About AVOCO

New Zealand growers asked for consolidation as a way to better manage the supply of fruit internationally and avoid flooding the market. Southern Produce and Primor Produce listened to growers and pooled their avocado export resources to form AVOCO in 2013, creating the largest grower-led movement to unite New Zealand’s avocado industry and further its international success.

Primor Produce has been successfully sourcing, marketing and distributing the very best produce for more than 30 years. Based in Auckland, it supplies the New Zealand domestic market with local and imported produce, as well as marketing and distributing New Zealand grown produce overseas.

Based in Te Puna, north of Tauranga, Southern Produce began trading in the 1990s, selling premium New Zealand produce both domestically and internationally.

Its “direct to retail” strategy has positioned the company as one of the leading suppliers of avocados, blueberries and kiwifruit in the Australasian region.

Founded in 1994, Team Avocado Trust is a grower entity aligned with Southern Produce. It’s growers supply fruit to nominated packhouses that process the fruit for export under the trust’s associated brands, including Team, Qavo and AVANZA.

The Trust’s supply base is spread across all the major avocado growing regions, including Bay of Plenty, South Auckland, Whangarei and the Far North.

The union created a commercial force that has the scale to manage harvest volumes and fruit flow better than anyone else.

In this collaborative environment, we can maximise returns for growers and make strategic, intelligent decisions about exports that ultimately makes our industry and its growers more profitable.

As 100% owners in the AVANZA brand, we are also committed to future-proofing our industry by developing exciting markets in Asia, including Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore and Thailand.

AVOCO structure

Growers are contracted with either Primor Produce or Team Avocado Trust to supply fruit to nominated packhouses that pack and ship the fruit for export under export vendor entities and their associated brands, including AVANZA.

Our business partnerships benefit growers through healthier Orchard Gate Returns and a secure and sustainable industry.

FAQs

Some answers to commonly asked questions. If you need to know more please contact us.

Who are you and why would we change to you?

What happens to local market and process grade fruit?

How can you deliver healthy returns each and every season?

My existing rep says you fudge the returns to make them look good. Can you explain?

Where do we get our fruit packed? Can we choose our packer?

How is the sales program managed to ensure the best possible returns to growers?

What commitment do you have to new market development? What have you done in the last few years?

When do I get paid?

Do you run a seasonal pool or can I sell on the spot market when I choose to pick?

I have heard some growers get special treatment. Is this true?

How are packing costs structured?

Are packing costs deducted from my returns?

Are there any other costs that I have to pay?

Can I pick when I want to? I like to strip my crop in October. Can you do this for me?

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