Southern Produce is an avocado supplier in the NZ domestic market as well as NZ’s largest avocado exporter as AVOCO in partnership with Primor Produce.
Avocados have been grown in New Zealand since the 1980s. The main avocado production areas in New Zealand are the Bay of Plenty, Whangarei and Northland. Avocados are a subtropical fruit that are very sensitive to frost.
The avocado is unique in that it is harvested mature but unripe. The avocado will not ripen while it is attached to the tree. The age of fruit at maturity ranges from 9 – 12 months at which point once the fruit are picked they will begin to ripen. In the case of the Hass variety the fruit changes from green to black and softens to a creamy texture that makes the avocado ideal to eat.
Season
Handling Information
Temperature:
39˚F, +4˚C Green – 32-34˚F, +2˚C when ripe
Relative Humidity:
85%
Normal Shelf-life:
28-32 Days
Other:
Extremely sensitive to freezing injury. Ethylene producer. Susceptible to chilling injury.
AVOCO
New Zealand’s two biggest avocado exporters Southern Produce and Primor Produce formed The New Zealand Avocado Company Ltd to export avocados under the AVOCO trademark.
The formation of AVOCO™ was the start of a new era for New Zealand’s avocado industry. Primor Produce, Southern Produce and our respective growers and packers have joined forces to ensure a thriving future for avocado exports to Australia and beyond. Our combined expertise and long histories are together unmatched.
