Avocado growers in New Zealand are assessing crop losses following frost across Northland and Bay of Plenty on August 5 and 6, when temperatures in Northland fell as low as -4°C.
NZ Avocados CEO Brad Siebert said some orchards experienced fruit and foliage damage, with some growers reporting that up to half of their crop area was affected. Fruit continues to drop following the frost, and the full impact on volumes has yet to be established. Some growers lost their entire crop and trees.
The frost has also affected flowers for the following crop, potentially extending the impact into the next season.
Katikati grower and NZ Avocado board member Alistair Young said his Bay of Plenty orchard avoided the frost, while a Northland orchard in which he has an interest recorded temperatures of -2.8°C and lost about 15 per cent of its crop. He expects some wood and leaf losses, followed by regrowth.
The damage comes as the sector prepares for higher export volumes. Around 2.8 million trays are expected to be shipped to Australia this year, compared with 750,000 last year. Plans also call for 5 million trays to be exported to Asia.
Siebert reported a 70 per cent increase in demand from South Korea, alongside increased demand in Hong Kong, Thailand, and China. He expects Asian markets to remain supplied even with a 10 to 20 per cent reduction in available volumes.
The recently signed New Zealand-India free trade agreement also provides for a progressive 10-year reduction in India’s 30 per cent avocado tariff. India currently remains an air-freight market for New Zealand avocados, with cool-chain logistics identified as a constraint.
Frontpage photo:
© Barmalini | Dreamstime
Source: farmersweekly.co.nz
Publication date:
Tue 1 Sep 2026
