Hass at 2.5m x 2.5m. Trees should be trained in the nursery to form a single leader, with subsequent selective pruning to eliminate large lateral branches, to produce free-standing trees in the form of a slender pyramid. In Chile, small nursery trees are used at planting to reduce the need for pruning and to promote the formation of less vigorous, sylleptic shoots. Trees are kept at 2-3m tall for Hass and 2m for more upright cultivars. This is the best system for hillside plantings, as harvesting costs are reduced because there is no need for ladder work or the use of elevated picking platforms.

There are obviously additional costs associated with each of the above planting

Figure 4. Hillside planting of Reed avocado trees in the Far North of New Zealand.

systems. With more trees planted per ha, the cost of purchasing trees will be much greater. However, this is quickly compensated for with increased cash flow from early production from high-density plantings. In Chile today there are trials with Hass at 1.25m x 1.25m, looking to cover the total initial investment cost with the first production. Pruning costs would be expected to be higher with hedgerows and high-density systems than with lowdensity systems with no pruning. In reality, this difference is not great, as each round of pruning should require just one or two cuts per tree; a small crew can prune large areas in a relatively short time especially if the trees are kept small and all parts of the canopy are reachable from the ground without the need for ladders and extension tools.

Older avocado groves in California were planted at low densities with planting distances similar to those used in most current plantings in New Zealand. The trees fill in their allocated space over time and when crowding occurs, the trees are either heavily pruned or thinned.

With small-tree, high-density planting systems, more attention is paid to the early development of the trees’ fruiting framework. With a few selective pruning interventions, trees are maintained at less than 3.0 m high. With this approach, pruning requirements are minimal, there is no need for tree thinning, and fruit harvests are easier.

High-density planting systems with small trees have the potential to increase the amount of light harvested by the trees and the efficiency with which this is converted into fruit and profitable yields.

With smaller trees there is less structural wood so there is more energy available

for the production of fruit. Furthermore, by careful early tree management it is possible to train the trees into a slender pyramid form. This will ensure better light transmission within the canopy and support floral bud and fruit development through a greater portion of the canopy.

It is also important to remember that with high planting densities, yield per tree to achieve sustainable target yields per hectare is surprisingly low (Table 2). For example, at a 3m x 3m spacing (1111 trees per hectare), trees need to produce just 18 kg/tree to achieve 20t/ha. At the more traditional 7m x 7m spacing (204 trees per hectare), the larger trees need to produce 98kg/tree to achieve 20t/ha.

Results from high-density hillside plantings in Chile have been spectacular (Gardiazabal & Mena 2011). In one example, a 28.7ha orchard planted in January 2006 consistently produced around 21 t/ha each year from 2008 to 2012 (Table 3). A strict tree training and pruning regime was employed during the first year of growth at this orchard, with pruners taking care to select only sylleptic lateral shoots and remove dominant proleptic shoots to produce a slender pyramid tree shape (Thorp & Sedgley 1993). While in the right climate/ environment it is possible to achieve these early high yields from high-density plantings, a renewal pruning system is still needed to maintain these yields over the longer term.

Management of Hass trees in highdensity plantings can be problematic as growers tend to delay the removal of dominant side branches. Management of Reed and Maluma Hass trees is a much simpler option because these trees naturally produce a slender pyramid tree shape.

Hillside plantings – a new paradigm for New Zealand orchards?

Key objectives for avocado growers are to produce more fruit and to produce these fruit at a lower cost. High-density plantings with small trees on less expensive hillside sites meet both these objectives and are worth consideration by New Zealand growers.

Land will be cheaper with hillside sites, so cost of establishment will be less than with flat-land sites with the same planting density. Productivity will be improved with hillside sites, by avoiding low-lying flat-land sites more likely to accumulate cold air and create frost pockets. On hillsides, small-tree, high-density orchards are preferable as picking costs will be less with all fruit harvested from the ground, and labour will require only a low level of expertise.

Growers in California and Chile have several years of experience with the establishment of small-tree high-density plantings on hillsides. There have been few examples of high-density hillside plantings in New Zealand, so growers here do not have this experience (Figure 4). The authors are confident that the high-density approach will work for New Zealand growers, although the ideal tree spacing may need to be adjusted based on the inherent tree vigour of trees grown under New Zealand conditions.

While scientists can contribute to and lead the debate, New Zealand growers have the opportunity to put these systems into practice themselves, to confirm the economic benefits in their own conditions, and to contribute to a paradigm shift in orchard management.

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Hillside Planting

Figure 3. Dr Rueben Hofshi at a hillside planting of Hass avocado trees in California at 3m x 3m spacing.

Continued

Table 1. Comparison of three different planting systems for avocados.

Large trees High Density Cropping surface Tree Height

4 sides (until trees touch) plus top Tallest (unpruned trees)

Tree thinning costs Pruning costs

Yes Minimal (low branches only)

Planting orientation

Contour

No. of trees per ha Spraying for pests and foliar nutrition

Least High cost, requires helicopter in most cases when trees are mature None till shading occurs

Productivity lost Harvest costs Harvest equipment required (picking platforms, ladders and picking poles) Worker efficiency Early production (on per ha basis) Rejuvenation strategy Trees position relative to the sun Exposed canopy surface area

High Most intensive Low Least Stump trees: keep same trees forever Best during early years Best during early years, then worse when crowded Good in early years Easy, as long as trees remain relatively small Low Highest

Pathways for bees Ease of harvesting Size-picking Accuracy Cost of harvesting

Hedgerow

Small trees Low Density

2 sides plus top 4 sides plus top Medium (depends on distance between rows) Smallest (depends on distance between trees) No No Severe (every 3 years) Minimal (on-going selective limb removal) North-south preferred No specific orientation – equidistant Medium Highest Medium, helicopter and some ground Ground application feasible application depending on slope Loss occurs every 3rd year when one side None (high productivity from is severely pruned young trees) Medium Low Medium None Medium Medium Side replacement every 3 years Only if land contour permits N-S planting Medium

High Highest Tree replacement every 10+ years Best Best

Medium Difficult, lateral movement is blocked

Always good Always easy to pick

Medium Medium

Most accurate Lowest

Table 2. Yield of avocado fruit required per tree (kg/tree) to achieve target yields per hectare at a range of planting distances suitable for hillside and flat-land growing sites.

Planting distance (m)

Number of trees (per ha)

Allocated space (m2)

Target Production (t/ha) 10 15 20 25 30

“Small trees” suitable for hillside sites with no machinery access required. Kg per tree 3x3 1111 9 9 5x5 400 25 25

14 38

18 50

23 63

27 75

“Hedgerow“ trees for medium density plantings on hillsides or flat land 3x6 5x8

556 250

18 40

“Large trees” for standard orchard layout requiring machinery access for harvests 7x7 204 49 9x10 111 90

18 40

27 60

36 80

45 54 100 120

49 90

74 98 123 135 180 225

147 270

Table 3. Production (kg/ha) from a small-tree, high density Hass avocado orchard in Chile, planted at 3 x 3 m spacing (1,111 trees/ha) in summer 2006 (updated from Gardiazabal & Mena 2011).

2007

453

2008

18,263

2009

20,581

2010

23,911

2011

23,532

2012

14,800

Further reading Gardiazabal F and Mena F. 2011. The avocado industry in Chile and its evolution. California Avocado Society 2011 Yearbook 94: 52-69. http://www.avocadosource.com/CAS_Yearbooks/ CAS_94_2011/CAS_2011_V94_PG_052-068.pdf Hofshi R. 1999. High-Density Avocado Planting - An Argument for Replanting Trees. Subtropical Fruit News 7 (1): 4-7. http://www.avocadosource.com/papers/research_articles/hofshireuben1999.htm Hofshi R. 2004. Beyond yield: re-engineering the avocado. 2° Seminario Internacional de Paltos. 29 Septiembre – 1 Octubre, 2004. Sociedad Gardiazabal y Magdahl Ltda.Quillota, Chile. http://www. avocadosource.com/journals/2_seminario/2_seminario_hofshi_beyond_yield_eng.pdf Hofshi R. 2005. Planting systems on hillsides – a holistic approach. Presentation to New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers’ Conference, Rotorua. http://www.avocadosource.com/journals/ausnz/ausnz_2005/presentations/session9_hofshi_2005.pdf Hofshi R, Tapia M and Arpaia ML. 2010. Stump and topwork - a technique for rejuvenating mature avocado trees. California Avocado Society 2010 Yearbook 93: 51-71. http://www. avocadosource.com/cas_yearbooks/cas_93_2010/cas_2010_v93_pg_051-071.pdf

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Thorp TG. 2000. High-density planting systems – the debate continues? Proceedings of Avocado Brainstorming ’99. (Eds. ML Arpaia and R Hofshi) California Avocado Commission and University of California, Riverside (Oct 27-28): 66-67. (http://www.avocadosource.com/journals/ brainstorming_1999/panel_3_canopy_management/brainstorming%2099_panel%203_thorp_ pages%2066-67.pdf) Thorp TG and Barnett AM. 2011. High density planting systems for Hass avocados. AvoScene, October: 36-37.

Thorp TG and Sedgley M. 1993. Architectural analysis of tree form in a range of avocado cultivars. Scientia Horticulturae 53: 85-98. http://www.avocadosource.com/journals/elsevier/ scientiahort_1993_53_85-98_thorp.pdf Thorp TG and Stowell B. 2001: Effect of pruning height and selective limb removal on yield of large Hass avocado trees. HortScience, 36 (4): 699-702. http://www.avocadosource.com/journals/ hortscience/hortsci_2001_36_4_pg_699-702.pdf Vidiella A 2012. Technical visit to Chile. Avoscene. October: 29-30.

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By A P Bradley, B Ag Science, Dip Management. Registered Consultant Member NZIPIM. tony@aaltd.co.nz

The economics of Uniconazole Background Recent research by Grochem (1) and NZAGA (2), into the use of uniconazole (active ingredient of Sunny®) has identified increases in fresh fruit harvest weights when the product is applied during fruit set.

Fruit weight has been reported to increase from between 18% (Grochem) and 4.3% (NZAGA). While there may be a range of benefits resulting from the use of Sunny, this article aims to report potential economic benefits including those as a result of increased harvesting productivity, identified

by Aongatete Avocados Limited (AAL).

This aspect was not investigated in the trials undertaken by Grochem or NZAGA. When applied to plants uniconazole inhibits the biosynthesis of gibberellins, a natural plant growth regulator. Reduction of gibberellin levels typically reduces vegetative growth with two main consequences: shorter branches and therefore smaller trees; and a higher allocation of resources to the development of reproductive organs (fruit).

Sunny® is relatively easy to apply with the correct equipment.

The application of uniconazole in avocado crops has become a widespread practice internationally. Sunny® was registered for use on avocados in New Zealand in August 2010.

A key element from research undertaken in New Zealand indicates timing of application and dilution rates are critical to the product’s success. To date, success in New Zealand has been measured and reported as increased fruit size.

During the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, AAL collected harvest data from orchards that had applied Sunny®. As with Grochem and NZAGA trials, AAL pickers also noted an observable increase in fruit size. During both picking seasons there was an immediate measurable lift in harvest productivity when harvesting treated trees compared with untreated trees. Analysis of picking day data identified an increase in the output rate of bins completed for each labor hour each day (kg of fruit per day per picker). That is assuming the picking rate per piece of fruit remained the same then the increase in the number of bins generated per labor hour per day was assumed to be attributed to increase size in fruit.

Potential increases in profitability can be estimated by extrapolating increased fruit weight, as found in the Grochem and NZAGA trials to date, in terms of commercial production., This report considers three potential benefits in the use of Sunny® as follows: 1) The impact of an increase in the individual fruit size as determined by weight.

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Cost of Chemical Application

0.5% dilution /ha

Chemical ($1500/5 litre @ 400litres/ha @ 0.5% dilution)

0.75% dilution/ha

includes buffers and additional chemicals

$650

$975

Spraying Application (contractor plus calibration) ($125/hr@1.25hr/ha)

$156

$156

Total

$806

$1131

Gross benefit Additional export trays:Additional size profile Harvest cost savings Total gross benefit (1+2+3)

5%=100TE@ $15.00 +1*size profile 2000TE@$1.50/size 11cents/kg ($0.64/TE for 2000TE) Application at 0.5%

$1,500 $3,000 $1,280 $5,780

Net to bottom line:- additional income and savings per ha Per TE Per Kg

on untreated on untreated

$2.49/TE $0.30/kg

2) The impact of the increase yield per hectare.

3) Savings in on-orchard-costs as a result of improved yields as measured on both a per hectare and a per tray basis.

The following assumptions have been made in the analysis and conclusions: 1) Untreated fruit remains constant to the model.

2) Reject fruit as a percent of the yield remains constant across treatments.

3) The benefit from the product use is applicable to individual fruit.

4) Harvesting costs remain constant on a daily basis.

5) There is no increase in number of fruit being harvested, just the size.

6) Cost to pick is assumed at $2.45/export tray at 2000 tray equivalents/hectare (TE/ha) at 65% pack-out = 17 tonnes/ha fresh fruit weight 7) Costs to grow remain the same on a per hectare basis. (excluding the cost of uniconazole) 8) The average untreated fruit harvested is 2 tonnes/machine/day.

9) Harvesting fruit with Sunny® applied (treated) lifted daily harvesting yield by 30% or 0.6 tonnes (3).

10) Reduced average cost ($/bin, $/kg, $/ TE) as hours worked remain constant.

11) Costs remain constant on a per hectare basis and the increase in fruit weight is fully benefited at full price i.e. no picking cost.

12) Additional benefit on a per tray basis that is on a marginal benefit basis with cost/ benefits spread over the total crop.

Discussion Uniconazole is being applied at significantly higher rates and by ground based fertigation processes elsewhere in the world. The strategies and purposes for application vary when compared to the current use within New Zealand as do

$4,974 +16.6% +11%

the costs. In New Zealand the product is generally applied by fan blast sprayers and this increases the challenges of accurate applications as trees get larger and denser.

Tree age appears to be a factor in the success of the product with younger trees yielding bigger benefits than older mature trees.

Market restrictions apply where no MRL exists for a given market. Currently only Australia, New Zealand and Japan have MRLs. While there may be debate around the level of the benefit when measuring such a programme, the analysis indicates a financial benefit when measured on a per hectare basis using this product in New Zealand growing situations. It also indicates there is a range of factors to consider when using this product and in considering the benefits.

Ongoing tree management needs to consider the long term impact of additional crop yields in relation to nutritional needs, mineral depletion and replacement growth to carry the flowering cycle. Additional benefits, not currently measured or considered in this report, may include savings in tree pruning and any link between the product use and flower set. Similarly additional costs are not fully recognized and may include additional fertiliser with higher yields, tree stress, and market disadvantages.

Importantly growers using this product in commercial application must consider their timing, costs, water availability, and growth cycle and link it to their strategic objectives for cropping production.  References 1) Grochem field trials 05/11.

2) Vidiella, A., 2013. Learning about Sunny®(uniconazole) in NZ avocados. Avoscene, April issue, 44-46.

3) AAL Daily harvest sheets 2011, 2012.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and does not represent the views of NZAGA or AIC.

Reading your trees

S TA F F C O N TA C T S

A New Zealand Avocado Grower’s Guide

Below are the key tree characteristics as set out in your Reading Your Trees Guide to assess from at this time of year: • April to September: Flower buds, pages 6-8 • September: Roots, page 28 - 29 • September: Canopy density, pages 30-31 Once your trees have been assessed you will be ready to consider the suggested intervention strategies. At the bottom of each section in this guide there are a number of factors to consider to optimise your orchard management. You will need to determine which is the best option for your own situation – if in doubt, seek specialist advice.

Download the Reading Your Trees workbook from the industry website under Resources > and select Orchard Management Guidelines from the drop down box. This workbook complements the Reading Your Trees guide and allows you to record your assessments.

Jen Scoular

Glenys Parton

NZ Avocado Chief Executive Officer

Manager Projects

Develop and implement the industry strategy. jen.scoular@nzavocado.co.nz

Edwina Aitchison Personal Assistant to the CEO

Administrative support to the AGA Executive and the AIC Board; Conference and meeting organisation. Administration support for new germplasm. edwinaaitchison@nzavocado.co.nz

Dr Henry Pak Technical Manager

Quality systems; research & development; managing external research & development providers. henrypak@nzavocado.co.nz

Nici Kennerley Business Manager

Accounting functions and reporting of industry data. nici.kennerley@nzavocado.co.nz

Midge Munro Communications Manager

Implementing the communication strategy: promotions, stakeholder events and publications, industry website development, media liaison. midgemunro@nzavocado.co.nz

Bevan Jelley New Zealand Market

Identifying issues in local market supply chain and developing strategies to add value. bevan.jelley@nzavocado.co.nz

Assisting with current NZ Avocado 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

Bart Hofstee Research Technician

Assisting with current NZ Avocado research programmes. barthofstee@nzavocado.co.nz

Sheryl Wilson Office Administrator

Grower registration; AvoGreen administration; weekly reporting; crop estimation. sherylwilson@nzavocado.co.nz

Joanne Nunn Administration Assistant

Reception and general administration duties. jnunn@nzavocado.co.nz

Dr Alvaro Vidiella Scientist

Managing and implementing the NZ Avocado research programme. alvaro.vidiella@nzavocado.co.nz

NZ Avocado Office: 0800 AVOCADO

www.grochem.co.nz

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