Helen Gray’s contribution to the New Zealand avocado industry was recognised at the NZ Avocado International Industry Conference 2018 gala dinner on the evening of 30 August with the presentation of a Service to Industry award. The award presented was one of just two presented on the night and recognises service and achievements to the avocado sector.
Below is what Mike McRoberts, MC for the gala dinner, read out to the audience about Helen’s contribution to the industry:
Helen has been involved in the avocado and kiwifruit post-harvest industry for over twenty years.
She is involved day-to-day at the coal face and is an active participant at an avocado industry governance level contributing to avocado quality, EMS, AvoGreen and market access discussions across the packer forum and other NZ Avocado initiated working groups such as EMS.
Helen is passionate and driven to ensure compliance among packers, exporters and growers for the benefits of the industry as a whole.
Helen delivered a significant contribution to the New Zealand avocado industry in her role in the China audit of avocado packing facilities and procedures for the export of New Zealand avocados.
Her attention to detail was a key element to the success of this project and has set the way and example for the rest of the avocado packing fraternity in New Zealand and she has since shared her knowledge and audit experience with the rest of the industry to help in their preparations for the same audit.
The NZ Avocado Growers’ Association recognises and acknowledges Helen Gray’s passion and attention to detail for the supply chain of NZ avocados and honours her as a recipient of the Service to Industry Award.
Helen Gray accepting the Service to Industry award at the NZ Avocado International Industry Conference 2018 gala dinner