NZ grower wants to sell wind felled avocados amid shortage
Kim Crocker was forced to dispose of 20,000 "perfectly edible" avocados that were blown to the ground during recent strong gales. With an ever-increasing demand for the fruit, a supply shortage and reports of avos selling for up to $7.49 each this month, Crocker is troubled by what he sees as an immense waste.
What irks him most is that there are so few avocados being sold in New Zealand at the moment despite what he sees as a plentiful supply. The supermarket shelves are often empty and when they are in stock they can sell for upwards of $6 each.
This relates to the "dry matter" requirement avocados legally need to meet before they can be sold. This refers to the maturity of the fruit, in particular the oil content they contain that gives the optimal avocado its distinctive nutty flavour and creamy texture. Avocados with a lower dry matter have more water content and less flavour.
"My problem is I think they're edible and I'd even just give them away. We could just give them to charity ... even if we just gave them to the poor," he said.
As it was, he'd had no choice but to feed the avocados to pigs or else just mow them into the grass around his trees.
Read more at nzherald.co.nz
