For the fourth year, Avoco is excited to announce a scholarship opportunity for tertiary students in 2022.

To help promote understanding of New Zealand’s avocado industry, Avoco is offering final-year Bachelor degree students in key subjects a $5000 scholarship towards their study costs. The successful scholarship recipient will also have the opportunity to explore summer holiday work in a related field of study and receive mentoring and professional support from the Avoco community.

Avoco’s marketing and communications manager, Steve Trickett, says research and development will drive the industry’s growth so it is vital to support young people studying subjects that can extend their own capabilities whilst providing the industry with future talent.

“Over the past three years we have been delighted to support three fantastic scholars with their academic study and look forward to selecting another student after reviewing applications for next year’s scholarship.”

The latest data published by Plant & Food Research and Horticulture NZ shows the value of New Zealand’s horticulture industry was worth more than $10 billion to our economy during the year to June 30, 2020, with exports $450 million higher than in 2019 at $6.6 billion. Exports of New Zealand avocados made up $148 million.

In a world still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Steve says demand for high-quality produce, especially avocados, remains strong, which only reinforces the need for more people to enter the industry and contribute to its growth through science and research.

“Avoco is prioritising efforts to improve the quality and post-arrival performance of avocados exported to Australia and Asia under our Avanza brand. As part of that, we’re continuing to invest in research to ensure New Zealand avocados reach the premium quality standards that consumers expect from us in all our export markets. We look forward to supporting new graduates to develop a robust understanding of the science needed to not only grow the best fruit but also to pack, ship and ripen the fruit as it moves through the supply chain.”

The areas Avoco would like the avocado industry to further explore include issues related to alternative or irregular crop bearing, crop estimation techniques, post-harvest quality issues, pest and disease control (with a focus on consumer and environmentally friendly options) and shipping technologies that preserve the premium quality of export fruit and extend their shelf life.

Avoco’s team, led by quality and export systems manager Danni van der Heijden, is investigating these issues along with industry body NZ Avocado.

Steve says Avoco has enjoyed terrific support from avocado grower communities, with its scholarship scheme a way of sharing its success with people interested in a career in horticulture.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be entering their final year of study for a Bachelor degree (or similar) at any New Zealand university in 2022. They must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident whose studies relate to any of the following: fruit production, entomology or plant protection, biosecurity, biochemistry or biological science, post-harvest technology and treatment, or new technologies relevant to horticulture.

To apply, students must send their resume, a summary of tertiary studies and results to date, along with a letter of application by email to Danni van der Heijden at: danni@avoco.co.nz no later than Friday, October 22.

Applications should cover how an individual’s studies will benefit Avoco and the avocado industry, examples of leadership skills, any community service roles, and/or sporting and cultural activities and achievements to date, along with a vision for what the applicant wants to achieve in their career.