Tuesday, 08 November 2022 11:25

Do your due diligence

Written by  Peter Burke
President of NZ Avocado and long-time grower Linda Flegg. President of NZ Avocado and long-time grower Linda Flegg.

Linda Flegg, president of NZ Avocado, comes from a family that's been in the horticulture sector - especially kiwifruit - for a long time.

She says the mood of growers varies from region to region. In the Bay of Plenty where Flegg lives, she says growers understand that horticulture is a fickle business and that you have to wear the good with the bad.

She notes that a lot of the new industry entrants will be feeling some financial insecurity.

"Our family have been through boom and bust periods. In terms of avocados, the industry went through a period of about six of seven years when prices were high and returns to growers were exceptional," Flegg told Hort News.

"Some were receiving up to $40 a tray and some saw that as the new norm - which it wasn't. When a grower comes to us and says I am looking at buying an avocado orchard, what should I budget on? We say conservatively $12 dollars a tray."

Flegg says new entrants to the industry must do due diligence and if they can't do that they shouldn't buy. She believes anyone coming into the avocado sector should at least have some primary industry experience. She adds that there is plenty of information available to help people make decisions.

"Do the due diligence, and talk to people, but don't necessarily take the advice of a real estate agent," she says.

Flegg believes the industry is now in the midst of creating a new normal and we all have to go along for the ride.

More like this

Helping develop, grow markets

While NZ Avocado is not directly involved in selling fruit, it does have a significant role in supporting exporters to develop and grow markets.

Avocados bounce back!

After two challenging years, the country’s avocado growers are quietly optimistic that a good year is in the making.

Featured

National

NZ growers lead freshwater compliance

Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that commercial fruit and vegetable growers are getting ahead of freshwater farm plan regulations through…

Machinery & Products

Yamaha acquires Robotics Plus

New Zealand based company Robotics Plus, a specialist in agricultural automation, has announced an agreement for it to be acquired…

Ecorobotix announces NZ dealership

Swiss-based Ecorobotix has announced its entry into the New Zealand market through a strategic partnership with Canterbury-based New Zealand Tractors.

Sorting unwashed potatoes made easy

Downs, a leader in potato reception, automated sorting, and storage, has introduced its new high-throughput optical sorter for unwashed potatoes…

Jumbo X saves time and money

A winner of a prestigious ‘Technical Innovations 2024’ award by FederUnacoma at the EIMA show in Italy, the Maschio Jumbo…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Overbearing?

OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…

Foot-in-mouth

OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter