A fresh application of shipping technology could open up far-flung markets in Europe and North America to a New Zealand avocado industry looking for extra export destinations.
A trial shipment of 2,000 trays of avocados was sent from New Zealand to France late last December using Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere (DCA) equipment, the first time the technology has been used in New Zealand.
The DCA system limits oxygen in the reefer container, effectively putting the avocados to sleep and preventing further ripening for several weeks.
Results from the trial were promising, according to the New Zealand Avocado Industry Council (AIC), and it is being followed up by further trials – one currently in transit to Hawaii, and two more containers to France leaving shortly.
The AIC is working with New Zealand crown R&D body Plant & Food Research on the trial.
The French shipment in December took 49 days from picking to arrival, according to Steve Trickett, marketing director for exporter Just Avocados Ltd and New Zealand Avocado Exporters Council (AVEC) Market Access Committee convenor.
“It will be quite a good development for the industry, opening the opportunity to access longer transit markets,” he told Asiafruit last week. “With avocados, it’s a relatively perishable product. To pick, pack and get it on the ship typically takes 10 days, then another 14-18 days transit time, and then perhaps another 10 days for distribution and consumption. To be able to put the fruit to sleep for 30 days and still outturn well will allow us to access new markets like the UK and Europe.
“It even comes into play for the US. With the cost of oil, some of the shipping lines are slow steaming, so we might need to start using this technology there as well.”
This latest trial is not the first time New Zealand’s avocado industry has attempted shipping fruit to Europe. After three years of small-scale trials, Just Avocados sent 3 20ft containers to Europe in late 2005 using MAXtend controlled atmosphere technology. While the technology did allow New Zealand avocados to land in the market in reasonable condition, the voyage still pushed the fruit to the edge of its shelf life.
New Zealand’s potential window in Europe in November-December is also highly competitive, and the Southern Hemisphere supplier will have to rely on premium quality to carve out a share of the niche market.
The need for New Zealand’s avocado exporters to look beyond Australia is behind the trial. The Australian market accounts for the vast majority of New Zealand’s avocado exports – 81 per cent by volume this season just finished.
The need to diversify was driven home this season with a massive New Zealand crop and a large and lingering domestic crop pushing prices down on the Australian market. With avocado production on the rise in New Zealand over the next few years, the industry will need to find more homes for its fruit.
