New Zealand’s avocado industry is forecasting a record export crop over the 2014/15 season, with as many as 5m trays expected to be shipped internationally, according to media reports.
This sort of yield would set up a potential showdown with Australia’s summer crop, centred mainly in Western Australia where the early outlook is also for a bumper harvest.
The Australian market is likely to account for over 50 per cent of New Zealand’s total export volume over the forthcoming season, according to Alistair Young of Avoco, a joint venture established between Southern Produce and Primor Produce prior to last season.
“The challenges of a massive crop and a more competitive Australian market because of the bumper crop it too is expecting in 2014-15, will mean Avoco can really show what it's made of,” Young told the Bay of Plenty Times.
Young said both Southern and Primor Produce would also continue developing export opportunities further abroad as part of their three-way partnership with Just Avocados, known as Avanza.
The company has strong links to the US through its long-standing partnership with Mission Produce, with Young suggesting around 20 per cent of its crop is likely to end up in the North American market in 2014/15.
John Carroll, a director with both Avoco and Avanza, says developing new trade partnerships in Asia will also be a priority.
“Avocados have been a consistently strong growing product around the world, but mainly in existing markets and Asia hasn't been focused on,” Carroll told Radio New Zealand. “We have plans to be involved in trade shows in Asia and tying in with American partners, so between us we can supply the market for 12 months.”
