Crop monitor training

Crop monitor training is required for export protocol markets, including Japan.

Crop monitors must complete the generic crop monitor course. You need to register a crop monitor on the LearnHub HERE. If you do not already have access to LearnHub, email your first and last name, preferred email address and the commodity you wish to have training for to horticulturetraining@aff.gov.au

Please contact Avocados Australia on 07 3846 6566 if you require assistance.

Maturity Monitoring Archive

This page archives Maturity Monitoring Results:

 

  January 2023

January Results – Hass

January Results – Shepard

February 2023

February Results – Shepard

 February 2022

February Results – Shepard

March 2023

March Results – Shepard

 March 2022

March Results – Shepard

 
 April 2022

April Results – Shepard

 

 

May 2022

May Results – Hass

May Results – Hass (3, 10 & 30 May 2022)

 

 

June 2022

June Results – Hass

July 2022

July Results – Hass

August 2023

August Results – Hass

August 2022

August Results – Hass

September 2023

September Results – Hass

September 2022

September Results – Hass

October 2022

October Results – Hass

November 2022
December 2022

December Results – Hass

Maturity Monitoring Results

Maturity Monitoring Results

Based on consumer sensory research, the Avocados Australia mandated standard for Hass avocado maturity is 23% Dry Matter (DM) at time of harvesting. The Shepard standard is 21% DM. These levels have been shown to be the minimum levels to achieve satisfactory eating quality.

Avocados Australia in partnership with Applied Horticultural Research (AHR) is conducting monthly maturity monitoring from July 2023 to June 2026. The aim of this is to monitor the current level of compliance with DM standards and make comparisons with previously collected data.

Random samples of avocados are taken monthly from the Sydney wholesale market and tested for DM percentage as a measure of maturity. DM is assessed using the Hofshi Coring and oven drying method. Click here to view the full sampling and assessment methodology.

Avocados Australia provides timely feedback to the supplying packhouse, the results of which remain confidential. Deidentified data is averaged for the wider industry and is presented below.

Figure 1. Average Hass DM content by growing region:

Figure 1 shows the average percentage DM of each 10-fruit sample collected this month. Each bar includes a range of DM values, where for example, 21% includes all values from 21.0 – 21.99. The bars are stacked with a different colour for each growing region.

Figure 2. Average Shepard DM content by growing region:

More information

For more information about how to test DM view the information available in the Best Practice Resource.

For monthly retail quality results, go to the retail quality section of the BPR:

The project is delivered by Avocados Australia. Please contact AAL Strategy and Projects Consultant Anne Larard for more information: idm@avocado.org.au.

Acknowledgement

The project Monitoring avocado supply chain quality (AV22011) is managed by Avocados Australia, has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the avocado industry research and development levy, with co-investment from Avocados Australia, Applied Horticulture Research, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and contributions from the Australian Government.

 

Avocado Irrigation Summit 2021

The Avocado industry development and extension (AV17005) project team conducted a major study into avocado irrigation in 2021. A summit was held in Brisbane in May 2021 with experienced avocado growers, agronomists and irrigation consultants to review current practices, share experiences, examine global advances, identify knowledge gaps, propose changes and develop best practice adoption strategies.

While the summit had restricted numbers, all of the materials developed and the keynote presentation are available right here in the BPR.

  • 2021 Avocado Irrigation Review Final Report – click here
  • 2021 Avocado Irrigation Review Agenda – click here
  • 2020 Avocado Irrigation Literature Review by Liz Singh, Avocados Australia – click here
  • 2021 Australian Avocado Irrigation Practices by Simon Newett, DAF – click here
  • 2021 Tabulated results Australian Irrigation Practices by Simon Newett, DAF – click here
  • 2021 International Avocado Irrigation Trends – click here

 

Keynote speaker – special AvoGrow webinar


Udi Gafni

As part of the 2021 Avocado Irrigation Summit, the Avogrow Webinar Series presented the guest presentation from Udi Gafni, the Technical Services Lead for Avocado Granot, Israel. Udi joined the 2021 Avocado Irrigation summit group via Zoom during the dinner to present information on the avocado irrigation practices in Israel and those in orchards that he consults to in Chile, Peru, South Africa, Kenya and Australia.

 

More information

DAF: Bridie Carr, bridie.carr@daf.qld.gov.au or 0436 675 740

This event was part of the strategic levy investment project, Avocado industry development and extension (AV17005), part of the Hort Innovation Avocado Fund. This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the Hort Innovation avocado research and development levy, co-investment from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

   

Avo Update webinar – Quality – Oct 2021

Monitoring critical for fruit quality through the chain

Monitoring is one of the key tools helping the Australian avocado industry meet its target of supplying top-quality fruit to consumers. The Avo Update webinar on 12 May 2021 was a chance for those in the supply chain to learn more about the results of the industry’s retail monitoring, and the latest insights into fruit quality and supply chain temperature management.

Webinar Recording

Click here to view the Avocado Wholesale Quality Webinar – 20 Oct 2021

 

The speakers

Noel Ainsworth (Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) provided valuable insights into fruit quality and supply chain temperatures from grower to ripening/wholesale. Noel explored reasons for poor quality and the recommended best practice to prevent and manage identified issues.

Adam Goldwater (Applied Horticultural Research) followed on with an update on fruit quality trends over the past year. He discussed the key fruit quality issues and the impact of supply chain and retail practices on fruit quality.

Where can I find more information?

The retail quality monitoring results are updated monthly in the Retail module of the BPR: click here.  You can also learn more about the avocado supply chain project in the BPR. Five videos from the project exploring the best practice of handling avocados from farm to ripening can be found here (external link), and these are also embedded in the Packhouse  and Ripening modules.
– Both Noel and Adam provide regular updates in the Talking Avocados magazine, and in the fortnightly Guacamole . (Not a subscriber? Click here to find out how to join our mailing lists.)

Who can I contact for more information?

Avocados Australia Market Development Manager Hayleigh Dawson, on mdm@avocado.org.au or 07 3846 6566.

North Queensland Regional Forum 2021

Two of the presentations at the North Queensland Regional Forum had to be delivered remotely. You can watch the presentations from Harley Smith and Amnon Haberman here, and also find the PDF of their presentations in the BPR Library Event Proceedings, along with those from the other speakers.

Harley Smith, CSIRO

 

 

Ammon Haberman, CSIRO

 


This event was part of the strategic levy investment project, Avocado industry development and extension (AV17005), part of the Hort Innovation Avocado Fund. This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the Hort Innovation avocado research and development levy, co-investment from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

 

Hort Innovation - Strategic Levy Investment (Avocado Fund)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avo Connections, Hort Connections

Avocados Australia’s special Avo Connections shoulder event at the 2021 Hort Connections included a range of useful, and interesting updates for the Australian industry.

We are proud to offer recordings of some of the presentations below.

Avocados Australia CEO John Tyas

Australian Avocados Marketing Manager Adele Nowakowska

Note: the audio is quite soft in this recording.

Check out the latest activity from the marketing team on our 2021 blog here.

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Principal Supply Chain Horticulturist Noel Ainsworth

Note: the audio is quite soft in parts, in this recording.

Applied Horticultural Research General Manager Adam Goldwater

Check out the latest month’s retail quality reports over in the Retail module.

 

More information

 

 

 

AvoGrow webinar – R&D overview

This AvoGrow Research Update webinar on 12 August 2021 presented research outcomes from four current avocado projects funded in part or in whole by the Hort Innovation Avocado Fund, including:

  • Estimating carbohydrate levels in avocado using non-destructive methods for commercial development (AV19006)
  • Managing flies for crop pollination (PH16002)
  • Is fruit quality meeting consumer expectations? (AV18000 and AV19003)
  • Avocado Irrigation Summit Outcomes (AV17005)

Watch the full recording

Watch the update from AV18000 (supply chain)

 

Managing flies for crop pollination (PH16002)

Click on the image below to view video.

More information

Estimating carbohydrate levels in avocado using non-destructive methods for commercial development (AV19006)

Managing flies for crop pollination (PH16002)

  • Read more about the project at Hort Innovation.
  • This portion of the webinar had to be cancelled however a link to Dr David Cook’s presentation appears above. You can also check out Dr David Cook’s presentation to the Western Australian regional forum in the BPR Library under Event Proceedings.

Is fruit quality meeting consumer expectations? (AV18000 and AV19003)

  • You can find the latest retail monitoring reports in the Retail module of this BPR.
  • Five videos from AV18000 project exploring the best practice of handling avocados from farm to ripening have been collated into a playlist by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries here (YouTube link). The videos include Did firmness at assessment affect the 2019 data collected, Time spent in avocado supply chain stages in 2019, Avocado supply chain temperatures, Temperatures at shed departure, and Did the 2019 fruit quality results meet the 2021 target? These videos have also been embedded in the relevant sections of the BPR: Ripening, Transport, and Packhouse.
  • You can also find more reports from both these projects in recent editions of Talking Avocados, including: Fruit quality trace-back casestudy (AV18000, Autumn 2021), and Monitoring avocado quality in retail (AV19003, Autumn 2020).
  • Read more at Hort Innovation on AV18000 and AV19003.

Avocado Irrigation Summit Outcomes (AV17005)

 

Avo Update webinar – quality – 2021

Monitoring critical for fruit quality through the chain

Monitoring is one of the key tools helping the Australian avocado industry meet its target of supplying top-quality fruit to consumers. The Avo Update webinar on 12 May 2021 was a chance for those in the supply chain to learn more about the results of the industry’s retail monitoring, and the latest insights into fruit quality and supply chain temperature management.

The speakers

Noel Ainsworth (Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) provided valuable insights into fruit quality and supply chain temperatures from grower to ripening/wholesale after sampling five regions for a two-year period for the Avocado supply chain project (AV18000). Noel explored reasons for poor quality and the recommended best practice to prevent and manage identified issues.

Adam Goldwater (Applied Horticultural Research) followed on with an update on the retail performance of avocados after sampling carried out in metropolitan stores during the last 12 months as part of project AV19003. Here, attendees were provided with valuable insights into how quality is tracking at retail and explore trends by retail market city, retail display formats and further quality attributes such as age, ripeness and internal defect levels.

Where can I find more information?

  • The retail quality monitoring results are updated monthly in the Retail module of the BPR: click here.
  • You can also learn more about the avocado supply chain project in the BPR. Five videos from the project exploring the best prac of handling avocados from farm to ripening can be found here (external link), and these are also embedded in the Packhouse and Ripening modules.
  • Both Noel and Adam provide regular updates in the Talking Avocados magazine, and in the fortnightly Guacamole. (Not a subscriber? Click here to find out how to join our mailing lists.)

Who can I contact for more information?

Avocados Australia Market Development Manager Hayleigh Dawson, on mdm@avocado.org.au or 07 3846 6566.