DCATrials Food NZ

Featuring:

Overview: Inline inspection for elimination of contaminants in products
Food Packaging: Liquid packaging - bulk and retail, new materials, new technology, new equipment

Next Issue Featuring

NZIFST CONFERENCE HANDBOOK – Full Programme and delegate handbook. This issue of Food New Zealand will be the delegate handbook at Conference

Preview of NZIFST Conference exhibitors

Food Innovation Waikato – Opening of Dairy Innovation Centre

The NZIFST Dairy Division (DIANZ) FoodNZ Dairy Year Planner will be distributed with this issue of Food New Zealand.

Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere trials for Avocados

Two thousand trays of avocados were packed into shipping containers fitted with Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere equipment and exported to France in late December, with promising results. The technology creates a low oxygen atmosphere to prevent the fruit from ripening.

The aim is to develop new export markets and reduce the New Zealand avocado industry’s reliance on exporting fruit to Australia.

Another shipment is currently en route to Honolulu, and two further containers will be sent to France shortly to help determine the ideal conditions required when transporting avocados for more than 20 days at a time.

Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere technology was developed overseas and has never been used in New Zealand before. The avocado trial is being monitored by Plant and Food Research in association with the Avocado Industry Council (AIC).

New Zealand Avocado Growers’ Association Inc. (NZAGA) chief executive, Jen Scoular and chairman, John Schnackenberg began a road show presentation for growers in Katikati and Te Puke on 8 February, followed by Houhora on 16 February, and Whangarei on 17 February.’

Growers attending the road shows will be told a lot more work is required to understand the opportunities offered by Asian markets. AIC is engaged in a project with MAF to promote agreement on residue levels in six Asian countries and is also working with government and industry to assess the potential for exports to China and India, neither of which currently allows avocados into the country.

The New Zealand avocado industry is the third largest fresh fruit export from New Zealand with exports last year (2010-11) totalling $67m. The 2011-12 season will see the industry produce its biggest crop ever at 5.4 - 5.8 million trays (31,900 tonnes), which represents a jump of just under one million trays from the previous biggest season. The NZ Avocado Growers' Association Inc. (NZAGA) and Avocado Industry Council Ltd (AIC) work with the New Zealand industry to set export standards, facilitate market access, promote New Zealand avocados and provide technical information to all New Zealand growers of which there are over 1600 based mainly in the Bay of Plenty and Northland.