In Coromandel, New Zealand, orchardist Allan Dickinson, who cultivates approximately 600 Hass avocado trees across 7 hectares, has expressed concerns regarding the current state of the avocado industry, citing an oversupply and diminished returns. Dickinson highlighted the industry's heavy reliance on the Australian market for exports, while noting a lack of marketing efforts to other global regions. The Avocado Growers Association's chief executive, Brad Siebert, acknowledged the challenges of the season, attributing them partly to extreme weather conditions affecting export quantities and leading to domestic market oversupply. Despite these challenges, efforts to diversify export markets have been underway, with exports to the US and Canada marking a shift from the traditional focus on Australia. Dickinson pointed out the competitive pressures from Australian avocados in international markets, underscoring the need for earlier market cultivation efforts by New Zealand's industry leaders.
