100 People Behind Bay Business - 2023

HORTICULTURE | PEOPLE
TREVELYAN’S PACK & COOL
the technical and avocado grower services team
Avocados. The staple of the
utopian diet, a symbol of
modern decadence and a
social media sensation.
Our Kiwi love affair with
avocados shows no signs
of letting up. Loaded with
potassium, protein and
vitamins, it is a staple in most homes and
on café menus - probably why it’s one
of the first items we see in the produce
aisles of the supermarket. But, if you
aren’t an avocado grower, you won’t have
seen the rollercoaster of daily life that
orchardists have faced in recent years.
Covid-19 impacted pretty much all of us
in one shape or another, but as climate
change threatens typical weather
patterns, it’s becoming increasingly
more difficult to grow avocados and
satisfy consumer demand.
The Technical and Grower Services
Teams at Trevelyan’s are an eclectic and
talented group of avocado specialists
that boasts between them an impressive
number of agricultural degrees and vast
hands-on experience in the industry
(Laura was Bay of Plenty’s Young Grower
of the Year, 2022).
The team works tirelessly on orchards
and in the lab, discussing theories and
research with other industry leaders and
regularly visiting each of their growers.
Support and guidance are shared by
way of numerous regional educational
workshops, discussion groups, avocado
improvement seminars, weekly
technical tips and deep-dive analyses.
From that initial handshake greeting on
the orchard, the working relationships
between Trevelyan’s representatives and
growers is built on great communication
and deep respect.
Trevelyan’s Head of Avocados, Dan
Birnie, and Avocado Technical Manager,
Left to right: Dr Jonathan Cutting, Katherine Smith, Laura Shultz, Anne Partridge and
Daniel Birnie.
Dr Jonathan Cutting, are constantly
researching, experimenting, and
challenging each other and their team, to
think outside the box. No two orchards
are the same, but with the team’s
breadth and depth of knowledge, they
always find a best-fit solution.
Dr Jonathan Cutting has a focus on
regenerative orchard principles, simply
understanding and working with nature.
His advice is simple, ‘’The next few years
can provide growers with increased
profitability, as long as we embrace
new approaches, technologies and
production systems and adapt to what
nature can sometimes throw at us’’.
Jonathan has also been driving the
movement to high-density plantingusing
smaller trees per hectare. Quality
issues can be tackled quickly, production
costs are dramatically reduced, and fruit
to market is increased so that growers’
financial positions are improved.
Dan believes it all bubbles down
to one word – ‘connection’. ‘’We want
our growers to feel connected to the
Trevelyan’s team and see us as an
extension of their business. We run
events across New Zealand because
we want to connect growers within
regions and build their local knowledge.
We also want them to feel connected
to their land, so that they can cultivate
high-quality fruit. If you have a good
connection, you have trust.’’
The next time you see avocados in
the supermarket or consider an avocado
delivery subscription, like BayFarms,
before you even consider the price,
take a moment to remember it takes
a connected group of people to bring
you each of these avocados. It’s thanks
to these committed folk that you enjoy
the delights of smashed avocado,
guacamole and more. Life without
avocado’s would be a lesser experience
for us all.
Thanks team.
24 | 100 – PEOPLE BEHIND BAY BUSINESS | 2023