Katikati looking to bed-in Avocado Capital status

Katch Katikati want to hear from locals on how to leverage its title of Avocado Capital of New Zealand.

Katikati has proclaimed itself the Avocado Capital of New Zealand - now it's time to capitalise on that status, says Katch Katikati's promotions manager Jacqui Knight.

Ideas and plans to do just that will be the subject of a public meeting in the town this Wednesday, at which Jacqui wants to see a strong turnout from locals to show their support.

'We need to know we've got the community behind us, see what some of the ideas and thought are,” says Jacqui.

'And then from that meeting, it would be nice to get an action group together and see if they're prepared to drive it and instigate some of the things we can do with it.”

The idea has been kicking around for a couple of years, Jacqui says, but momentum to make the most of it has been building in recent months.

'We've been thinking about it probably for a couple of years on and off, having some loose conversations about it.

'Then about four or five months ago some local orchardists came and saw me and said why don't we do this?

'So they motivated me to take a lead on it.”

Signs on the main roads leading into Katikati proclaiming the town's status of Avocado Capital of New Zealand were the first steps, says Jacqui.

'We thought well let's put it out there.

'The area has always been the biggest producer of avocados and we've got the most growers located here.”

Other parts of the country, notably Northland, are getting in on the avocado action too, she says, so the heat is on to make the most of Katikati's preeminent position in the industry.

She doesn't see it conflicting with the title of New Zealand's Mural Town Katikati has proudly owned for the last 28 years.

'We don't want to be losing that branding and reputation because we are an arts community, but avocados are a super fruit and we feel we are the home of avocados in New Zealand, so we feel that we must be able to work the two together.”

Business promotions around the avocado theme are nothing new in the area, so this is an opportunity to pull them together under the Avocado Capital umbrella, says Jacqui.

'We've got the Avocado Food and Wine festival that's been going for about 14 years, and that's really popular.

'Through the A&P Show they've set up a specific avocado industry trade show, so all of the growers and people in the industry are really keen and interested in that.

'With the signs we've put up on the side of the road we've had financial support from Apata and Seeka, so they're keen to get behind it and push it along.”

Jacqui says groups such as the Lions Club along with Katikati Open Air Art are backing the idea, and she's been struck by the number of individuals who've shown their support.

'It's all just about getting together and working out a bit of a plan.”

Jacqui is hoping to get a strong sense of community buy-in at the meeting, to be held in the Information Centre's Uretara Room at 5.30pm, so that she can go to Western Bay of Plenty District Council and push for its support.

'It all depends on what it looks like, what we're trying to do.”

Part of the action they've been taking to bed-in the Avocado Capital idea has been boosting avocado themes and imagery around the town, says Jacqui.

'With the revamped Visitor Information Centre we've got the ability to reflect the avocado industry, in some of the furniture we've got here. We're getting a sculpture from the Just Avocados packing shed moved into town to be by the Centre.”

Council are planning to upgrade the playground between I-site and Western Bay Museum, so Jacqui has talked to them about doing it with a bit of an avocado feel.

'I've got to come up with some ideas of what that might look like.

'We need a few really motivated, dedicated people to drive it and make it happen.”

Jacqui is hoping to see as many people as possible at the meeting, with open minds ready to brainstorm ideas.

'Yes, absolutely, and just to show support for it so we know we're on the right track and we have got the community support.

'Then we just want half a dozen or a dozen people to put their hands up and say we're happy to run with this and take it further.”

The meeting will be in the Uretara Room at the Katikati Visitor Information Centre this Wednesday, November 28, at 5:30.

For further information contact Katch Katikati on 07 549 5250.

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