Diary of the Avocado Boy: Getting Superhuman Strength (book 1)

Avocado Seed: Unsafe to Eat or the New Super-Seed?

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When I became pregnant, the last thing that I thought about were my abs. My husband and I had tried and tried for our little boy so we were super excited to finally learn that we were pregnant! I decided beforehand that I would do my best to embrace every change along the way-permanent or not. But I still had to remember one thing: I worked out five days a week while pregnant and ate healthily for the most part.

Soon after my son was born, I thought getting back into the groove of things would be easy-boy, was I so wrong! I no longer had time to go the gym which prompted me later on to create a home gym in a spare room. My husband and I decided to move into a bigger house when our son was 2 months old so this further pushed me away from even wanting to workout.

When I began, I took it very easy doing maybe two workouts per week. I was weak from no sleep thanks to my beautiful newborn baby. I had so many excuses! But, I decided to keep pushing to make a new habit.

The Abs After Baby Workout Program

I even started waking up an hour earlier than my son to get my workouts in. Eventually, my hard work paid off. My abs began to appear little by little. Then, before I knew it, I had even better abs now than I did before I became pregnant! It takes hard work, dedication, and willpower to get your body back-or to create an even better body than you had before. My biggest advice to you is to remember that we are all in this together, but go at your own steady pace.

Each and every body is so different and so is every postpartum situation. Do the very best that YOU can and do not worry about what others are doing. When it comes to building up your abdominal muscles and losing the top layer of fat, it is important to know what the muscles are and what each muscle does. Some people often mistake the abdominal muscles as one big, flat muscle when really, it is four muscles working together in perfect harmony. All of the muscles are equally as important to one another, but the muscle that I want to highlight most here is the Transverse abdominis or TVA. This muscle acts like a corset, supporting your internal organs, and is essential for maintaining good posture.

The real secret to flattening your abs after pregnancy is to rebuild all of your muscles from the inside out -starting with activating the TVA. There are generally two ways to activate the TVA muscles for improved core stabilization: Bracing refers to an isometric contraction of the TVA by contracting the muscles of the abdomen and holding them tight without movement. When bracing, imagine that you are getting ready for a punch to your belly , or preparing to lift a heavy object. The goal is to tighten the muscles without sucking in, or expanding your abdomen.

To activate the TVA with bracing, you will maintain an isometric hold in this position for 6 to 10 seconds. Release and repeat several times. Hollowing refers to a technique to activate the TVA that occurs as you suck in and compress the abdomen. To perform this technique, contract your abdomen and pull your belly button back toward your spine to make your abdomen as small as possible. This is done by first building strength, and then functional control, in the deepest abdominal muscle, the transverse abdominis or TVA.

You want to avoid exercises like crunches and oblique curls, which strengthen the external layers, the rectus abdominis and the external oblique. This causes the abdominal wall to bulge outward during exertion. Most women are not taught how to do so. The Abs after Baby workout program is designed to rebuild your abdominal muscles from the inside out-the way that it should be! I, personally, did not have a section, but I know how scary they can be when it comes to whether or not you believe you will ever get your tummy to look the same again.

Lots of my clients have had sections-they are way more common these days than you may imagine! C-sections take a toll on your pelvic floor and abdomen, and exercise is the best way to bounce back. In order to lose the mommy tummy, you must burn off the weight or body fat that you gained during pregnancy in order to be on the road to tightening things back up. One of the best cardio exercises for C-Section mommies is simply taking your baby out in his or her stroller for a nice morning or evening stroll! Walking does add up!

Plus, you do not want to take things to fast or strenuous or you can risk hurting yourself or bursting open your incision site. Another wonderful form of cardio is swimming-it is relaxing and wonderfully soothing on your joints and muscles. You burn more calories in a short amount of time than you may even realize while you are treading in your pool! However, do not push yourself too hard and, as always, please wait until you are cleared by your doctor to start ANY exercise regimen-regardless of if you had a C-Section or vaginal delivery. Also, you may check with your physician first and foremost regarding these moves to make sure they are right for you.

Yoga is slow, healing, and relaxing. Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, and legs hip-width apart. Slowly lift your butt and back off the floor. Return to starting position. Do 4 to 8 repetitions. Lie on your stomach with your palms flat next to your shoulders. Your elbows should be tucked into your rib cage. Lift your head and neck off the floor, but not so much that it strains your lower back. Suck in your navel as if you were trying to lift your pelvis off the floor.

Stand with your feet 3 to 4 feet apart and your hands on your hips. Extend your arms over your head and bend forward at a degree angle. From hands and knees, activate your core muscles and raise one arm and the opposite leg. You can look down while maintaining neutral posture while you alternate sides.

On your hands and knees, pull your belly button to your spine to round your back while exhaling. Sag your back as you raise your head on inhale. Coordinate the motion with your breath as you repeat 10 times. All content here should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others before attempting these yoga moves on your own. Also, do not attempt any exercise until you are given the clear at your 6 week postpartum check-up as you may risk splitting your incision site open.

Also, avoid any lifting or carrying heavy objects as well as rapid movements. This most commonly occurs following pregnancy because the growing baby places excess strain on the abdominal muscles. If you experience diastasis recti, your stomach may appear as if a ridge is running down your midsection. And the fact that pregnancy hormones, called Relaxin, softens your connective tissues does not help any, either! It takes approximately eight weeks for these muscles to recover and they will need to be strengthened and toned beginning at the eight week mark, if all is well.

This condition most often heals on its own, and exercise can help to strengthen the abdominal muscles and reduce the appearance of diastasis recti. Check with your physician before beginning an exercise program after giving birth. This exercise involves using your hands to knit your abdominal muscles together in the correct position.

To perform, lie on your back with your feet on the ground. Cross your hands over each other, placing one hand on each side of your abdominal muscles. Inhale, then slowly breathe out and raise only your head off the ground. As you lift up, gently guide your stomach muscles together. If you prefer, you can wrap a sheet or towel around your stomach and pull the ends together to guide the stomach muscles. Lower your head to your starting position and repeat 10 times.

Perform an additional two sets throughout the day. This exercise works the transverse abdominis, the muscle group compromised during diastasis recti. Lie on your back with your feet on the ground. Nutrient availability, fertiliser programmes should be reviewed now that the majority of fruit drop has occurred and there is a clearer indication of crop load.

Consideration should be given to minerals as well as nitrogen. Soil testing is an important tool for identifying needs, leading to cost-effective application of nutrients. In light of the big season that we are expecting, maintaining the quality of fruit will be important while ensuring the trees have enough resources to set a good amount of fruit next season. These things need to be considered and actioned before we head into winter.

We recommend working closely with your technical advisers to ensure your trees are properly supported to achieve good quality fruit this season as well as next. Regional Council would like to thank the land owners who have already registered their properties as potentially having unconsented water takes.

As part of the registration process you will be asked to supply contact details, location of orchard, type of crop and water source. This information will be supplied to the Regional Council. Following this, all properties will be grouped into water catchment areas. By establishing these water catchment areas growers can be brought together to discuss; the allocation status of the water source, the information required to apply for consent and the consenting process.

However, you will be required to use water efficiently, have an accurate water meter installed and record your daily use. If requested, you must be able to supply those records to Regional Council. For further information or if you have any questions please get in touch with one of the contacts below. We do not yet have phytosanitary access to China but wish to understand the market and build relationship for the future. All three industries, avocado, kiwifruit and pipfruit, are committed to delivering the highest quality, premium, safe fruit to the Chinese consumer, says Scoular.

The tour began with a visit to John and Cindy Cotterell s avocado orchard in Katikati where the delegation walked around the bountiful trees and were demonstrated the use of a mobile elevating platform used to pick avocados. The New Zealand avocado industry is currently working towards gaining access to China.

There are over avocado growers, with production spread across three main growing regions: GIA Secretariat Manager, Steve Rich, welcomed New Zealand Avocado to the partnership saying the new addition will further strengthen efforts to better deliver biosecurity outcomes. GIA now has the critical mass to begin delivering improved biosecurity readiness and response activities. About Government Industry Agreement GIA GIA operates as a partnership between industry and government to manage pests and diseases that could badly damage New Zealand's primary industries, our economy, and our environment.

It aims to improve biosecurity outcomes and give everyone the confidence that the best decisions are being made. The Food Act came into effect on Tuesday 1st March The aim of the new Food Act is to strengthen food safety in New Zealand. What do avocado growers need to do? If you are currently in the business of selling avocados, no further action is required at this stage. Existing horticultural food businesses will transition to the new requirements between 1 July and 28 February If you are a new grower that commenced business of selling avocados after 1 March , you need to apply to MPI or your local council immediately to register your National Programme Level 1 business.

The requirement to register as a national programme business does not apply to the sale of avocados from a grower directly to consumers. If you are only selling your own avocados at the gate, personally selling at a Farmer s market or personally selling at a roadside stall, you are not required to operate under a national programme for the sale of these avocados.

National programmes Working with a national programme is the way that lower-risk food businesses operate under the Food Act There are three levels of national programmes, which are based on the food safety risk of the activities that a business does. Horticultural food producers and horticultural packing operations packhouses are deemed lower risk and are classified under national programme Level 1.

All national programmes require: Record keeping to show you re selling safe food Registration of business details with your local council One or more visits from a verifier recognised by MPI Existing food safety programmes Existing GAP and food safety schemes are being assessed by MPI for equivalence to the requirements of National Programme Level 1.

This process is expected to be completed in time for the beginning of the transition period in July Transition period The Food Act comes into force on 1 March It applies to all new food businesses from that date but existing horticultural food businesses will transition to the new requirements between 1 July and 28 February Further information Further information on the Food Act and National Programme Level 1 registration process can be found at www.

They are a great addition to a salad or smoothie. But for many, the avocado has come to be seen as a guilty pleasure. Though classed as a fruit, it is not typical in the fact that rather than being high in carbohydrate, avocados are high in fat. Fat has long been hailed the dietary enemy number one, but as the tables turn and the scientific spotlight shines more acutely on sugar, so the benefits of the humble avocado are being realised.

A new study has revealed adding the green fruit to your diet can aid weight loss. Furthermore, the fruit reduces a person s risk of heart disease, according to scientists from the Hass Avocado Board, in California. Emiliano Escobedo, executive director, said: This study supports the body of research showing the many benefits that fresh avocados have to offer when consumed in everyday healthy eating plans. The findings fall in line with recent recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The guidelines stated that making small shifts in food choices can make a difference including shifting from solid fats to oils, such as the oil in fresh avocados. The new study, published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, confirmed that swapping solid fats for avocados can significantly change lipid profiles'. Scientists analyzed 10 unique avocado studies with participants.

The researchers assessed the impact of avocado on cholesterol levels. They found that consuming one to one-and-a-half avocados per day significantly reduced total cholesterol'. Additionally, it also limited the 'bad' low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides when substituted for sources of fat. Corresponding study author Dr Sachin Shah noted that the results showed that even healthy study subjects showed significant reductions.

Fresh avocado, as part of a balanced diet, and as a cholesterol-free substitute for solid fats, can help be part of the solution for maintaining normal cholesterol levels. Beyond their naturally good fats, avocados are also a delicious way to boost fiber and fruit intakes, both of which are under consumed in American diets.

Having high levels of bad cholesterol is known to be a major risk factor for heart disease, according to the study. Cardiovascular disease is responsible for one out of every four deaths and it is the number one killer of men and women. Heart disease is also one of the leading causes of disability. The study noted that additional research must be conducted to look at the impact of avocados on major adverse cardiovascular events.

Furthermore, the optimal amount of avocado and frequency of use needs further evaluation, the scientists noted. Soil moisture deficits for the main growing regions haven t been too bad but the effects of El Ni o are predicted to continue through to March meaning vigilance is still needed. Sporadic rainfall has kept soil moisture levels reasonably topped up with levels similar to historical averages. NIWA s regional predictions for the January to March period in Northland, Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty are for temperatures to be above average, rainfall to be below average and soil moisture to be below average.

We encourage growers to monitor their soil moisture levels with whatever equipment they have available to ensure trees have enough water but are not over irrigated. Digging a few holes with a spade is better than nothing and your trees may thank you for it. For growers with tensiometers you should be starting to think about irrigating when your 30cm tensiometer is reading 15 - 20 kPa in sandy soils and 25 - 40 kPa for clay loam soils.

Stop when your 60cm tensiometers is reading between kPa for both soil types to prevent overwatering. The Tau fly can be a pest of Cucurbitaie crops.

The Get Shredded Diet | T Nation

This pest does not impact avocados, pip and stone fruit or kiwifruit. Please see the media release here http: Over the course of six sessions during the four days of the festival, attendees who visited NZ Avocado s stand were treated to an Instagram worthy setting where we performed cooking demos, handed out recipe cards and booklets, as well as various delicious and beautiful looking avocado samples. During the weekend we aimed to connect with avocado loving consumers and inspire them to try new avocado recipe ideas. We also gave them tips on how to pick the right avocado and how to correctly store avocados at various stages of ripeness.

One wall of the stand was covered in images of delicious looking avocado dishes, while the other wall depicted a kitchen background with a window looking out onto an avocado orchard. Our Amazing Anytime bright blue was everywhere on our stand, making it one of the first stands that attendees eyes were drawn to as they walked through the festival entrance. We had a selfie competition running during the weekend to invite interaction via social media.

Over 20, keen foodies enjoyed the beautiful sunny weather throughout the entire weekend. Visitors to our stand had many questions about avocados and were very interested in our industry. There are no longer any restrictions on the movement of fresh fruit and vegetables in Auckland. The successful eradication is a huge relief to many of New Zealand horticulture industries and NZ Avocado would like to congratulate MPI, GIA partners and all those involved in the response for the successful outcome. The Grey Lynn community also deserve a big Thank You for their cooperation during the response.

Read the Media release here: NZ Avocado has now finalised a submission to the proposed changes which you can view by clicking here. We also encourage growers to send in individual submissions. To assist, click here to see the council feedback form with some limited details already added. Feel free to use the full avocado industry submission as a reference when adding further detail.

Further information and fact sheets on the councils approach to water allocation and use can be found here: Blanket dispensation from the requirement to obtain an independent Maturity Test in the Bay of Plenty region shall come into effect as of Friday 6 November This now means that all regions are cleared for maturity. Orchards in these regions no longer require maturity clearance testing for export. Horticulture New Zealand president Julian Raine yesterday announced the appointment of Mike Chapman to role of the organisation s chief executive.

Mike has been chief executive of Kiwifruit Growers Inc since June Mike is interim chair of the industry s National Labour Governance Group, serves on a number of kiwifruit industry committees and is a Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Councillor. Mike will start his role with HortNZ on January Please use the submission form which can be downloaded from the industry website www.

New Zealand Avocado is running three new cultivar trials planted in commercial orchards in the Bay of Plenty and Whangarei, and a further two orchards containing new cultivars are involved in the trial assessment programme. Trees in the trial blocks are assessed regularly in order to evaluate their performance and determine their suitability for commercial use in New Zealand conditions. In order to make information more widely available, in collaboration with the working group, profiles have been created for each of the trial orchards containing information on the trial and assessment data.

These can be found on the industry website under the Orchard Mngt tab or at the link below. Please ensure you are signed in as a member to view this material. Revision of labels such as revised use patterns and removal of claims, and Acceptability of food-producing claims from a dietary intake exposure perspective. Label changes arising from the MPI reassessment, including new use patterns and withholding periods WHPs , are effective immediately.

This notification is to allow labels in the marketplace to be replaced over the coming season and reduce unintentional MRL non-compliance by users. Revised use patterns are available on product labels approved after July Diazinon Dew , Dew , Diazol The EPA control has set maximum use rates, with a maximum application frequency of 2 times per crop cycle.

Here's what you need to know...

Off-label use has been prohibited by MPI. This includes following exact use pattern directions i. Maximum of 2 applications per crop cycle. See labels post July for approved use patterns. Acephate Lancer and Orthene Acephate is no longer on the avocado industry approved list of chemicals for use in avocados. Use of this product is by dispensation only. We want to ensure that we have clearly set out to you as growers, the way in which we will consult with you in joint decision making in regard biosecurity and GIA.

We will continue to update growers and seek feedback about biosecurity in the same way we consult about all activity funded by growers levies and fees. These include updates like this one via AvoConnect, my CEO updates and other articles in AvoScene, updates at roadshows and field-days and of course the Annual General Meeting where we invite feedback from growers on any activity. Specifically, we will ensure that we communicate on biosecurity matters, invite feedback and take your views into account in joint decision making under GIA.

I welcome your feedback by next Wednesday 11 November on this communication, feedback and decision making process. Governance of biosecurity, as with all industry activity is undertaken by your grower elected Executive, and the AIC Ltd Board. The Taste festival is a great way to demonstrate new avocado recipes and ideas for over 25, foodies. I have been networking across industries, taking some great ideas away after the Kiwifruit Innovation Symposium in Tauranga last week, and having the opportunity to network with five Ministers, ambassadors and business leaders at another kiwifruit event at Parliament the week before.

Brad was one of the speakers on biosecurity at the Symposium, and is collaborating very well with kiwifruit, pipfruit and other horticultural industries to ensure we are well placed on biosecurity. I attended the Transitional Deed Governance Group meeting in Wellington yesterday as an observer, anticipating our invitation as a full member once we have signed the GIA Deed.

Glenys is actively ensuring the export systems manages our fruit efficiently, including the new rules on Thailand which were gazetted by Thailand last week and apply to product arriving in Thailand on or after the 25 November. The next field days are being planned, aiming for November in the Bay of Plenty - dates for further North are to be confirmed. With demand running so high, what a shame the estimate is going the wrong way. I encourage you to attend the field days being planned. We have made a shortlist and are in the process of interviewing those candidates.

We do not anticipate getting someone new on board until the new year. We have also added Cameron Wallace to the team, as our Research Analyst. He is looking at better utilising the data we hold about fruit, sprays and maturity. Jay, Michael, Midge and Jo have been handling the roll over to the updated sign in system to our industry website and online services, a few technical hiccups along the way but the new process, once we all get used to it will serve as a much easier access point to the website without the need for multiple usernames and passwords.

We thank you all for bearing with us while we make the change. Midge and I are meeting with the promotions agencies in Sydney next week to talk about next seasons promotions plan in Australia. We need to continue to make sure grower funds are invested for the best return. It was well reported recently in the Australian media that the 12 month marketing of avocados has influenced very well the demand for avocados, which we see in great pricing and returns this season. New Zealand s investment into the Australian programme is during the summer months which helps to extend the programme through the full year.

The fortnightly exporter conference calls are a very effective way to get a consolidated picture of real time market conditions. Congratulations to the exporters for implementing and participating in that regular call. Bevan and Jodi hosted the NZ marketers meeting in Auckland last week. The New Zealand market is going very well, with strong pricing and good communication across the marketers.

I trust this finds you well, and active in your orchards Jen. With passenger volumes forecast to increase to Click here for more information on the Government s website. The groups will help identify local community values for fresh water, inform local limit setting for water quality and quantity and assist in developing solutions for managing water in their catchment.

Regional Council Chairman Doug Leeder said that the group members represent a wide range of interests in fresh water, as well as different stakeholder views. We look forward to hearing their views and ideas as we work towards setting local water allocation limits, managing over-allocation and ensuring water is used efficiently, Mr Leeder said.

Group members were appointed following a call for expressions of interest. Chairman Leeder said the groups will meet regularly over the next two years to share knowledge and perspectives about fresh water in their catchment. The outcomes of Freshwater Futures group discussions will be collated and shared with iwi and the wider community for their feedback.

Public open sessions have been scheduled to follow community group workshops in each catchment as follows: Freshwater Futures community group members are: For further media information please contact Prue Sisam, Communications Partner, on Background information on Freshwater Futures programme: They're based on a range of factors, including physical surface catchments, iwi cultural boundaries, Treaty settlement, major project areas and where people live. Key challenges for managing water in the Bay of Plenty include: There is only so much water available for use, but the demand for it is increasing Quality: The region's fresh water quality is good compared to national standards.

However, fresh water resources are under pressure with water quality declining and the mauri of water degraded in parts of the region Land use: How we're using the land can affect water quality and quantity Climate change: Changes in our climate could affect land use, timing, amount and intensity of rainfall. Sea level rise may impact on aquifers and streams. There may be changes in demand for and availability of water. A reminder that NZ Avocado has upgraded the security of, and the sign in process for the industry website www.

To sign in you will use your unique username which is your firstname. If you cannot remember what this password is then there is a forgotten password function in the new sign in screen which will allow you to reset this easily. If you are having issues signing in, please ensure you are using a preferred internet browser - these are listed in the sign in instructions It is advised that you update your browser to ensure you are using the latest version as this is good security practice.

You may also find that your general browsing experience is improved by using one of the following browsers: Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew has launched an online tool that will help food businesses discover how they will be affected by the new Food Act , which comes into force in March next year. The new Food Act comes into force 1 March Existing businesses will be given a three-year transition period to move to the new rules.

People can find out which rules will apply to their business, and when they will need to transition to the new rules, on the MPI website: A huge amount of energy and passion was expended, and we arrive home proud of our participation. We learnt a lot, we networked and engaged, and certainly significantly raised the visibility of the New Zealand avocado industry.

Presentations were from 8.

Workout and diet secrets of top fitness coaches

It proved an excellent meeting point for all of us as well as a great place for others to come and meet us. We overcame the challenge of not being able to buy New Zealand sauvignon blanc in Lima by asking the New Zealand contingent to add a few bottles to their luggage. A brilliant move, the sauvignon blanc very well received, and went well with the New Zealand Villa Maria pinor noir we were able to source.

This was just one of the little challenges of arranging a congress in Peru. Three weeks before we left we found out we couldn t ship any of our collateral over, so again, had to share that around and bring it in our luggage. Our theme for our bid to host the Congress was "Discover your slice of New Zealand , and we displayed that theme across every presentation and very clearly across the New Zealand pavilion. There was huge passion from right across the New Zealand contingent for engagement, for stories about our industry and about New Zealand.

We had polo shirts printed with our congress branding and "Vote New Zealand , which we wore as often as the laundry allowed. Our competitor was Colombia, who also put up a bid to host the Congress but lost to Peru. Early in the week we felt pretty confident, we were certainly better prepared in our bid, Colombia seemed to be silent about it, but that all changed on the last couple of days when Colombia came out much more strongly.

There was a very strong Spanish speaking contingent, and the loyalty of South Americans to another South American nation was pretty clear. But it was friendly competition, I photo bombed a group of Colombians the morning of the vote, running across the room to get into their photo, and they reacted very positively, trying to get me to wear their colours don t worry I didn t.

Just before the bid presentation on the last day, the head of the Columbian delegation said to us, if we win, please come to Colombia, if you win we will come to New Zealand. Ashby took the draw to decide who would present first, and won so we chose to present second. The room was packed, there would have been or people, with a large number having to stand. Colombia showed a tourism video, interestingly similar to ours, in the way it showed off the landscape and nature.

The Colombian presentation had no translation, nor had the opening of that session. We added a little action into the presentation, with Ashby coming on stage and throwing out a bunch of rugby balls, which was the signal for the rest of the strategically placed New Zealand contingent to throw a couple. It was a great fun play to add in.

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We got rapturous applause, and truthfully must have won back quite a number of votes. The vote took ages, with each of the near voting delegates lining up to put their ice block stick into the New Zealand or the Colombian box. When the lids were taken off, I truthfully didn t know which box was more full. The final result, based on the weight, was New Zealand grams, Colombia grams. So close, but not enough to win. Very disappointed, but we knew we could not have done more. To Midge in particular, an amazing thanks.

Her effort over the past month and over the six days was amazing, and everything was carried out with huge professionalism and impact. The support and enthusiasm of the NZ growers and stakeholders traveling with us was terrific. I am immensely proud of the week s work. The New Zealand avocado industry was wonderfully represented, was wonderfully supportive of each other, we participated strongly in every event and increased significantly our capability with the presentations and networking.

We have certainly established our industry as a global player. New Zealand s avocado season begins in September and is likely to send Instagram s foodies and health and fitness fans into overdrive. New Zealand sold a record 7. About one in five of Nigella Lawson s recent Instagram posts have featured mashed avocado smothered on toast.

Last month actress Emmy Rossum received 27, likes for posing in an Avocado Toast t-shirt, while Lena Dunham is another celebrity who likes to regularly snap her healthy avocado snacks. Bloggers and fashion influencers everywhere are leading the trend and avocados are now dominating the brunch and smoothie scene, becoming a must-have on every menu. The UK s Daily Mail have described avocado as "breakfast s new superstar and "the Kendall Jenner of the fruit bowl thanks to its popularity on Instagram. Avocado is revered as a nutrient-dense, cholesterol-free fruit containing healthy fat.

They re a great source of energy, keep you feeling fuller for longer, and are quick and easy to prepare. Plans to quadruple sales of New Zealand avocados by is off to a roaring start with the industry almost hitting the half way mark last season with a record 7. NZ Avocado s just released annual report is proving collaboration and increased investment is already contributing to the impressive results and is prompting industry members to communicate and collaborate like never before, with work now underway to create the industry s first information portal.

As an industry we want to share data and knowledge and provide people in the avocado industry access to insights that will help improve decision-making and orchard productivity, she says. Scoular, along with other NZ Avocado representatives, met with growers in Whangarei and the Far North last week to discuss information needs which will form the basis for the functional specifications for the information portal. Further workshops will be held in the Bay of Plenty, and with other avocado industry groups. The move is another sign New Zealand s avocado industry is maturing into a more cohesive, competitive force on the global stage.

Demand from export markets continues to grow, and avocados are more popular with consumers than ever before. Co-operation among exporters delivered excellent results in the Australian market in particular last season, with 3. Andrew Darling, chairman of the avocado exporters council, AVEC, says after some tough years the industry is maturing and working together closer.

The Australian market remains crucial to New Zealand and planning our supply into Australia is a critical requirement which affects us all. Across Asia we leveraged the generic collateral for Premium Avocados from New Zealand which we co-brand with our individual in-market brands. We are able to promote ourselves to create demand, and supply a high-quality product to meet that demand, says Darling.

Increasing investment in the industry reflects the growing confidence in the opportunities for New Zealand avocados in both our export and domestic markets. Investment has also ramped up in our avocado nurseries, with an 18 month wait for delivery of trees, Whitehead says. Scoular says consumers can t get enough of avocados. AvoGreen trainers in all regions are running refresher training over the coming months for those owner-operator Pest Monitors requiring this training. Please register your interest with a trainer near you - click here to see the list of AvoGreen Accredited Trainers.

For those who ordered a copy of the Avocado Problem Solver Guide, they have arrived and are now ready for purchasing through the AvoShop. Click hereto go to AvoShop. Bevan and Midge have been working very closely with exporters and New Zealand marketers on applications for the Contestable Promotions Fund.

We introduced this last season and extended it this year to include the New Zealand market. It s a great way for us to get closer to the activity individual marketers are undertaking and ensures grower promotional levies are strongly supporting marketers activity. This year with an external marketing expert involved, we are increasing our capability around effective marketing activity - it ensures your promotional levies are invested most effectively.

Exporters and packers need to have their grower contracts approved by us, so I have seen lots of those contracts come across my desk. Hopefully you take the time to read the detail of the contracts you are signing. Michael and Jay have set up our export registration and data systems for the new season. At the same time we are looking for improvements in the way we collect and share data. Export registrations are open and the first exports were shipped last week. Media have been very interested in our results - I hope you have seen reports of the strong returns from our record high volumes.

Edwina will begin the AGM pack mailout this week as soon as the report is off the press. Midge has been a filmstar again, shooting a video produce handling video for Countdown in-store with Bevan in Petone, Wellington. The majority of the filming occurred after the supermarket had closed and they finished shooting at 1am. Alvaro has been a fantastic resource for Midge as they have negotiated a better stand for us at the World Avocado Congress in Peru in September.

Wonderful to have a Spanish speaker in the team. The orchard has been recently pruned and it will be a very interesting follow up to our field day there a few weeks ago. Please see the events listing below for more information.

The research team has also been reviewing and updating our temperature monitoring network in the Bay of Plenty as part of the MBIE project which is aiming to investigate the effect of temperature on fruit set and fruitlet development. Glenys has held preseason workshops with packers in Northland and Bay of Plenty, she has also held Spray Diary tutorials for growers and is fielding questions as packhouses gear up for the new season.

Phillip and I attended a workshop on Monday, offering to Maori "investors our expertise of the suitability of avocado as an investment. A very interesting and inspiring day. The August edition has a great article about the successful avocado enterprise of Maria and Andrew Watchorn. Click here to see the full story. I asked if the success was due to eating avocados and he tweeted: New Zealand Avocado is working with the New Zealand distributed magazine MindFood to produce, over the coming season, four grower and industry profiles.

These articles will showcase the amazing people in our industry, promote the health and use of our fruit and as an additional bonus will create collateral that can be used to tell the NZ Avocado story in Asian markets. We thank Andrew and Maria for their time in putting this awesome story together. We really appreciate the involvement and support of passionate growers in promoting the industry and promoting the amazing New Zealand avocado - please continue to be involved.

We can t wait to develop the next three stories and to share them with you. Click here to view a highlights video of the day's event More than people from around the horticultural industry came together on Wednesday night to celebrate the Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower competition which saw 26 year old Craig Ward from Apata take out the title at a sold-out gala dinner. Craig beat seven other competitors in a series of competitive events and tests during the day and a quiz and speech competition in the evening.

Craig will now go on to represent the Bay of Plenty at the national competition run by Horticulture New Zealand in Christchurch on August. This year s competition received a huge amount of support from the horticultural industry through sponsorship and other contributions. Another special event coinciding with the Young Grower of the Year competition was this year s inaugural Cultivate Your Career event. Over students in years 11, 12 and 13 attended to hear from employers about the many career opportunities in the horticulture sector and about the skills they need to develop, from effective communication to critical thinking and problem solving.

The Young Grower of the Year is an annual competition run by Horticulture New Zealand to select the finest young fruit or vegetable grower in the country. The competition involves four regional events and the winners from each region go forward to contest the final. Apata Grow and Zespri Silver: For more information about the event, including sponsors, supporters, events and photos go to www. Attendance is free and the Mills Reef Restaurant will be open. We have a great outdoor venue this year complete with mature avocado trees to put the eight contestants to the test.

There will also be orchard equipment demonstrations and supplier stands for orchardists to peruse. This event will run alongside the Young Grower Competition. We welcome growers and industry people to come along and listen in on these presentations too. New Zealand s largest ever avocado crop has been successfully harvested, packed and marketed with a massive 7 million trays sold during the season. Jen Scoular, Chief Executive of NZ Avocado, today announced the new record volume which was 43 per cent higher than last season, and up from a previous industry high of 6.

The Australian market performed very well for us, with strong matching of supply and demand by our exporters. Demand for our premium produce is growing in emerging Asian markets like Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. The New Zealand market performed well, with new collateral and increased engagement within the sector. Avocado trees bear fruit irregularly so crop volumes vary each year.

When high volumes are produced, sales returns have historically decreased. We are working well together, jointly developing collateral and new markets, collaborating with resources and information and seeing real value being created across the industry, Scoular says. We re very pleased with this season s return. Through these programmes we are analysing a number of factors such as irrigation, canopy management and tree health to develop and implement best practise to increase productivity.

Scoular says scientific trials are now underway in the Far North, mid-North and Bay of Plenty, and valuable data is being gathered and disseminated. New Zealand avocados are marketed overseas as a premium, safe, and healthy fruit, and for the first time exporters of New Zealand avocados were invited to apply to a new contestable promotions fund. Australia was once again the industry s biggest export market, taking 3.

But Scoular says Asia remains the future focus. The region bought 1. Gaining access to the Chinese market remains a top priority. We are putting plans in place on the basis we can meet the protocols required by so we re working closely with MPI to get all the technical information that China requires to progress our application, Whitehead says. Here at home, New Zealanders consumed a record 1. Scoular says local retailers and consumers are learning to recognise the amazing health benefits and great taste that avocados offer. We introduced television commercials for the first time this season and received great support from food writers about avocados.

There has been a noticeable rise in consumption and interest in avocados which bodes well for our industry s future success, she says. NZ Avocado also invested more into the New Zealand market with new collateral, retail education tool kits and development of new avocado recipes. Orders for future seasons are strong, and the outlook is very bright for increased investment in this exciting industry. We are seeing real investment in new and existing orchards, and as an industry are committed to turning avocados into a major export earner for New Zealand.

How does your orchard performance compare? We'd like to share with you a chart showing how your orchard performance compares to the industry. NZ Avocado set the industry a number of five year goals as part of the Five Year Plan which was approved by the Board in When we looked at how we wanted to measure the achievement of those goals, we recognised that we did not have a way of measuring the performance of our orchards over time.

As we developed the business case for our Primary Growth Partnership, we included the development of what we now call our "Orchard performance benchmarking. Before we are able to share this data, we need to make sure we have correct data about your orchard. In return we will send you a chart showing your orchard performance versus the industry.

The below information explains ways we derive your performance benchmarking information and chart. We set "baseline as the four year average performance of all orchards registered with NZ Avocado based on both yield and irregular bearing. That baseline four year average is the four season to ; i. The yield is the total volume in tonnes volume exported, sold on the New Zealand market and processed divided by the hectare information provided each year by the grower during the registration process. Where an orchard is not registered because of lack of crop , the hectares are pulled from the previous producing season.

We have added an argument in this calculation and recognise that if an orchard yield goes up for three years in a row, ie, meeting our industry objective, the IBI is 0. The calculation of IBI allows the orchard performance chart to be calculated for the whole industry. Based on the performance for the four years to , we segmented orchards by their performance into three bands; Best Good Standard Each season after baseline , we recalculate the yield and irregular bearing index for the four years again a four year average , and measure how the industry has performed against baseline.

You will be seeing reports on that over the next few months and at the grower forum. We do acknowledge that our data is only as good as the information we receive. Annually we reconcile the information received throughout the year with packers and exporters to make sure our data aligns with theirs. To date, what we haven t done is then reconcile our data with the information that growers have. We may need to come back to you if your hectares have changed, to confirm how you have measured your hectares. Where does your orchard sit? Our objective is to develop best practice able to be implemented by growers, which leads to improvements in orchard performance and productivity.

We also want to measure how well we are meeting that objective. We hope that you too will be adopting best practice to increase your productivity in terms of yield and consistency. We invite growers and all those involved in the horticulture industry to come along and cheer on the young leaders in our industry. This year s entrants include one from Whangarei and four who competed last year: We have some of the best fruit in the country so it goes without saying that there are also a number of very talented young fruit growers in the region.

We have a great outdoor venue this year complete with mature avocado trees to put the contestants to the test. There will also be orchard equipment demonstrations and supplier stands. Contestants have the opportunity to compete for the title Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower and the following prizes: Click here for more information about the competition, dinner tickets and sponsorship opportunities. Do you know someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the avocado industry? We would like to recognise those individuals who have helped to advance our industry - we are calling for nominations from all NZAGA members for the following awards: There is a limit of five life members at any one time we currently have three: The purpose of this award is to acknowledge and recognise leadership contributions and input into the NZ Avocado Growers Association which materially advances the association to the benefit of members.

Life membership of the association is restricted to members of the Association. This award is to acknowledge and recognise contributions to the avocado sector that change or alter the business resulting in advancement forward in the avocado sector.

The purpose of this award is to recognise contributions in all areas of the sector, including but not limited to marketing, research and development and product and production innovation. This category of award is open to any industry stakeholder or participant.

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Service to the Sector: The Service Award provides recognition of service to the sector by an NZAGA executive committee member who has served two or more terms. All nominations are to be sent by email to Edwina Aitchison at edwina. Please download and use the form below. To submit a remit to be presented at the AGM, please use this form. Please note, we will call for items of general business in the AGM pack being posted to members the week of 20 July. Ensure your nominations are submitted to the NZ Avocado office no later than 29 May At the Annual General meeting the term of office is complete for two representatives and four vacancies exist; Listed below are the regions and regional representatives who have completed their term of office or otherwise.

The new appointee will be appointed for a 2 year term to be re-elected in for 3 years to maintain the rotation as detailed in the NZAGA Rules. The new appointee will be appointed for a 2 year term to be re-elected in for three years to maintain the rotation as detailed in the NZAGA Rules. The Executive Committee is announced as soon as the results are known but does not take office until the close of the AGM. For further information on the elections and to download a nomination form, please visit the NZ Avocado industry website: In the season AIC introduced an independent early season domestic market dry matter maturity testing initiative.

Under this initiative 41 lots of fruit were submitted for testing of which 28 lots passed. Growers, packers and domestic marketers have all indicated ongoing support for this initiative and it will be offered again in the season. Details of the programme are as follows: AIC will pay the cost of Agfirst collection and testing for early season domestic market fruit that passes the domestic market maturity testing requirements.

Fruit must be both collected and tested by Agfirst to qualify for payment. Payment period covers early season fruit that is collected and tested prior to 31 July The maturity requirements are: Kiwifruit harvest is in full swing. We are encouraging all avocado growers who have neighbours that grow kiwifruit to be talking to them to find out about their residue clearance and planned kiwifruit pick dates. If you need to spray your avocados you do not want to risk being responsible for any residues that may be detected on your neighbour's kiwifruit after they have received a residue clearance to pick.

Please talk to your neighbours about any of your orchard activities that may affect this and if you follow the notification guidelines and good agricultural practice there should be no problems. You can find a spray plan template at the following link. A new research investment into sustainable pest management controls might soon offer avocado growers an effective new non-chemical control for the most common pest of avocado crops in New Zealand, Leafrollers.

Mating disruption MD technology has already been demonstrated to work against several leafroller species in New Zealand horticultural cropping systems, including apples and summerfruit. Applying effective non-chemical controls is an innovative alternative approach to meet both the strict phytosanitary requirements and the ultra-low residue targets of premium markets.

NZ Avocado will also be contributing funds and looks forward to working together and using the research to support the growth of the avocado industry in New Zealand. The Quality Standards submissions discussion document is now loaded onto the industry website along with the submissions. All stakeholders are welcome to provide feedback to Edwina at the NZ Avocado office edwina.

Click here to review all documents. New Zealand s avocado growers have supported their industry Board s proposal to sign the Government Industry Agreement Deed and establish a Biosecurity Act levy, following a voting process which concluded on 31 March. Following the positive result from the voting process, the avocado industry will prepare an application to the Minister for Primary Industries seeking his agreement that we have a mandate to represent the industry and can, therefore, sign the Deed.

The industry has already been involved in discussions on the development of an operational agreement for fruit fly. If the application for mandate to sign the GIA Deed is agreed, NZ Avocado will work closely with MPI to develop appropriate plans that specifically focus on the needs of the avocado industry. The voting process concluded on 31 March with growers voting to support this change. While the specific details of this event are yet to be posted on the congress website, we know that this is sure to be an amazing event and also a chance for you to check out the cultivation methods of one of the worlds larger producer countries.

Registration The online registration facility for the congress is not yet available however we have been advised of the prices to expect: We need at least 10 people who will travel to Lima on the same flight to secure this rate - your return date is totally flexible - it is only the departure flight that must be the same as the group which is currently pencilled in for 11 September.

We are also researching various levels of accommodation near the congress venue. Tours and options for further travel will also be presented to you in the package but you will be free to organise your own as well as seek your own accommodation if you prefer. When it comes to sprays, concerns and difficulties can be avoided if neighbours talk to each other. Part of this is having a documented spray plan which lists the details of your neighbours, your crops and sprays used and the precautions you take to avoid causing any problems with neighbours.

A copy of your spray plan must be given to your neighbor if they ask for it and needs to be updated each year. A model spray plan form is included in a document on Property Spray Plans on the industry website www. These tutorials are for growers who have some challenges and questions around using the spray diary and for growers new to using the spray diary. Tuesday July 7th, Time: Whangarei location TBC Please email: Although this is titled as the BOP competition, this event is open to young growers in regions that do not have their own local event - Patrick Malley of Whangarei won the BOP event in If you are employed full time in the fruit industry, have a minimum of three years' experience in this field and will be 30 years of age or under as at 31 December then you meet most of the criteria to enter this competition - for full criteria and entry details please click here.

Would you like to get behind this event with sponsorship? The organising committee is seeking sponsors to become part of an industry family - all of whom compliment each other and have a commitment to the industry and competitions. Click here to view the sponsorship prospectus. Fancy a ticket to or table at the gala dinner and awards presentation?

He has served our industry very well. Peter is pursuing new challenges and has accepted a CEO role with another national organisation outside of the primary industry. PMAC provides a forum where market access issues are freely discussed between Industry and Government representatives allowing them to agree strategies to remediate and improve market access.

Attached is a report of the history of this organisation. Thank you to those who have already returned their voting papers to us. We look forward to receiving lots over the next few days. I did also call a few growers to make sure we had provided enough information on GIA. We didn t have a huge turn out at the roadshows, but they provided a good opportunity to hear growers concerns, positive and negative.

As we set out in the information papers provided, we believe that signing the GIA and implementing a Biosecurity Levy for responses is our best option. We do not have the opportunity to challenge GIA, it is already legislation, industries have already signed the Deed. We do have the opportunity though to influence how our industry is impacted in the event of a biosecurity response, and influence the readiness activity to better ensure incursions don t happen or are discovered very quickly and contained.

We as the avocado industry are able to influence the detail of the Operational Agreement, making sure it works for our industry. We accept there are those opposed to GIA and welcome views on either side. Click here to view a letter we received from Ewan Price, a Whangarei grower, with his view set out, and our responses to that.

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