New Zealand will be welcoming international avocado experts come 2023, after winning the bid to host the 10th World Avocado Congress.
The five-day conference will bring thousands of the world’s leading avocado growers, researchers, marketers, innovators and investors to the destination.
New Zealand’s bid was led by Tauranga-based NZ Avocado, which represents 1,350 New Zealand growers, with support from Tourism New Zealand, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the New Zealand Embassy in Colombia.
NZ Avocado’s chief executive Jen Scoular said New Zealand’s team approach was integral to its win. This included six months of lobbying activity with key representatives of the international avocado industry, a VIP event for influential delegates hosted by the New Zealand Ambassador to Colombia, and a video message from prime minister Jacinda Ardern inviting voters to come and experience New Zealand first-hand.
Scoular added the congress will demonstrate New Zealand’s growing practices, food safety and quality systems, and the ethical treatment of growers and communities.
The country currently contributes two per cent of global avocado production, and is the world’s ninth largest avocado exporter. New Zealand was up against Mexico, the largest avocado exporter in the world, and Kenya, the sixth largest exporter of avocados globally, in the competitive bid.
Tourism New Zealand’s global manager business events, Lisa Gardiner, said in a statement: “This is a huge boost for our local avocado industry and a chance to showcase New Zealand’s horticulture industry to thousands of influential international guests. It also provides the opportunity to access innovation, global knowledge and science to support the growth of the sector.”
