Fifty top avocado experts will meet in Tauranga this September for the fifth quadrennial New Zealand and Australian Avocado Growers' Conference.

Combined conferences for the New Zealand Avocado Growers Association Inc and Avocados Australia are only held in New Zealand every eight years and this year's event, called ‘Nutritional Values', will be at the ASB Arena Baypark, from September 9-12.

Experts from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and USA will present advanced thinking on pruning techniques, irregular bearing, disease management, new cultivars, nutrient management, pollination, quality improvement, new market development, promotions, economics, biosecurity, and supply chain improvement.

Sessions are divided into three topic streams: marketing nutrition, healthy orchard and strong industry.

'We have a fantastic line up of speakers who will inform, inspire and challenge growers,” says Ashby Whitehead, newly appointed chair of the NZ Avocado Growers Association and Avocado Industry Council.

'The theme of nutrition is designed to raise awareness among growers that they are not just growing fruit; we are producing a high-quality product that meets the needs of consumers – consumers who are becoming increasingly conscious of the health benefits of the food they are eating.

'We need to explore opportunities to leverage the nutritional benefits of this fruit, especially as we seek to further develop markets in Asia.”

The joint conference is part of the memorandum of understanding between NZ Avocado Growers Association Inc and Australian counterparts, Avocado Australia Ltd, to foster a stronger working relationship between the two industry bodies.

This year's conference also represents an opportunity for avocado industry product and service providers to promote their businesses to growers.

'We have had excellent support from businesses involved in the avocado industry, both local, national and from Australia,” says Midge Munro, NZ Avocado communications manager.

New exporter collaboration AVOCO is the ‘Nutritional Values' principal conference partner. It has been created by New Zealand's two largest avocado exporters – Auckland-based Primor Produce Ltd and Te Puna's Southern Produce Ltd.

'We are pleased to be able to introduce this new initiative to the industry at what is sure to be an exciting event,” says Alistair Young, a director of AVOCO.

'The interests of the New Zealand avocado industry and its growers are best served by a unified entity that is focused totally on getting the best orchard-gate returns for growers.”

To find out more and register for the conference go to www.avocadoconference.co.nz