Eleven representatives from China Entry & Exit Inspection And Quarantine Association (CIQA) have spend two days visiting Tauranga to learn about New Zealand’s avocado, kiwifruit and pipfruit industries.
The CIQA officials visited an avocado orchard in Katikati, heard presentations from NZ Avocado, Zespri, Pipfruit New Zealand and New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries, and also toured the Plant & Food Research site in Te Puke.
While New Zealand-grown apples and kiwifruit have access to China, the avocado industry is in negotiations to gain phytosanitary access, with industry body NZ Avocados welcoming the opportunities to network with the officials from China.
“China as a market is very important to New Zealand avocados as we increase productivity and volumes of our amazingly healthy fruit,” Jen Scoular, NZ Avocado CEO said in a company statement. “We do not yet have phytosanitary access to China but wish to understand the market and build relationship for the future. We strongly support the negotiations being led by the Ministry for Primary Industries with the Chinese officials.”
Scoular said the opportunity to share the tour across the three industries in the Bay of Plenty region was a positive one.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to make connections with Chinese people and present our horticulture industry to them. All three industries, avocado, kiwifruit and pipfruit, are committed to delivering the highest quality, premium, safe fruit to the Chinese consumer,” Scoular said.
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