By Glen Dunseath, CEO New Zealand Operations, Darling Group
In recent months, the narrative surrounding the avocado industry has been largely dominated by discussions of the challenges we’ve faced and the poor outcomes for growers. At Just Avocados and Darling Group, we recognise that while many factors influencing these challenges lie beyond our control, our commitment remains steadfast to steering the elements we can influence toward the “best” outcomes available to us in a challenged environment.
The age-old analogy of doing the same thing and hoping for a different outcome is not the way forward. Our focus as a business is on our own continuous improvement, which is unfolding across various aspects of our operation—from our export strategies and grower engagement to internal team dynamics, packhouse operations, and logistics.
One significant shift in our strategy last season was the adaptation of our market focus. The forecast underperformance in the Australian market prompted our decisive pivot to take that broken record off and press play on a more promising opportunity in Canada, while continuing to nurture our presence in Asian markets. This nimble reorientation exemplifies the capability of Darling Group’s business model to change the playlist quickly to ensure that our actions align closely with the best interests of our growers.
In our ongoing quest for innovation, we are currently exploring alternative harvesting techniques aimed at boosting efficiency and reducing costs. Our expectations are that more fruit can be harvested daily, thereby enhancing overall productivity of harvesters and the packhouse and reducing costs for growers. Stay tuned for outcomes of these trials later in the year.
In logistics, we have made significant strides in optimising our processes. A strategic consolidation of our packing operations at Just Avocados in Katikati, which boasts the leading avocado packing technology in the industry, has streamlined our timeframes from pick to pack to loading for export fruit. This enhancement not only shortens the supply chain but ensures consistent quality control, which has been instrumental in avoiding issues in both domestic and international markets.
The recent update to GLOBALG.A.P. v6 has brought a heightened focus on continuous improvement within orchards. Our Grower Services Team has been proactive in hosting workshops across the Bay of Plenty, Whangarei, and Far North regions, aimed at empowering our growers with knowledge and strategies to enable them to plan improvements they can make to their operations.
Inside the packhouse, we are fine-tuning our fruit handling machinery and are working with our staff to develop a shared vision and values that can continue to inspire our team. Great people who are happy and engaged that have great technology to work with can make for better outcomes for our growers and customers.
At the core of our ethos is the belief that through continuous improvement in our systems and culture we can effect meaningful change—even in the face of daunting challenges. This commitment to excellence and adaptability is what defines us at Just Avocados and Darling Group, and it is how we continue to make a significant impact in the avocado industry.