Supporting and being supported

It iswith pleasure Iwrite about the appointment of Linda Flegg as chairwoman of theNZ Avocado Growers’ Association Inc. (NZAGA) and its operating entity, NZAvocado Industry Ltd.

Linda hails from a horticulture background in avocados and kiwifruit. She is the director of Morris Moore Farms, whichownsorchards and post-harvestcompany Kauripak.

Linda becomes the industry’s first chairwoman and is joined on the board by

Right now logistics challenges across both sea and air freight are playing havoc with getting avocados to export markets, but it’s also making the industry look at more collaborative ways to mitigate these challenges.

three fellow female directors and a female CEO. In an industry wherewomenown 50 per cent of orchards, it is great to havewomenstepup into leadership roles.

Lindawas elected to NZAGAas a grower representative in 2017 and has served as vice-chairwoman since 2018. Our industry has a wonderfulnumberof opportunities ahead but also a numberof challenges. Linda will need to lead the board and managementteamto optimise investment in the industry.

I certainly look forward to the steerage of industry strategy by Linda, and of optimising those opportunities.

Rightnowlogistics challenges across both sea and air freight are playing havoc with getting avocados to export markets, but it’s also making the industry look at morecollaborative waysto mitigate these challenges. Covid makes everything just that little bitmoredifficult.

I amcertainly looking forward to a bit of a break over Christmas, althoughwewill still be picking, packing and shipping through to February.

Merry Christmas to all.