The first trial shipment of avocados from New Zealand has arrived in China.
Following agreement and the signing of phytosanitary requirements between NZ and China last November, and a technical audit in January, the access deal has come in to full fruition.
The avocados arrived in Shanghai today, where they will be part of a celebration with the Minister for Primary Industries (MPI), Chinese border officials, the New Zealand Consulate and members of the New Zealand avocado industry.
“Securing export access for our avocados into China has been New Zealand’s top horticulture priority,” says MPI director-general Martyn Dunne.
“Granting of avocado access is the culmination of substantial work and negotiation over a number of years between New Zealand and China, and we're excited to reach this milestone.”
In 2016/17, New Zealand exported around US$113m of avocados – an increase of about $64m from the previous season.
China is expected to be a significant market for New Zealand avocados.
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