FEBRUARY 2017
TREVELYAN’S UPDATE
TECHNICAL INFO
LOCAL MARKET
GENERAL NEWS
Nursery Update Page 2
Avocado Cultivar Page 4
Local Market Report Page 7
Staff Profile Page 8
A busy start to the new year with a likely record setting season! Daniel Birnie AVOCADO MANAGER
It’s been a busy season for all involved with the avocado industry. Thanks must go out to all those who have been putting in long hours over what has been a hot dry summer, especially our contractors (picking and trucking), packhouse staff and all the growers who have been working hard. The season has not been without its challenges, with the front half being a tale of trying to restrict picking as much as possible to adhere to the AVOCO flow plan. The second half of the season from mid-December onwards has seen us ramping up harvest, and has seen significant volumes of fruit through the packhouse. As at 4th February, we have harvested over 12,000 bins. Our previous record for an entire season was 9,500 bins (2014-15 season). We have had fruit quality issues in Australia. Jonathan toured the Sydney and Brisbane markets in early January, and thankfully quality has improved markedly through into February. We are not sure exactly why, but have some trials in place to try and understand the issues.
We are very pleased to have Danni van der Heijden working in our avocado team at Trevelyan’s. Danni joined in early December, and will be involved in all aspects of the avocado business. Some of you may be familiar with Danni from her previous role at NZ Avocado in the science team. We wish Danni luck as she competes in the Bay of Plenty Young Grower competition. Finally, we have confidence that this season will be a record breaker both in terms of volume and value. We look forward to the returns when they are finalised, and hope to catch up with you all soon, either at our next field day, or on your orchard.
Harvest contractor Warren Clarke’s ATP machines working on Richard Brown’s orchard in Oropi.
TREVELYAN’S UPDATE
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TREVELYAN’S AVOCADO QUARTERLY
FEBRUARY 2017
Nursery Update
Daniel Birnie
AVOCADO MANAGER
Key points from our avocado nursery • We have agreements in place with NZ Avocado (AIC) and South African company Westfalia to produce 250 Hass on Dusa, and 250 Hass on Latas rootstocks. We also have agreements in place with NZ Avocado (AIC) and South African company The Fruit Farms Group, to produce 250 Hass on Bounty rootstocks.
This room is built of timber and plywood, and has double doors on it so that the rootstocks are not exposed to light whilst they are inside. • Anne Partridge and the team are busy grafting, and are around half way complete. We anticipate we will have 2000 rootstocks for spring delivery 2017.
• These are trial quantities, with the intention of having commercial volumes available in 2018.
• Our orders are now over 2000 rootstocks. We have begun taking orders for 2018 delivery.
• We have had an etiolation room built inside the greenhouse so we can graft the clonal rootstocks.
• We are after Zutano seed for harvest in winter 2017. Let us know if you would like to supply.
The nursery team Danni van der Heijden, Lou O’Connor, Robyn Eru and Anne Partridge. Jo Parsons was away on the day the photo was taken.
Sponsorship, Donations and Community Care Looking after growers, staff and our community is important to us. We are happy to share the details of our sponsorship, donations and community care with you as you are all part of this program. We support many local schools, health initiatives, sports, music and community groups which our growers, staff and their families benefit from. Our Sponsorship and Donations policy allows us to support local activities that are linked to our organisation directly while our
Community Care programme that was introduced in 2013 addresses social need in the wider community. We provide cornerstone support annually to the Te Puke Food Bank and the Foundation for Youth Development’s Kiwi Can programme in Te Puke schools. We have also
FEBRUARY 2017
2016 SPONSORSHIP AND DONATIONS
This year we have had an increased focus on investment with good environmental outcomes, and are now a corporate sponsor for MOWS (Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society), with a view to be involved in some exciting new local developments in 2017 and beyond in partnership with other organisations. We have a production-based budget and have invested $32,000 in 2016, with an additional $10,000 from the 2016 budget accrued for environmental projects in the future. We believe this improves the region that we operate in, our relationship with the community, and makes Te Puke a great place to live, work and play. For further information regarding assistance or support for an event or initiative, please discuss with Stephen, Alister, James or your grower liaison representative.
Social Welfare $7,244
Emergency Relief $255
Other
$2,174
Education $5,771
Health $897
Environment $2,800
Economic Development $7,739
Arts/Culture $4,991
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TREVELYAN’S UPDATE
supported EPiC Te Puke to reinvigorate events and promotions in the community. This has helped them accomplish Easter promotions, business seminars, book launches, the Christmas parade and the Multicultural Food Feast during 2016. We assisted The Daily Café in getting established this year. Backed by The Search Party Charitable Trust, all the profits will go back into the Te Puke community with the purpose of alleviating poverty and supporting people in our town.
TREVELYAN’S AVOCADO QUARTERLY
TECHNICAL INFO
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TREVELYAN’S AVOCADO QUARTERLY
FEBRUARY 2017
Avocado Cultivars and the implications for New Zealand Growers
Jonathan Cutting ORCHARD PRODUCTIVITY MANAGER
Most growers in New Zealand are involved with the exclusive or near exclusive cultivation of the Hass avocado cultivar. Over the course of the past 25 years Hass has assumed a globally dominant position especially in countries that export avocado fruit (today it is approximately 90% of the global avocado export trade). Hass replaced Fuerte as the dominant cultivar in the late 1960s. However, growers have been searching for a superior cultivar and a number have been evaluated and released in the past 20 years including Lamb Hass, GEM, Maluma, SirPrize and Llanos Hass. In New Zealand, which generally produces “out of season” Hass relative to Australia, there is always interest in finding and using cultivars that extend the traditional New Zealand harvest season. There is a particular focus on the period from April to August when domestic supply is very limited. If you are interested in extending your traditional harvest window into more lucrative times of the year the primary option is to use cultivars that are earlier or later than Hass. In the Bay of Plenty, which is later maturing that the Far
or Mid North, the primary opportunity would be for later cultivars. Below is a snap shot of some of the cultivars that could have potential as: • A season extender as alternatives to late hung Hass. • Cultivars could assist with pollination of Hass, as Hass is an A-type flowering cultivar and they would sync best with a B-type polliniser.
Fruiting Cultivars Lamb Hass
Hayes
A late maturing A-type “Hass-like” cultivar from California. Parentage is hybrid Mexican Guatemalan. The tree usually produces a large shouldered pear-shaped fruit. Trees grow upright. In a number of comprehensive New Zealand maturity studies it was shown to mature later than Hass. In the Bay of Plenty fruit was not mature before late February and displayed an extended harvest period into May. A possible late season extender.
Hayes is an A-type flowering variety originating from Hawaii. Parentage is hybrid Mexican Guatemalan. Hayes trees are more upright than Hass and produce pebbled, hard-skinned large, oval fruit that mature one month earlier than Hass (October-November in the Bay of Plenty) but can be hung very late (March through to early May). The fruit turn black when ripe. Good yield can be obtained from Hayes, although biennial bearing can be a problem. A possible late season extender.
FEBRUARY 2017
TREVELYAN’S AVOCADO QUARTERLY
Edranol
A Californian-bred variety that has PVR in place. Parentage is Guatemalan. A “Gwen” seedling with an A-type flowering habit. The fruit is tear-drop shaped with a smooth skin and prominent yellow lenticels. The fruit turn black when ripe. The harvest season is roughly the same as that of Hass. The GEM variety is unproven in New Zealand conditions.
A B-type flowering cultivar from California. Parentage is hybrid Mexican Guatemalan. The tree has a vigorous and upright growth habit. It is slow to produce and once underway it produces very large crops but can be very alternate. The cultivar is viewed as frost tolerant. Fruit are reported to have excellent flavor. Skin remains green and is very thin (prone to damage). Is a good pollinator in a number of countries (Chile and South Africa).
Maluma A South African Hass-like variety that has PVR in place. Parentage is thought to be predominantly Guatemalan with an A-type flowering habit. The cultivar is upright and low vigour suited to high-density plantings.
Carmen A Californian variety with PVR in place. Parentage is not reported and the cultivar is an A-type flowerer. Field observations are that Carmen flowers profusely with flowering in both spring and autumn.
Reed A Californian cultivar. Parentage is Guatemalan and the cultivar is an A-type flowerer. Can set heavy crops. Fruit are large and round (like a canon ball). Under New Zealand conditions it can be an alternate bearer. Fruit may remain on tree for a relatively long time after reaching maturity. The tree is resistant to salt burn but is cold sensitive with less cold tolerance than Hass. A possible late season extender.
Zutano This cultivar originated in California. It is a B-type flowering pure Mexican parentage cultivar. It crops consistently and is viewed as having some cold tolerance. Zutano is the pollinator “standard” in New Zealand.
VB3 VB3 is a B-type flowering variety, which typically flowers one month earlier than Hass. VB3 trees are usually smaller than Hass trees. Young VB3 leaves are bright red. VB3 fruit is shiny and turns black before harvest. The fruit is usually harvested from July to December. In New Zealand, the VB3 variety is managed by 100% Pure NZ. VB3 is available from some New Zealand nurseries, and is subject to nonpropagation agreements and royalty payments. Whilst the varieties listed above are interesting, we believe the best chance of you being successful as a grower is to grow Hass. It is a proven variety that attracts great value out of the market, and is not subject to any PVRs. It can also be held late in certain areas in the Bay of Plenty for the local market. For pollinisers we believe Edranol and Zutano are the best varieties, and as a result we will grow these trees in our nursery. We believe that orchards with pollinisers on average have larger, more consistent, crops than those without.
And if anyone has any trees on their orchard that seem to have slightly different characteristics from other trees, and are high producing, please let us know.
For any more information please contact Jonathan, Danni or Daniel.
TECHNICAL INFO
GEM
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TREVELYAN’S AVOCADO QUARTERLY
FEBRUARY 2017
Grower Survey
GROWER SURVEY
What ssize iis What s yyyour our o orchard? rchard? What ssize ize rchard? What ize iiis s yyour our o o rchard? What o rchard? What sssize ize iis s yyour our o rchard? What ize s our o rchard? wer Survey What size is your orchard? Late last year we ran a grower survey through survey last year monkey. we ran aThanks grower through survey monkey. Thanks to all those that responded. tosurvey all those that responded. We had respondents a current grower base had 117 r117 espondents (out (out of aof current grower base of aof round 350), so a 335 response rate. around 350), so a 33.5% response rate.
e of the rSome esults ofare summarised below the results are summarised below:
h age bracket are you in?
Which age bracket are you in?
Which social media do you use? Which social media platforms do yplatforms ou use? How d o yyou rrate tthe ccontent iin tthe ffollowing p ublications? How d o p ublications? How d o yyou ou rrate ate tthe he ccontent ontent iin n tthe he ffollowing ollowing p ublications? How d o ou ate he ontent n he ollowing p ublications? How d o y ou r ate t he c ontent i n t he f ollowing p ublications? How d o y ou r ate t he c ontent i n t he f ollowing p ublications? How d o y ou r ate t he c ontent i n t he f ollowing p ublications? How d o yyou rrate tthe ccontent iin tthe ffollowing p ublications? How d o ou ate he ontent n he ollowing p ublications? How d o y ou r ate t he c ontent i n t he f ollowing p ublications? Rate the content in the following publications t size is your orchard?
In relation to the above results, 15% of respondents had visited our facebook page, and over 60% had visited our website in the past year.
In relation to the above results, 15% of respondents had visited our facebook pag When asked for more detail on what growers would like to see on our website, had visited our included: website in the past year. responses • Access to all my data like packout reports, OGR forecasts, fruit loss, payment
documents When asked for more detail on what growers would like to see on our website, re • What’s happening with other growers, information on fruit size measuring
• Field day information ! Access to all my data like packout reports, OGR forecasts, fruit loss, pay • Historical data of ALL reports weo receive any time ion any issue ! What's happening with ther gatrowers, nformation on fruit size measu • Handouts from field days; meaningful comparative reports; ! Field dand ay video information Trevelyan’s publications ! Historical data oinformation f ALL reports we receive at any basis time on any issue • Comparative packing on a weekly and geographic ! and from reports field under days; onemeaningful comparative r • AsHandouts a grower I would likevideo to see historical heading for each category e.g. Comparative reports publications. • Data collected by Trevelyan’s on the website for my own orchard ! Comparative packing information on a weekly and geographic basis • Comparison year by year Packout data was rated highly, as was frost reports and the week that was emails. ! As a grower I would like to see historical reports under one heading fo • General industry information and any comparative measurements between suppliers Our website and facebook information scored lowly, and is something we are Comparative reports working on to make current andhrelevant. There is a lot of feedback that we are working through, thanks for all your responses. ur Packout d ata w as r ated ighly, a s w as f rost r eports a nd t he w eek tthat w as eemails. O w ebsite aand Packout d ata w as rrated h ighly, aas w as ffrost rreports tthe w eek hat w as mails. O ur w ebsite aand ! Data c ollected by T revelyan’s on the website for my own orchard Packout d ata w as ated h ighly, s w as rost eports nd he w eek t hat w as e mails. O ur w ebsite aand nd Packout d ata w as r ated h ighly, a s w as f rost r eports a nd t he w eek t hat w as e mails. O ur w ebsite nd Packout d w as rrated h ighly, aas w as ffrost rreports aand tthe w eek ttComparison hat o w as eem mails. ebsite aand facebook iiata nformation sscored llowly, aand iis ssomething w e aare w orking n tto cc urrent aand facebook nformation w e w orking o n ake Packout d w as h ighly, w as w eek w as mails. O ur w ebsite ! yake ear b y O yur ear w Packout d ata w as rrated ated h ighly, aas s w as ffrost rost rreports eports aand nd tthe he w eek tthat hat w as eem mails. O ur w ebsite aand nd facebook iiata nformation sscored cored llowly, owly, aand nd iis s ssomething omething w e aare re w orking o n tto o m ake cc urrent urrent aand nd Packout d ata w as ated h ighly, s w as rost eports nd he w eek hat w as mails. O ur w ebsite nd facebook nformation cored owly, nd s omething w e re w orking o n o m ake urrent nd Packout d ata w as r ated h ighly, a s w as f rost r eports a nd t he w eek t hat w as e mails. O ur w ebsite nd facebook i nformation s cored l owly, a nd i s s omething w e a re w orking o n t o m ake c urrent a nd relevant. ! General Io ndustry icnformation and a ny comparative measurements betw Packout d ata w as r ated h ighly, a s w as f rost r eports a nd t he w eek t hat w as e mails. O ur w ebsite a nd relevant. facebook i nformation s cored l owly, a nd i s s omething w e a re w orking o n t m ake urrent a nd facebook i nformation s cored l owly, a nd i s s omething w e a re w orking o n t o m ake c urrent a nd relevant. facebook i nformation s cored l owly, a nd i s s omething w e a re w orking o n t o m ake c urrent a nd relevant. facebook i nformation s cored l owly, a nd i s s omething w e a re w orking o n t o m ake c urrent a nd relevant. facebook i nformation s cored l owly, a nd i s s omething w e a re w orking o n t o m ake c urrent a nd relevant.
FEBRUARY 2017
Lance Dodd
DOMESTIC PRODUCE MANAGER
Two paddocks Wineries team in Central Otago enjoying some BayFarms’ avocados.
As the table shows, the local market returns dropped quickly from the strong values seen in winter. As volumes of fruit hitting the market increased, values haven’t dropped as much as we thought they may. Through October, November and December some large volumes of fruit were packed for the local market (over 100,000 trays per week). Yet values have been maintained at around $8-$10 per tray. Our BayFarms online offering of avocados is gaining traction, and we are seeing some strong sales off the back of some Facebook promotions. We have also started
supplying a restaurant chain in Auckland with fruit, and have regular orders from some childcare centres. We expect values to increase as export finishes in midFeb, and we move into local market. Remember we need local market growers to have a GAP audit this season similar to export growers. If you haven’t yet had one please contact us to arrange a time.
Jun-01
Jun-02
Jul-01
Jul-02
Aug-01
Aug-02
Sep-01
Sep-02
Oct-01
Oct-02
Nov-01
Nov-02
Dec-01
16
$34.52
$29.74
$16.35
$14.45
$15.25
$14.93
$14.29
$12.62
$12.61
$12.14
$11.76
$11.72
$9.86
19
$46.30
$25.98
$15.47
$15.04
$15.25
$13.88
$11.67
$11.49
$9.89
$9.44
$9.19
$8.55
$7.65
24
$49.14
$28.55
$16.84
$17.05
$16.79
$14.65
$13.47
$14.01
$11.29
$11.15
$10.25
$9.01
$8.06
30
$49.23
$26.32
$15.51
$13.83
$15.72
$14.77
$13.63
$10.79
$11.31
$9.25
$9.42
$8.49
$9.51
36
$44.19
$24.41
$10.75
$7.85
$11.68
$11.61
$6.89
$12.77
$11.19
$5.40
$4.16
$5.17
42
$11.97
$23.43
$10.45
$6.78
$8.44
$7.27
$6.40
$6.00
$5.93
$3.93
$3.61
46
$5.91
$5.51
$6.32
$8.66
$4.89
$4.42
49
$6.11
CLASS 2
mix
$9.20
$15.38
$12.57
$4.29
CLASS 3 16
$25.76
$12.94
$14.77
$14.59
$10.03
$7.18
$10.28
$12.78
$9.39
$10.11
$8.31
19
$28.25
$29.84
$12.71
$14.90
$16.68
$13.85
$12.20
$7.39
$9.63
$10.80
$9.16
$7.93
$7.21
24
$38.81
$28.78
$17.75
$14.41
$12.89
$13.77
$11.90
$8.43
$9.83
$10.09
$8.76
$8.24
$7.05
30
$55.14
$24.27
$11.60
$11.18
$16.44
$10.59
$10.52
$9.56
$9.84
$9.30
$6.23
$6.51
$6.42
36
$36.74
$17.80
$9.91
$5.42
$14.87
$16.58
$8.00
$7.79
42 46 mix Per bin*
$5.55 $33.70
$12.53
$2,274.14 $1,923.94 $1,148.05
$8.18
$8.65
$8.20
$7.32
$7.67
$3.89
$0.49
$6.92
$6.43
$7.25
$6.71
$6.49
$3.64
$0.49
$4.17
$5.77
$6.34
$5.66
$5.69
$4.11
$4.48
$934.53
$881.14
$6.78 $788.53 $1,064.83 $1,024.20 $1,029.96
$3.89 $954.55
* Please note the per bin value is an estimated return as it includes export values that have not been finalised yet.
$966.36 $1,004.02
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LOCAL MARKET
Local Market Report
TREVELYAN’S AVOCADO QUARTERLY
$850.58
GENERAL NEWS
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TREVELYAN’S AVOCADO QUARTERLY
FEBRUARY 2017
THUR
StaffProfile
2017
Growsafe & Approved Handler Courses
Danni van der Heijden Avocado Grower Liaison
What is your role and how long have you worked at Trevelyan’s? I have been working at Trevelyan’s for two months as an Avocado Grower Services and Technical Assistant. So far, I have been visiting avocado growers, assisting with tasks in the nursery and running a trial on different post-harvest treatments used for avocados. What’s your favorite thing about working at Trevelyan’s? Knowing that benefiting growers is at the center of everything we do. Also, all the staff at Trevelyan’s are very friendly and helpful, which makes it easy to get things done. What are your main interests/ hobbies outside of work? I like playing squash, juggling, going on outdoor adventures and travelling.
Scheduled for Katikati
I also enjoy going to the theatre and stand-up comedy shows. What would you like people to know about you? I love learning new things and I am keen to give almost anything a go. Who has been the biggest inspiration in your life? My aunt has been my biggest inspiration. She works incredibly hard to be an outstanding police officer. She has been through a lot but she perseveres and is out in the community helping people every day.
Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to another year! Due to popular demand, Eddie Biesiek (Certified Ltd), has booked the lounge at Memorial Hall, Katikati, on the following Thursday dates: • 9 March
• 6 April
• 11 May
• 8 June
• 6 July
• 10 August
• 7 September
• 12 October
• 9 November
• 7 December
Please put these in your diaries!
We’ll cater for both new applicants and renewals
Christine Broad Harvest Co-ordinator
NEW - 8:30am to 4pm
What is your role and how long have you worked at Trevelyan’s? I have not long started with Trevelyan’s in the Harvest Coordinator role, having been here for just three weeks. My last role was working with GIS mapping (Geographic Information Systems), but I have previously worked in the apple, grain, livestock, and forestry industries. This is my first foray into kiwifruit. What’s your favorite thing about working at Trevelyan’s? I haven’t been here long, but straight away it’s obvious that there are some great people here who I know I’ll enjoy working with. What are your main interests/hobbies outside of work? I mostly enjoy spending time with friends and family, although I’m currently spending a lot of time working on house and garden renovations. What would you like people to know about you? My husband and I have recently returned to New Zealand, having lived in Australia for over 16 years; last residing in Launceston, Tasmania. While I was born in Tauranga, I spent most of my life as a Hawkes Bay girl
RENEWAL - 8:30am to 1pm (We can include people whose certificates have expired up to 6 months. A ny longer and they have to stay all day).
before heading across the ditch. Who has been the biggest inspiration in your life? There is no one person that can claim the title as biggest inspiration in my life. I’ve found inspiration from many different people over the years from friends and family to work colleagues and everyone in between. Inspiration can come from those doing great things as well as those overcoming life’s everyday struggles.
Please spread the word around your staff and growers, and ask them to contact me for more details if they’re interested. Thanks & regards:
Eddie Biesiek - Certified Ltd. 021 494042 or 07-549 4775
VineOnline TRENDING WEBSITES, YOUTUBE, FACEBOOK & INDUSTRY e-INFO www.trevelyan.co.nz www.trevelyan.co.nz
trevelyanspcl www.facebook.com/trevelyanspcl
a www.avoco.co.nz www.avoco.co.nz
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this document is given in good faith, but because in providing this report it has been necessary, in some circumstances, to rely on the information provided by others and a number of future factors, this may influence the result. Accordingly, Trevelyan’s Pack and Cool Ltd and their employees do not accept any liability should any grower or other party incur any loss having relied on information given in this document.
