Western Australia is all but finished with the Hass avocado harvest. As North Queensland gets underway with the Shepard variety, Bundaberg (East QLD) will start the Shepard harvest on 1st March.
“Size is looking good, there is a good range with mediums being the main size, which is perfect. Quality so far is in the excellent range, which is very positive,” said Anthony Allen, CEO at The Avolution.
Antony said they have not seen any adverse effects from the wet weather on production yet, and they are expecting (hoping) for an El Nino year with less rain to dry out from the last two years of non-stop rain on the east coast of Australia.
The Avolution has been planting avocado trees to increase volumes. This year will see strong volumes for the company, but it is next year and the following year that the biggest increases are expected.
“This year is looking to be a great consolidation year in preparation for the next few years of growth. Next year we will see significant growth in both Queensland and Western Australia.
“The domestic demand is good, but harder to grow as the low hanging opportunities have been used up, but it still has growth potential. Our main export markets are Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, where demand is very good with continued growth and increased market share.
“Japan was tough this year as the WA crop was smaller than normal, but this will change. The Middle East is the key market for new business in 2023, we will be at Gulf Food in mid-February and visiting across the region with The Avolution team after the trade show. There is a lot of opportunity in the premium sector.”
Antony said they are still waiting for the protocol to be released for exports to India. “We are already meeting Indian importers and retailers so that we are prepared as soon as the protocol is released. We have been nominated as finalists in the 2023 India Australia Business and Community Alliance awards 2023 for our work and business activities in India so far.
Antony has been nominated for Managing Director of the Year, and The Avolution for Excellence in Innovation .
There is also good news on the cost of freight which has been sky-high for a couple of years. According to Antony they are not at pre-covid levels yet, but sea-freight is down 15-20% and air-freight is down 40% at least and looking like it will normalise quicker than sea freight. Both are more available now and looking to be more normal.
For more information:
Antony Allen
The Avolution
Email: ceo@theavolution.com.au
www.theavolution.com.au