Tuesday, November 21, 2017
A SERIES of negotiations has resulted in the signing of an export protocol with China to create a new market for Kiwi avocado growers.
The next step will be an audit of New Zealand’s regulatory system for exporting avocados in mid-December 2017.
“Securing export access for our avocados into China is New Zealand’s top horticulture priority,” Ministry of Primary Industries director-general Martyn Dunne said.
“I would like to acknowledge the extensive work, support and cooperation by MPI, industry body New Zealand Avocado and officials in enabling this significant progress in New Zealand’s trade with China,” he said.
In the 2016/17 season, New Zealand’s avocado industry achieved its best season, reaching a record breaking industry value of more than $200 million from 7.9 million trays.
Avocados are still relatively unknown in China but demand has recently begun to boom.
In 2016/17, New Zealand exported $155.5 million of avocados into markets including Australia, Japan, Singapore, Korea and Thailand – growth of around $64 million from the previous season.
“China is very aware of the significant global increase in avocado consumption, the associated health benefits and the strong growth and huge potential in the avocado category,” New Zealand Avocado chief executive Jen Scoular said.
“Our conversations with Chinese importers show there will be strong interest in New Zealand avocados.”
Avocado exports will join New Zealand’s other fresh fruit exports to China that include apples, kiwifruit, cherries, plums, citrus and persimmons.
Growth in the avocado industry is enabled through the New Zealand Avocados Go Global Primary Growth Partnership programme between New Zealand Avocado and MPI. It is a five-year, $8.56 million collaboration that has made real progress towards goals to triple productivity and grow industry returns to $280 million per year by 2023.