Te Puke orchardist Ashby Whitehead is the new chairman-elect of the NZ Avocado Growers Association and Avocado Industry Council.

The NZAGA grower representative for seven years will replace current chairman John Schnackenberg when he steps down from the position in May as part of a planned succession.

Ashby Whitehead is the new chairman-elect of the NZ Avocado Growers Association and Avocado Industry Council.

"I am excited about the excellent opportunities available for avocados from New Zealand but also very aware of the challenges we face as an industry.

'I look forward to leading the industry through this phase of change and improvement, with the development of new markets in Asia, building the nutritional platform for avocados and strengthening the avocado category in the New Zealand market,” says Ashby.

John has served as chairman since 2007 and will continue as a grower representative on the NZAGA Executive and AIC Ltd Board.

Ashby has been one of the eight grower-elected directors on AIC's ten-member board since 2006.

He and wife Linda purchased a run-down apple orchard in Te Puke in 1991, converting to avocados after much tidying up and rehabilitation of the land. In 2000 they acquired the neighbouring orchard and planted a further 0.75ha of avocados and 3.5ha of kiwifruit.

Ashby has had a long career in engineering, something which he has recently come back to following the effects of Psa-V. He is very active in the Te Puke avocado and kiwifruit communities and also sits on the AIC Finance committee, the Recognised Product Group, Quality Standards Committee and Local Market Committee.

'I look forward to addressing the joint New Zealand and Australian avocado growers' conference in September in Tauranga in my new role as chairman.

'It will be an excellent opportunity to connect with New Zealand and international avocado growers,” says Ashby.

He takes the chairmanship at a time when there is major activity on the horizon for NZ Avocado.

'We are currently working on a business case for a primary growth partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries and also worked closely with Plant & Food Research to submit a bid for avocado research funding from the Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment.

'The crown investment will allow us to significantly accelerate our projects, implement solutions to and create a far more profitable industry going forward.”
Outgoing chairman John Schnackenberg says Ashby brings a strong grower focus to the chairmanship.

NZAGA Grower Representative Tony Ponder has been elected as the new Vice Chair of NZAGA. Tony has served on the board since 2005.