New Zealand Avocados Quality and technical issues Jonathan Cutting Where are we? Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 1
North Island Major avocado production areas Industry Information Ca. 4,400 ha with 2,300 ha less than 5 years old) 1,150 registered avocado orchards Third largest fresh fruit sector in New Zealand 98% Hass cultivar New Zealand Avocado Growers Association is the peak industry body Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 2
Key industry statistics Total crop 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 Crop (tons) 4000 2000 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2500 Key industry statistics Planted acreage 2000 1500 1000 Bearing (ha) Non-bearing (ha) 500 0 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 3
Key industry statistics Export market allocation 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Other Australia USA Key production statistics Market share by destination Other Export USA New Zealand Australia Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 4
Key Industry Issues Fruit quality in the USA and Australia Key Industry Issues Fruit quality in the USA and Australia Falling yields Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 5
Key Industry Issues Fruit quality in the USA and Australia Falling yields Strong and growing domestic market Key Industry Issues Fruit quality in the USA and Australia Falling yields Strong and growing domestic market Market access Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 6
Key Industry Issues Fruit quality in the USA and Australia Falling yields Strong and growing domestic market Market access Compliance costs Fruit quality in the USA November/ December 1999 Affected all growers and all exporters Affected hard green fruit Appeared to be pathological Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 7
Approach to address the problem Understand the problem Develop strategies and Plan Ownership by industry at large Work with the USA handlers Secure good information USA New Zealand Resource Address systems, compliance and knowledge Handling systems Key strategies Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 8
Example of systems compliance Onshore consolidation times have been updated yearly by the avocado industry Year Australia Other (USA etc) Container a Container a Reefer a 2000 14 8 11 2001 14 7 11 2002 12 7 11 2003 11 (31 Dec) 9 (Jan) 7 (Feb) 7 8 a days to scheduled sailing, Dixon, Pak and Cutting Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 9
Handling systems Outturn monitoring Key strategies Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 10
Relationship between fruit age and unsound fruit % Unsound fruit (5% threshold) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 2000 2001 2002 y = 0 + 0.02762*exp(days/5.203) r 2 = 0.82, n= 50, p<0.001 10 0 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 Age when ripe (days) Dixon, Pak and Cutting Issues identified from outturn monitoring Harvest maturity Fruit age in the market Cold chain management Spore inoculation using pre-pack dipping (Phytosanitary requirements) Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 11
Handling systems Outturn monitoring Library trays Key strategies Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 12
rainfall (mm) 40 30 20 10 daily rainfall peel damage (severity) 0 10/08/01 30/08/01 19/09/01 9/10/01 29/10/01 18/11/01 8/12/01 28/12/01 pick date 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Peel damage severity (%) Dixon, Mandemaker, Pak and Cutting 40 35 Unsound Rainfall %Unsound or Rainfall (mm) 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 01/09/2001 11/09/2001 21/09/2001 01/10/2001 11/10/2001 21/10/2001 31/10/2001 10/11/2001 Date Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 13
A comparison of packer performance (2002/3) 50 %Unsound fruit (5% threshold) 40 30 20 10 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N -- Packhouse Dixon, Mandemaker, Pak and Cutting Handling systems Outturn monitoring Library trays Best practice Key strategies Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 14
Influence of rainfall prior to harvest on stem end rots 60 stem-end rots 50 incidence (%) 40 30 20 10 0 0 1-5 5-10 11-15 16-20 >20 rainfall (m m ) Dixon, Mandemaker, Pak and Cutting Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 15
Influence of rainfall prior to harvest on body rots 10 Body rots 8 severity (%) 6 4 2 0 0 1-5 5-10 11-15 16-20 >20 rainfall (m m ) Dixon, Mandemaker, Pak and Cutting Key strategies Handling systems Outturn monitoring Library trays Best practice Relationship with USA handlers Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 16
Key strategies Handling systems Outturn monitoring Library trays Best practice Relationship with USA handlers Research Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 17
Key research issues Research plan and strategies Funding Resourcing Key research areas Fruit age Maturity Rots Storage environment Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 18
Refine quality assessment manual Shipping Exporter Packing Out-turn Monitoring Onshore library trays Monitor Quality Problems R&D Grower/ packhouse Refine Best Practice Key horticultural constraints Low mean annual temperature (16-17 o C) Very wet winters (1,000-1,500mm) Risk of frost Marginal pollination conditions Alternate bearing Seedling rootstocks (Zutano) Wind Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 19
Key horticultural advantages Excellent soils - drainage Cool summers Heavy flowering Reliable rainfall and excellent quality irrigation water Out of season production relative to Australia Long harvest season Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 20
Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 21
The root environment as a limitation to yield Thank you for the opportunity to present to you I am happy to answer any questions Jonathan Cutting (September 2004) 22