New Zealand has won a bid to host the World Avocado Congress in 2023. The five-day conference will bring the world’s leading avocado growers, researchers, marketers, tech innovators and investors to New Zealand. The bid was led by Tauranga-based NZ Avocado, an organisation which represents 1350 growers in the country. It was supported by Tourism New Zealand, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the New Zealand Embassy in Colombia.
“The congress will bring the brightest minds in world avocado research to our shores.”
New Zealand contributes 2% of global avocado production. The country faced off against Mexico, the world’s largest exporter, and Kenya in the bidding process. NZ Avocado Chief Executive Jen Scoular said: “New Zealand’s team approach was integral to its win. This included six months of lobbying activity with key representatives of the international avocado industry, a VIP event for influential delegates hosted by the New Zealand Ambassador to Colombia, and a video message from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern inviting voters to come and experience New Zealand first-hand. “The congress will bring the brightest minds in world avocado research to our shores. It will bring leading researchers and innovators of avocado breeding, production, supply chain technology and marketing. It will attract the world’s fruit and trade media, showcasing New Zealand’s avocado industry as a leader to existing and potential customers and investors from around the world.”
