Team Members

Andrew Darling

Managing Director – Darling Group

My passion for horticulture started in 1983 while working in a kiwifruit orchard and pack house. In 1989, I purchased an interest in a fruit packing facility in Katikati. Over the next 20 years, through partnership, merger and acquisition, I grew this operation to represent approx. 10% of Zespri’s national crop and 20% of the national avocado crop. I also became a significant grower of both these crops during this time. In 2016 I formed Darling Group which comprises an avocado export business (Just Avocados Ltd), a produce wholesale and logistics company in Brisbane (JH Leavy & Co.), various orchards, as well as an interest in a domestic produce marketer (Zeafruit).

andrew@darlinggroup.co.nz

Kyra Fielden

Grower Services – Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Gisborne

I work with growers providing support and communication throughout the season. Growing avocados is an exciting space to be in, I love meeting growers on their orchard and helping them achieve their orchard goals. Horticulture is my passion, with expertise in building more resilient orchards. I have been working in the industry for over 20 years, including working directly with avocado and kiwifruit growers in the Bay of Plenty.

kyra@justavocados.co.nz
027 257 5028

Jamie Urwin

Interim Grower Services – Northland, Tāpora, South Auckland

With more than 20 years’ experience in the agricultural retail channel, Jamie has built a strong background spanning frontline customer relationships, regional leadership, and strategic advisory roles. Earlier in his career, he held operational management roles across primary industries.

Jamie is a driven leader, recognised for his ability to coach, mentor, and develop people, and brings a practical, solutions‑focused approach to every orchard.

jamie@justavocados.co.nz
027 363 4179

Sue Hayward

Quality and Compliance Manager

Sue leads on-farm GlobalGAP inspections, ensuring our members meet global standards. Sue updates critical manuals, including the grower manual for GlobalGAP and the JAL Quality Manual System. She imparts knowledge through staff training on MPI Export, Food Safety, NZA Grade standards, and pest identification.

suzanne@justavocados.co.nz
027 280 5085 

Karin Green

Quality Assurer

Karin is responsible for our AvoGreen pest monitoring and assisting growers to maintain their Avogreen compliance. She also supports the Quality team in the Packhouse with phytosanitary and grade inspections of export fruit. Karin comes with a science background in Entomology (research and development, field surveys and Area-wide Integrated Pest Management) and has experience in the Horticulture industry (Plant Production).

karin@justavocados.co.nz

Jazz Richardson

JAL Systems and Compliance Lead

Jazz has worked in various roles since 2017 with the Just Avocados team. She is now involved in Systems and Compliance.

jazz@justavocados.co.nz
027 346 6606

Rebecca Ogg

General Manager – Post Harvest Operations

Rebecca is the General Manager – Post Harvest Operations at our Just Avocados packhouse.

rebecca@darlinggroup.co.nz

Rob Fenney

Site Operations Manager

Rob is the Site Operations Manager at our Just Avocados packhouse.

robf@justavocaodos.nz

Grace Dawkins

Packhouse & Coolstore Team Member

Grace maintains the local market inventory, keeping track of incoming and outgoing stock as well as the ripening and handling of the avocados. She is a certified forklift operator and is a health and safety representative.

graced@justavocados.co.nz

Jacob Darling

CEO, J.H. Leavy & Co.

My focus is on continued new business development for Darling Group Marketing in the export of primarily New Zealand and Australian produce.  The Just Avocados export programme is a significant part of my role and I am passionate about obtaining the best opportunities for growers.

jacob@darlinggroup.co.nz
+64 27 582 9101
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