increase font size
TWO FORMERLY fierce rivals in avocado exporting say their successful collaboration could signal the way forward for other export industries.
The forecast for Australia earnings this season have jumped 20%, from $40m to $50m, for the newly formed avocado exporter Avoco.
Now representing about 75% of New Zealand avocado growers, Avoco is a collaborative venture after decades of "fierce rivalry yet mutual respect" between New Zealand's two biggest avocado export companies, says an Avoco director Alistair Young.
Southern Produce Ltd, Bay of Plenty, and Primor Product Ltd, Auckland, put aside their long-standing commercial competitiveness to form the joint venture company to export to Australia, the biggest export market for avocado. They also now represent about 75% of exports to that market.
This bold move could signal the way forward for other export industries, they say.
"We have realised it makes complete sense to work as a partnership against foreign competitors rather than fight among ourselves," says Young, who is also a Southern Produce director. "The interests of the New Zealand avocado industry and its growers are best served by a unified entity focused totally on getting the best orchard-gate return for growers."
Primor Produce director and general manager John Carroll says growers demanded they perform better as an export industry. Avoco was able to revise its forecast earnings upwards at its first board meeting in June.
The two companies are also collaborating in all other export markets under their Avanza commercial arrangement.
A new Indonesian school milk programme is expected to significantly increase the country's total dairy consumption, creating opportunities for New Zealand and other global dairy players.
Horticultural prices are set to remain elevated this year, reflecting the balance between demand in key export markets and an increase in supply.
New Zealand's red meat exports for 2024 finished on a positive note, with total export value increasing 17% over last December to reach $1.04 billion, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
Non-tariff trade measures (NTM) remain a problem for NZ exporters, according to Horticulture Export Authority (HEA) chief executive Simon Hegarty.
OPINION: Hats off to our pipfruit sector.
A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.
Funding is proving crucial for predator control despite a broken model reliant on the goodwill of volunteers.
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
