The Bay of Plenty's orchardists are today celebrating yet another success with the avocado industry announcing record-breaking domestic sales of $41 million during the 2015-16 season.

Chief Executive of NZ Avocado Jen Scoular announced the end-of-season results of $134 million in industry value from export and New Zealand market sales yesterday.

NZ Avocado chief executive Jen Scoular.

Earlier this week, Zespri announced that the 2015/16 kiwifruit season saw the biggest-ever total return to growers, the highest-ever green kiwifruit return per hectare and record sales volumes for both Zespri Green and Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit.

Jen says strong global demand for avocados also delivered outstanding returns from the Australian market and strong returns from the Asian export markets.

The value returned to the avocado industry is an exceptional achievement almost matching the $135m posted for the 2014-15 season despite a much lower crop. But it was the $41m value of the New Zealand market that broke records.

'Five years ago the New Zealand market achieved between $15m and $20m annually, without ever getting much above that.

"This year's return of $41m is 25 per cent above last year's return of $31.8m and shows year on year growth of 17 per cent since 2011,” says Jen.

She credits strong collaboration across the industry, good communication, information sharing and jointly implemented promotional activities.

'In New Zealand, demand is growing at a phenomenal rate and we are seeing the emergence of diehard avocado lovers. Avocados are becoming a highly valued fruit due to their amazing health benefits.”

Avocado production has irregular swings in volume. This year 4.2m trays were sold, versus 7 million trays sold the year before. Of the 4.2m trays, 2.6m trays were exported, 1.2m trays were sold as fresh in New Zealand and 380,000 trays were processed into avocado oil and other products. 'The great news for consumers is that the 2016-17 season will start in New Zealand in late June with what is predicted to be a bumper crop.” The industry has added significant resource to the New Zealand market through the Primary Growth Partnership programme ‘NZ Avocado Go Global', working alongside marketers and retailers to provide supply chain education and consumer education through PR and social media.

Efforts by the industry are raising the visibility of the amazing health benefits and versatility of this New Zealand-grown fruit.

Chair of the Exporter Council Andrew Darling says the Australian market performed very strongly, with increased demand for the healthy avocado.

He stressed the importance of strong relationships across the industry in New Zealand as well as with partners in export markets.

Chair of NZ Avocado Ashby Whitehead says growers will be very happy this season.

'The industry has worked very well across the supply chain to deliver an exceptional result in a moderate volume year. Grower returns are very good this year. As growers we are very happy with the success of our industry. ” Consumers in New Zealand can look forward to a much greater supply of avocados when the 2016-17 export season begins in August.

The first crop estimate for the new season is 7.6m trays – nearly double the volume available last season. 'Our avocado industry is well on track to become a significant export earner and contributor to New Zealand's economy,” says Jen. 'As an industry we are looking forward to breaking more records when the new export season starts in September.”