Japan’s largest avocado importer visits Te Puna | Rural

The president of Japan's largest avocado importer and six other senior industry officials from Japan will visit a Te Puna orchard today to learn more about how the fruit is grown and harvested in New Zealand.

Mr Tatsuya Ishiguro, president of Union Company Ltd, will head the delegation of high ranking officials from Union Company, leading Japanese supermarket chain Maruetsu, and distributor, Japan Fresh Foods.

The three day visit, beginning tomorrow (Thursday September 22) has been organised by AVANZA, and hosted by Te Puna-based exporter Southern Produce Ltd (SPL).

SPL chief executive officer Tony Ponder said the main purpose of the trip was so the visitors could learn firsthand about New Zealand's avocado industry and how it works, including how the fruit they import is picked and packed.

"Japan is one of New Zealand's key export markets.  We've been fortunate to have the president of Union Company visit before.  However to also have Mr Keizo Takahashi, president of such a prestigious supermarket as Maruetso, visit any New Zealand supplier is a real achievement. We hope that all delegates will gain a greater appreciation for New Zealand's world-class growing practices along with our very stringent food safety standards and how these relate to the premium that our product achieves in Japan against our Mexican and Chilean competitors," said Mr Ponder.

SPL exports Avocados to Japan under the AVANZA brand, a collaboration of four leading New Zealand avocado exporters; SPL, Primor, Freshco and Just Avocados. Together these four exporters make up approximately 90 per cent of New Zealand's export volume, of which about 10 per cent is shipped to Japan.

"This year will be AVANZA's biggest-ever shipment to Japan with a volume of around 360,000 trays at a value of around NZD$9 million," said Mr Ponder.

"We are also hoping to showcase other premium New Zealand products through dining experiences created especially for the visit.  We have been working with local chefs to create some exciting menus that incorporate New Zealand lamb, beef, salmon and of course wines, that will complement our avocados."

Mr Ishiguro and Mr Takahasi will be accompanied by Mr Shinobu Hosokawa, general manager of Maruetsu; Mr Hajime Hino (branch manager, Japan Fresh Foods); Mr Fumihito Urabe (sales, Japan Fresh Foods); Mr Kimihiro Kawasaki (buyer, Union Company); and Mr Naoto Nakazawa (buyer, Maruetsu).