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

John Emett

Grower Services – Northland, Tapora, South Auckland

I work with growers in Northland, Tapora, and South Auckland to help them maximise the potential in their orchards.

I have been involved in the horticulture industry for most of my working life and was previously Avocado Manager at DMS for 12 years up to mid-2017.

I enjoy the challenge that growing avocados brings, and the fact that globally it is on the rise across most countries makes it an exciting crop to be involved with.

john@justavocados.co.nz
027 476 9087

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

Selina McGarry

Quality Assure

Selina oversees the quality control processes at our Just Avocados packhouse, ensuring we produce quality avocados. Additionally, she plays a pivotal role in supporting the quality team with AvoGreen monitoring.

Selina@justavocados.co.nz

Steve Harvey

JAL Operations Manager

Steve is responsible for the operational running of the packhouse, coolstore, ripening and distribution operations while providing strong leadership and support for the Just Avocados team. Steve has a strong focus on maintaining a high level of consistent output of fruit. Steve has considerable experience in operations management in pack houses in the Bay of Plenty and has also managed the daily operations of a large fully certified organic blackcurrant orchard in the South Island.

steveH@justavocados.co.nz

0272137663

Azariah Ballantyne

JAL Operations Team Leader

Azariah has been in the horticulture industry for over a decade now, working a variety of jobs during this time starting from the ground up. Four of those he has been with Just Avocados supporting the operations manager and working with the wider Just Avocados team. He ensures that the supply chain is managed and meets the required industry and compliance standards, while also communicating the daily production goals and relevant information to the packhouse team.

Azariah@justavocados.co.nz

027 256 0881

Ean Chadwick

JAL Distribution and Cool Store Team Leader

Ean has been with us for 5 years, he handles the ripening, handling and distribution of local market fruit, while also maintaining and monitoring export standards of our avocados. He also leads the team to maintain the cool store inventory, stages and rotating stock.

EanC@justavocados.co.nz

027 202 2078

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