This time the world is coming to New Zealand. New Zealand exporters are so used to getting on a long haul flight, lap top in hand, to meet and make new customers, understand the market and promote their product or service. In just over a week the global avocado business community descends on Aotearoa New Zealand for the 10th World Avocado Congress.
Eight different field days will take 760 delegates to South Auckland, Northland and Bay of Plenty, to visit orchards and packhouses, to hear science presentations and see New Zealand agritech businesses in operation.
“We are showcasing our wonderful country, our growers, our technology and of course our avocado sector,” says Jen Scoular, CEO of New Zealand Avocado and President of the World Avocado Congress Committee.
New Zealand companies are demonstrating their products on orchard, Plant and Food Research are presenting four topics under a marquee at David French’s avocado and kiwifruit orchard and delegates will be taken through the brand new MAF RODA technology installed at Just Avocados packhouse in Katikati. Delegates will be treated to the park like orchard of Maria and Andrew Watchorn, New Zealand’s top performing growers for the last four years.
TOMRA Food will offer a tour of their Auckland premises prior to the congress as an additional networking opportunity. At the Congress in Auckland New Zealand exporters will exhibit in front of over 1,150 delegates from 32 countries, 750 of those from outside New Zealand. 35% of those delegates list agritech as a reason for being at the congress.
Radfords Software CEO Adam Cuming says, “It is a fantastic opportunity to meet with existing and potential customers on home turf. We are looking forward to a great trade show and congress.”
New Zealand delegates will hear from over 140 presenters on topics from science to consumer marketing to the sustainability initiatives of Chile, Peru and the US.
With the recent weather events in New Zealand, climate change and sustainability will be a hot global topic at the Congress, where the theme is “respectful; respect for people, respect for the environment, respect for our future”. Dr Brent Clothier presents his climate change research and expertise as a keynote speaker.
Steve Trickett, Avoco says growers will have the opportunity to really understand the global business they are in. Getting first hand presentations on global supply and demand, on production around the world and on consumer marketing of avocado.
“We recognise the amazing opportunity with the world coming to us. Delegates will learn so much from this congress, its professional development you cannot get anywhere else. Learning, sharing, and understanding our global customers, networks and scientists – this congress has the ability to unlock amazing and diverse opportunities. We know our sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and delegates will leverage that opportunity,” says Scoular.
Jen Scoular
New Zealand Avocado
Tel: +64 7 571 6147
Email: communications@nzavocado.co.nz
www.wacnz2023.com